Scott Merkord, a 2025 Rising Actuary Award recipient, blends analytical rigor with a passion for public service. Merkord, who works at Risk & Regulatory Consulting, serves on the Climate Change Joint Committee, where he applies his actuarial expertise to emerging risks. Drawn to the profession by a love of calculus and catastrophe modeling, he has built a career grounded in professionalism, clear communication, and a commitment to public good—all while staying true to his personal values and interests outside the office.
What led you to become an actuary, and what attracted you to the profession?
I loved high school calculus. In college, I saw some presentations about catastrophe modeling and hurricanes, which further piqued my interest in the profession. I completed an actuarial life insurance internship with American National Insurance Co. in Galveston, Texas, and an actuarial property and casualty internship with Allstate Insurance Co. in Northbrook, Ill., which confirmed that this would be a good career for me.
Describe a time when your professionalism training has helped you in your career.
Precept 2 (Qualification Standards) of the Code of Professional Conduct is especially important for us in regulatory space, given the breadth of our work. We evaluate each analysis to determine whether we are qualified to perform it. Precept 7, which addresses conflicts of interest, is also important, as we assess potential conflicts of interest for every assignment we undertake.
Actuarial standards of practice (ASOPs) help guide our review of rate filings and predictive models. We rely heavily on these standards to write strong objections when working on behalf of state departments of insurance. Ongoing professionalism training continues to remind me of the importance of both the Code and ASOPs in our work.
What’s one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned in your career?
The ability to communicate complex topics in a way that is clear to non-analytical audiences has been extremely helpful. A few elements that help me in this regard are developing my own presentations, emphasizing benefits over features, and recognizing that formatting and design matter.
What advice do you wish you were given at the beginning of your career?
Be aligned with your true self and pursue a career that aligns with your values, rather than simply following what you see others doing.
What do you value most about your Academy membership and volunteer work? What does the MAAA designation mean to you?
I like the Academy’s volunteer opportunities, which span so many practice areas, including joint committees like the Climate Change Joint Committee, of which I’m a member. The Academy stands out for offering high-quality continuing education with a strong emphasis on professionalism. I appreciate the opportunity to work with other credentialed actuaries on relevant, interesting topics such as climate change considerations.
What is the value of your MAAA designation?
The Academy’s mission is to serve the public and the U.S. actuarial profession. As actuaries, I feel that we have a similar mission related to the public, so I appreciate that the MAAA shows that commitment to supporting the public good.
Beyond work—what are your hobbies or personal interests?
My days include coffee, fitness, and spending time with the people closest to me. A few things that I really enjoy are the Texas Longhorns, baseball, hiking, cooking dinner at church on Wednesday nights, and playing the saxophone.
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