For as long as I have been with the CAS (24 years this past June), the organization has constantly examined its path, always with an eye to the future. It seems as if the CAS has been in an age of enlightenment and a renaissance since its inception in 1914. We have documented evidence in the Proceedings and the CAS centennial history book of the care and concern CAS members have taken to ensure that the actuarial profession grow and adapt and, most impressively, be ready to take on the next challenges and opportunities. The CAS renaissance has taken place in many different areas, some of which some members were a bit wary and not in complete support, but time marches on and the Society has progressed.
To borrow a phrase from CAS Research Actuary Brian Fannin, I found a definite theme emerging when putting together this issue of Actuarial Review: building for the future. Fannin’s feature story rounds up all of the CAS’s research work taking place over the last year and describes the Research Council, a new structure that directs actuarial research strategies.
Our story on the 2021 CAS University Award Winners strongly demonstrates our theme. These schools are educating the best and brightest to become members of the actuarial profession. This is the sixth year for this award, and each year the winners up their games in terms of what they are doing to create bridges between students, educators and potential employers. University students benefitting from these programs will one day join our members’ places of employment. What a boost to the CAS pipeline of potential members!
It seems as if the CAS has been in an age of enlightenment and a renaissance since its inception in 1914.
In the latest presidential video series, CAS President Jessica Leong talks with Sarayyah Baksh, a recent CAS Fellow who is working her action plan into a fascinating actuarial career. All CAS members, especially potential CAS members, should watch this innovative video series. There is so much to learn from actuaries who have excelled in their careers and are changing the definitions and roles of actuaries in the business world.
Borrowing another phrase, this time from AR writer Annmarie Geddes Baribeau, reserving is an actuary’s “bread and butter” and one of the key services in the actuarial arsenal. In our cover story, Baribeau delves into some of the fundamental changes taking place in reserving as well as the obstacles to progress among practitioners. Be prepared to learn something new about an established practice.
Finally, this past July the AR team lost a long-time member, Marty Adler, a writer/editor of the Downtime column. Marty was a wonderful man and a heck of a table tennis player. He will be dearly missed.
Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoy this issue of AR. ●
