Speculative Spectacular Fiction & Art Contest
Sponsored by the SOA Actuary of the Future Section and the Emerging Topics Community.
Thank you to all the writers and artists who shared their creative visions of the future!
Prize Winners
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First Place Package ($400 + professional literary critique + actor read audio version) |
“Longevity Risk Management" by Karl Gagnon, FSA, MAAA |
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Second Place ($300) |
"A Lens To The Universe" by Nathan Worrell, FSA |
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Most unique use of technology ($200) |
"Orbital Underwriting" by John Blocher, FSA, MAAA |
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Most unique vision of the future ($200) |
"October 9, 2029: Black Hole Monday" by Bryon Robidoux, FSA, MAAA, CERA |
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Most unique actuarial career of the future ($200) |
"Arrogant Poet" by Lee Nizan, FSA, EA |
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People’s Choice Fiction ($100) |
"Perfectly Balanced" by Luke Swiatek, Candidate |
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Best First-Time Entry ($100) |
"The Persistence of (Someone Else’s) Memory" by Peter Hohman, FCAS, Candidate |
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Coordinator’s Choice ($100) |
"The Actuary’s Riddle" by Gregory Dreher, FSA, MAAA |
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Best in Show (Art only) ($100) |
All art entries will receive Best in Show |
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People’s Choice Art ($100) |
"FSA: Four Sides to an Actuary" (previously listed as Untitled, Art) by Katherine Stewart, ASA, ACIA |
Special thanks to:
- Bob Mielke, professor of English at Truman State University and contest judge extraordinaire! Dr. Mielke has judged SOA’s speculative fiction contest since its inception in 1996!
- Gary Lange, FSA, contest coordinator, for his passionate commitment to providing an opportunity for actuaries to share their creativity through narrative fiction since 2003.
- Tracy Kirkman, ASA, MAAA, contest coordinator, for her valuable assistance and support.
- Nate Worrell, FSA, for bringing fresh ideas and energy to the initial planning stages that invigorated this year’s contest.
Art Entries
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Description |
Artist |
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Actuary Shirt, T-Shirt |
The future looks like actuaries having a lot more options. Advanced technology, flexible work opportunities, and more freedom on assumption setting are coming in the future. However, the fundamental basics (the Black-Scholes Model) will remain at the core of the profession. |
Elizabeth Cvelbar, ASA, MAAA |
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None |
Jim Toole, FSA, MAAA, CERA |
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Padovan Sunrise, Linoleum block print |
"Padovan Sunrise" is a hand-carved linoleum block print. The Padovan number sequence is visually represented in sets of lines, which are rotated, mirrored, and positioned to resemble a sunrise-like design. |
Henry Jaakola, Candidate |
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The Last Fellow Standing, Poem |
Yukki Yeung, FSA, MAAA |
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FSA: Four Sides to an Actuary, Crayon pencil and acrylic paint |
Each picture within this piece depicts a different aspect of actuarial science. Pictures show the progression of the actuarial profession: constructing life-tables, assessing impacts of extreme tail events, understanding policyholder behaviour, and applying predictive modelling techniques. These components and their interactions will continue to be a key part of actuarial future. |
Katherine Stewart, ASA, ACIA |
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Just Another Payday, Song |
Imagine a not-too-distant future: birth rates in the US continue to drop, lifespans continue to increase, and the government takes drastic action to increase the base of OASDI taxpayers. Actuaries calculate individualized “baby bond” incentives. This song explores characters who fear they may have a child for the wrong reasons. |
Peter Hohman, FCAS, Candidate |
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For Life, Poem |
Zhihan Jennifer Zhang ASA, MAAA |
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Actuary of the Future, AI generated using MidJourney v4 |
As future actuaries we will absorb information in new ways and use that data to collaboratively synthesize long term strategies & solutions that turn new risks into new opportunities. |
Faith Wilson, FSA, CERA |
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Untitled, Assemblage crochet/yarn, wood, found objects |
When I envision the future, I see the brilliant minds and technology advancements, but focus beyond that. The future actuary will deconstruct entry barriers, improve the process, and ignore the mantra that the way things have always been done is the best way. |
Bethany Coffey, FSA, MAAA |
Fiction Entries
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Title |
Author |
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Post Viral Meditation: A Communication from Out of Space and Out of Time |
Ken Faig, FSA |
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Rod Keefer, FSA, MAAA |
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Waylon Peoples, FSA, MAAA |
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Nathan (Nate) Worrell, FSA |
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Robert Himmelstein, ASA, MAAA |
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Karl Gagnon, FSA, MAAA |
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Erik Anderson, FSA, MAAA |
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Gennady Stolyarov, FSA, MAAA, ACAS |
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Bruce Pyenson, FSA, MAAA |
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John Blocher, FSA, MAAA |
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Lee Nizan, FSA, EA |
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John Sardelis, ASA, MAAA |
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Bryon Robidoux, FSA, MAAA, CERA |
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Andrea Rome, FSA, MAAA, CERA |
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Kristina Percy, FSA, FCIA |
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Linda Peng, Candidate |
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Beverly Orth, FSA |
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Chris Fievoli, FCIA |
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Bethany Coffey, FSA, MAAA |
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Greg Fann, FSA, MAAA, FCA |
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Gregory Dreher, FSA, MAAA |
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Luke Swiatek, Candidate |
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Al Klein, FSA, MAAA |
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Peter Hohman, FCAS, Candidate |