By William J. Michalisin
At the American Academy of Actuaries (Academy), our mission is clear and enduring: serve the public and the U.S. actuarial profession. Fulfilling that mission requires us to advance actuarial professionalism and deliver an objective, independent, and balanced actuarial voice to the nation’s most complex public policy discussions that shape the financial security systems that millions of Americans rely on.
In a fast-moving environment where data, decisions, and debates can quickly become clouded by bias or misinformation, objectivity and independence are more than professional ideals, they are essential safeguards. They ensure that policymakers, regulators, members, and the public receive insights grounded in facts, informed by expertise, and free from influence.
Why Objectivity and Independence Matter
Every issue the Academy engages with—retirement security, health care access and affordability, insurance solvency, artificial intelligence (AI), climate risk, and more—directly affects the financial well-being of individuals and families across the country. These are not abstract or academic challenges. They demand analyses rooted in data, professional standards, and sound reasoning rather than advocacy or ideology.
Objectivity enables actuaries to focus on evidence and long-term implications instead of short-term pressures or political considerations.
Independence ensures that our voice remains credible, respected, and trusted amid a wide range of perspectives and interests.
Together, these principles support the Academy’s standing as the nonpartisan voice of professionalism and public policy in the United States, helping decision-makers arrive at better, more informed decisions that benefit us all.
The Voice of Professionalism and Public Policy
The Academy occupies a unique place in the U.S. actuarial landscape. We are a professional membership organization rooted in integrity and service to all actuaries practicing in the United States. We do not advocate for special interests; we advance public interest. We do not take sides; we illuminate issues so others can make informed choices.
As the voice for professionalism and public policy in the United States, the Academy represents a commitment to ensuring that actuarial practice supports sound decision-making for the public good. Our stakeholders rely on us to provide an objective, independent, and balanced view of the issues that keep them up at night. We fulfill this by seeking diverse opinions, perspectives, and experiences when preparing and delivering our initiatives, work products, and engagement opportunities with the stakeholders we serve.
This distinction makes the Academy indispensable. When policymakers or the media need unbiased actuarial insight, they consistently turn to the Academy because they trust that our perspective is grounded in professionalism, supported by evidence, and framed with balance. Each time we uphold that trust, we strengthen not only the Academy’s reputation but also that of the U.S. actuarial profession.
Why This Work Matters Now More Than Ever
The financial systems underpinning our society, health care, pensions, insurance, and public programs, depend on long-term thinking and disciplined evaluation of risk. Through the Academy, actuaries provide the insight and foresight necessary to sustain those systems. Our ability to quantify uncertainty, assess financial strength, and communicate clearly about emerging risks makes us essential partners to policymakers, our principals and employers, and the public.
As demographic shifts, climate volatility, AI and cyber risks, and evolving health costs challenge our future, the Academy’s objective and independent voice becomes even more critical. Our work helps ensure that decisions made today are grounded in sound analysis and designed to withstand tomorrow’s complexities.
But maintaining that role requires vigilance. Losing our objectivity or independence, even in perception, carries real risks. If our analyses appear to favor a particular viewpoint or outcome, our credibility could erode. Policymakers might question whether our insights are shaped by influence rather than actuarial evidence. At precisely the moments when clarity is most needed, the Academy’s voice could be weakened.
Without independence, we risk becoming just another voice in a crowded debate. Without balance, we lose our ability to bridge perspectives and help stakeholders find common ground rooted in fact. Upholding these principles is not simply about integrity, it is essential to maintaining the profession’s self-regulation and the lasting value of including an actuarial perspective in public policy.
Looking Ahead: A Shared Commitment
The future will bring new risks, new technologies, and new pressures. To help the public and decision-makers navigate them, the Academy’s voice must remain steady, principled, and grounded in our core values of objectivity, independence, and balance.
Every staff member, volunteer, and member of the Academy shares responsibility for upholding these values. By anchoring our work in evidence, questioning assumptions, and maintaining the integrity of our processes, we ensure that the Academy and the actuarial profession remain credible, reliable resources for all who depend on us.
Our objectivity and independence allow us to stand apart as a trusted source of insight. They give our work enduring value to policymakers, regulators, employers, and the public. We should take pride in the fact that our work does more than inform policy, it anchors it in reality, discipline, and fairness.
That is the value of objectivity. That is the power of independence. And that is what ensures the American Academy of Actuaries continues to make a meaningful difference, for the U.S. actuarial profession, for decision-makers, and for the public we proudly serve.
William J. Michalisin is the Academy’s executive director and CEO.