Language is a fluid thing. New words are constantly being introduced into the vernacular. Think fintech and insurtech. We also live in a world of acronyms — CAS, AAA, NFIP, ACI, iCAS — and now there’s a new one: SLR.
This particular acronym became an issue after developing this issue’s cover. I gave our graphic design firm the story to read and brainstorm for ideas. After some good choices, we finally decided on our concept. A week or so later, I was looking at the finished cover and thinking, “Will the readers know what SLR stands for?”
SLR can stand for single lens reflex or simple linear regression, certainly, but the prevailing meaning for SLR may become this: sea level rise. It’s not so much that actuaries are not aware of SLR, it’s just that SLR is not a prominent part of the actuaries’ argot. At least, not yet.
In our March/April cover story, Annmarie Geddes Baribeau delves into the implications of SLR on multiple lines of P&C insurance. The SLR factor also presents actuaries with an opportunity to refine catastrophe models and help prepare homeowners and business owners for the future.
You may think that SLR will not catch on, à la the line from Mean Girls, “Gretchen, stop trying to make ‘Fetch’ happen.” But read the story and then decide: Will actuaries who dismiss the SLR factor do so at their companies’ peril?
Survey Says!
On our new Actuarial Review website, 87 readers responded to a poll we conducted on the top actuarial stories of 2017. Natural catastrophes around the world came in first place with 28 percent or 68 votes. Coming in second with 18 percent or 43 votes was cybersecurity breaches and growing coverage demands. CAS exams going paperless made a decent third place showing with 14 percent or 33 votes. (Incidentally, I recently spoke with former CAS Admissions Director Tom Downey about paperless exams. He was utterly surprised and glad that the CAS was able to do such a thing — especially in his lifetime!)
