Description: The editor of The Independent Consultant offered brief notes about the articles covered in the current issue.

Description: The author encourages actuaries to market their product by speaking to groups. He offers tips to jump start the process.

Description: In this article, the author discusses the benefits of writing an article that is jointly authored by you and another person. The article discusses different situations where the result can be an article that meets your strategic objectives, and also helps another business professional move ahead.

Description: In this article, the section chair of the Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section, ‘EAS,’ addresses the growth of the life actuarial profession. The author notes the significant growth in size of the profession in terms of membership, but cautions that calling us a growing profession on this basis only addresses the supply of actuaries, not the demand. The article then discusses current efforts to address the question of demand, noting that the EAS is in early discussions with other sections and the SOA staff to develop some measure of future demand for actuaries.

Description: In this article the authors ask: “what if you could be more focused, calmer and better able to perform? …what if the only thing you needed to do to perform better was to become aware of a few things, and that by doing these things, you could improve performance and help others achieve better results?” Referencing David Rock's latest book, “Your Brain at Work,” which shares key findings on the science of the brain and how the brain functions, the authors explain how we can be more focused and productive and help others do the same, and how to understand and correct what's happening when we head off-track.

Description: The incoming chairperson of the Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section discussed the section initiative for the coming year.

Description: These 'Notes from the Editor' offer a run-down of topics covered in the August 2011 issue of The Independent Consultant, the newsletter of the Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section.

Description: In this article, the author discusses an estate planning strategy that is extremely effective in an environment of low interest rates and depressed asset values, and was made more attractive by the December 17, 2010 legislation that provides extensive estate tax relief, although only for two years: the Grantor Retained Annuity Trust or GRAT. The articles discusses how a GRAT works, strategy for setting one up, income tax considerations, certain drawbacks, and the need to act quickly, given congress is considering legislation that would impose restrictions.

Description: In his farewell article, the outgoing chairperson of the Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section solicits more ideas regarding how the section can better meet the needs of its members.

Description: In this Column, the editor of The Independent Consultant discussed section activities and goals and solicited ideas for how the members' needs could be better met.