Building on the success of its inaugural 2024 case competitions, the CAS Latin America Regional Working Group (LARWG) launched a second edition in late 2025, featuring a predictive modeling challenge that engaged nearly 100 students from 14 universities across five countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico).
Two competitions ran in parallel: one in Portuguese for Brazilian university students and one in Spanish for institutions in Spanish-speaking Latin America. Both challenged students to develop an enhanced renter’s insurance rating plan using predictive models to incorporate risk segmentation. Teams with the strongest models moved to the finals, where they presented their methodologies and business insights to a panel of judges.
Actuarial programs in Latin American universities have traditionally focused on life and retirement. However, P&C has become more prominent in curriculums in recent years, and that became apparent during the competition. Students produced high-quality models that had technical accuracy and presentations that included strategic business recommendations, showing that these students are eager to deliver on the CAS Envisioned Future:
CAS members are sought after globally for their insights and ability to apply analytics to solve insurance and risk management problems.
The educational value of the competitions was the main draw, but attractive prizes added excitement. Thanks to our sponsors — WTW for Brazil and ACTEX Learning for Spanish LatAm — all participants received exam discounts and free ACTEX study materials. Top teams earned free exams, registrations for CAS Data and Insurance Series Courses (DISCs), and gift cards. In addition, the universities of the top three teams in each competition received printed ACTEX study manuals and free participation in the Global Actuarial Faculty Development Program.
These were the top teams in each of the competitions:
Brazil
1st Place: Bahtuários – Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
- Students: FernandoDudczakLummertz, Rafael Sindermann Lumertz, Tiago Haddad Carraro, and Ricardo Dorigon Martins
- Mentor: Prof. José AntônioLumertz
2nd Place: Artesãos do Risco – Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
- Students: LeonardoBirenbaum, Lucas Pessanha Barbosa, Luiz GuilhermeVianey da Silva, and Pedro Garitano Piñeiro
- Mentor: Prof. Eduardo Fraga Lima de Melo
3rd Place: USPATU – Universidade de São Paulo
- Students: Alexandre Mota dos Santos, Christian Ribeiro de Mendonça, Iago Barrios Medeiros,JulioCesar Arminini de Araújo Lima, and Matheus de Souza Nascimento
- Mentor: Prof. Thiago Dutra Araujo
Spanish LatAm
1st Place: Riskbusters – Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- Students: Maria Paula Arévalo Fuentes, Natalia Catherine ParraCuellar, Laura Milena RoaLeguizamón, John Anderson Guarin Lopez, and Luis Enrique Mantilla Sanabria
- Mentor: Prof. José Alfredo Jiménez Moscoso
2nd Place: EstocasTicos – Universidad de Costa Rica
- Students: Fabián Brenes Thomas, Félix Madrigal Mora, MarcoAntonioGuardia Ortiz, and Laura Jimena Villacís Delgado
- Mentor: Prof. Esteban Bermúdez Aguilar
3rd Place: Riesgo País – Universidad de Buenos Aires
- Students: EstebanFerminAlmeida, Victoria Ryan, Lola Faigenbaum, Ignacio Conti, and Santiago Ramiro Sosa
- Mentor: Prof. Carolina Cristina Castro
There is a nuanced but valuable lesson that students also learned from these events: the power of volunteerism. As one student commented, “Not long ago, we knew very little about the CAS, and even beyond the competition, your dedication has been promoting many positive changes to our actuarial landscape.” Indeed, I worked with a group of very dedicated people to make this all happen:
- Organizing committee:
- Roberto Pérez, FCAS
- Fernando Alvarado, FCAS
- Celeste Bremen, FCAS
- JuanSancén-Bravo, ACAS, AIDA, ARM
- Gabe Necoechea, ACTEX Learning Representative
- Brazilian competition judges:
- Celeste Bremen, FCAS
- Claudia Novello Ribeiro, CASAffiliateMember, MIBA
- Isabella Oliveira, CAS Affiliate Member, MIBA, and WTW Representative
- Spanish LatAm competition judges:
- Fernando Alvarado, FCAS
- JuanSancén-Bravo, ACAS, AIDA, ARM
- Stephen Camilli, FSA, ACTEX Learning Representative
- Florencia Di Paolo, MBA, Representative from the Argentine Society of Actuaries (SAAC)
- CAS staff:
- Katie Mulembe, Director of International Relations and Affairs
- Olivia Curtis, Cross-Functional Program Coordinator
I am grateful for the contribution of LARWG volunteers and the engagement of our corporate sponsors and the CAS community. Initiatives like this greatly strengthen the global presence of the CAS and support the development of the actuarial profession in Latin America. We look forward to continuing this work and expanding opportunities for students and universities in the region.
Rafael Costa, FCAS, MIBA, is an associate director at WTW.
