Description: John Naisbitt, in Megatrends, defined a megatrend as a general shift in thinking or approach affecting countries, industries and organizations. This article challenges actuaries to consider off-the-charts factors within their risk maps and consider their potential impact.

Description: This article describes how the SOA worked with the American Academy of Actuaries to ensure lessons learned from the financial crisis were shared with congress. Also covered were the movement to virtual sessions at SOA meetings and the project to combine the Life Spring Meeting and the Product Development Symposium.

Description: Letter from the SOA president discussing social media tools and networking.

Description: This article is the third in a series from the '2011 Living To 100 Symposium.' It examines the growing concern about doctor to patient ratio, including perspectives from Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.

Description: A redesign of the FSA track and the CERA credential have been underway to ensure the SOA provides a relevant and rich program of education. A final syllabus for the ERM is expected to be published in the spring, 2012 and for the FSA track in the spring, 2013. The SOA website contains more information on the pathway changes and transition rules. From The Actuary, February 2012, Volume 9, Issue 1.

Description: The following Sections provide updates of their recent activities: International, Forecasting and Futurism, Product Development, and Reinsurance. From The Actuary, February 2012, Volume 9, Issue 1.

Description: Feature article describing the need and reasoning for the new SOA Section, Social Insurance and Public Finance.

Description: Editorial discussing the tumultuous insurance industry and current financial crisis.

Description: This editorial notes how change is constant in the world around us and that the SOA has adopted a theme of change. Articles in this issue of The Actuary, which are all related to change, are summarized.

Description: This is a review of 'Restructuring Retirement Risks,' a collection of papers that examines retirement risks, edited by David Blitzstein, Olivia Mitchell, and Stephen Utkus. The papers, which are a must–read for serious students of retirement systems and a good introduction for those not as familiar with the issues, explore the stresses being placed on those systems and ever–increasing uncertainty as Baby Boomers begin to move into retirement.