Category Archives: Future of the Profession
Why Should the CAS Exist?
At a CAS Board meeting last August, Board Member Jessica Leong posed a strategic question: “Why does the CAS exist?” Leong told the Board about author Simon Sinek’s TED Talk inspired by his book, “Start with Why.” Sinek observes how successful organizations communicate and sell themselves and believes that many organizations communicate in questions in … Read more
Driving Innovation: The CAS Accelerator
My agenda for the CAS has been focused on our future and living up to the aspirations of our current and future members, and our various supporters and constituents. We certainly have challenges: We work in an environment that is questioning traditional business models, is experimenting with new and transformative technologies, and is redefining the … Read more
Wanted: Actuary with Predictive Modeling Experience
Does your actuarial training make you attractive to employers looking for someone to join their predictive analytics team? Why would they hire you over, say, a PhD in statistics? This was an important question for me personally, as I was looking to break into the world of predictive analytics. And yes! Success! I’m 6 months … Read more
Three Modern-World Risks That Will Invigorate the P&C Insurance Industry
It’s an exciting time to be a property and casualty actuary. More and more new technologies are emerging, creating an ever-changing landscape in the insurance industry. A feature story in the latest issue of the Actuarial Review, “The Risks Around the Corner,” explains the effects that evolving technology has on the insurance industry and the … Read more
What are Your Highlights from the CAS Centennial Celebration and Annual Meeting?
As the CAS moves forward in its Centennial year to address the many challenges that lie ahead, I want to take a moment to reflect on the kick-off to the year – the Centennial Celebration and Annual Meeting held last month in New York City. The Centennial Committees who put together the event did a … Read more
How to Run for the Board of the CAS if You are Young and Unafraid
I think that we need more young people on the Board of the CAS. The Board demographics should mimic the membership demographics – after all, we are representing you, and your point of view. We have a lot of young members, never mind our other large body of stakeholders: our candidates. This isn’t reflected at … Read more
FASB Board Proposes Changes to P&C Insurance Company Disclosures
Since 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has been working alongside the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on revisiting the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) accounting model for insurance contracts. While the IASB appears to be moving ahead with fundamental changes to insurance contract accounting under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), … Read more
Think Like a Futurist
We’ll have many things to celebrate at the CAS Centennial Celebration and Annual Meeting, scheduled for November 9-11 in New York City. Since our founding in 1914, the CAS has developed into an organization whose credentials are the most highly respected in the property/casualty actuarial profession. However, in order to maintain our leading position, we … Read more
Challenges to the Actuarial Profession in 2014
It has been quite a year for our profession. This year is even more promising as we turn 100 years old. CAS President, Wayne Fisher, mentioned in the January Actuarial Review that we are in an environment of change, so, there must be a vast amount of interesting things going on right now that maybe only … Read more