In the early 1900s, problems in the United States requiring actuarial treatment were emerging in sickness, disability and casualty insurance — particularly the newly emergent field known as workmen’s compensation which was introduced by laws enacted in 1911. The differences between the new problems and those of traditional life insurance led to the founding in 1914 of the Casualty Actuarial and Statistical Society of America.
—100 Years of Expertise, Insight and Solutions: A History of The Casualty Actuarial Society
The CAS was created out of diversity — new and different problems required new and different solutions. Today, understanding how to implement sound cyber insurance policy is reminiscent of the issues our CAS founders must have encountered with workers’ compensation, the cyber insurance of its time.
This issue examines how our members are using their skills in new and different ways to keep up with the ever-changing world of technology and the needs of society.
Some of our members are branching out into a variety of new applications for their skills, as evidenced in our cover story “The Others.” The subjects of this two-part series show how they have applied their actuarial skills in new and different professional fields. Their stories are testaments to the curiosity and problem-solving inherent in our profession.
CAS President Nancy Braithwaite challenges us to think of the diverse skills other professionals can bring in solving today’s problems. She espouses a sort of “reverse diversity” that brings the skills of others to us.
Within our association, we have sought out new and different ways to operate and relate to the world. We have expanded our magazine to include in-depth reporting, feature articles, advertising — and even full color. We also have a strong social media presence and have won awards for social media marketing. All of this was new to us just a few short years ago. I wonder what will be next.
I wonder the same for our profession. Stay tuned!
