Candidate Information David Joeff Williams

Name:	David Joeff Williams
Practice Area:	Life and Health
Employer Name:	Actuarial Management Resources, Inc.
Employer City/State:	Winston-Salem, N.C.
Credentials:	MAAA, FSA

Academy Experience

Chairperson, Life & Health Seminar 2004-2007; Member 2007-2010
Member, Health Practice Financial Reporting Committee, 2001-2012
Member, Life Health Seminar Faculty, 2005-2012
Member, State Health Principle-Based Work Group, 2007-2012
Member, Volunteer Resource Committee, 2007-2012
Member, State Long Term Care Principle-based Work Group, 2007-2012
Member, Academy/SOA Cancer Claim Cost Tables Work Group, 2010-2012
Member, Life and Health Seminar Committee, 2010-2012
Member, Rate Review Practice Note Work Group, 2010-2012
Member, Financial Reporting Committee, 2011-2012
Member, Long-Term Care Practice Note Update, 2011-2012
Member, Council on Professionalism, 2011-2012 and 2005-2007
Member, Grandfathering Provisions Task Force, 2010-2011
Member, Financial Regulatory Reform Task Force, 2008-2010
Member, Active Life Committee, 2009-2010
Member, Premium Deficiency Work Group, 2006-2007
Member, Long Term Care Work Group, 2003-2004
Member, Practice Notes Work Group, 2003-2004

Current/Recent Positions at SOA-CAS-CCA-ASPPA (ACOPA)

SOA, Current Vice-Chair of the Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section
SOA, Past Chair of the Smaller Insurance Company Section (2010)
SOA, Member of the Actuarial Club Advisory Group
Southeastern Actuaries Conference (SEAC), Current Past President

Candidate Biographical Sketch

I have been working in the actuarial field for over 25 years—mainly in the consulting area with a focus on life and health insurance. During that time, our firm expanded into the Third Party Administration business. This has allowed me to still be in a consulting environment but also get exposure to the unique aspects of the company perspective. This expansion also exposed me to the unique and nontraditional opportunities that are available to actuaries in the business world. During that time I have also been able to actively volunteer with the Academy on a variety of committees and task forces. These have been valuable experiences both professionally and personally.

Candidates for regular Director will normally have served the Academy or the actuarial profession by:

Serving on Academy committees or task forces;
Serving on the ABCD, or on the ASB or an ASB Committee;
Serving on the Boards or committees of other actuarial bodies;
Attainment of important stature in the insurance business, in actuarial consulting or in some other field of actuarial work, such as teaching.

How I meet the qualifications for the position of Regular Director on the Academy Board of Directors

I meet the qualifications for the position of Regular Director on the Academy Board of Directors by the following:

I have actively served on the Academy’s Life and Health Qualification Seminar Task Force and Faculty for the last eight (8) years: I was past chairperson in 2006 and 2007 and am the current chair for 2012.
I have been actively involved in various Academy committees and task forces as listed above. During that time, I have helped develop several Academy practice notes and discussion papers.
I also have volunteered with several SOA sections and other local actuarial organizations.
I have been working in the insurance industry and practicing as an actuary for over 25 years.
I have actively requested and worked to get Academy exposure to the membership by helping with Academy presentations and recruiting/developing sessions at meetings.

Why I want to serve on the Academy Board of Directors

During my years of volunteer work with the Academy, I have valued the opportunities I have had to work with both the Academy staff and other member volunteers. I feel the work the Academy does is very important to our profession and will be even more important as the public exposure for actuaries continues to increase. I appreciate the opportunity to enhance my involvement with the Academy by serving on the Academy Board of Directors.

What I believe are the most important issues facing the American Academy of Actuaries

I see two important issues facing the Academy.

In conversations at meetings and during other opportunities to talk with Academy members, I have come to realize a “membership value” challenge for the Academy and its members. Quite a few members that I talk to are really questioning the value of their membership in the Academy in relation to their everyday work role. I think the Academy needs to work on both educating and enhancing the value of Academy membership. It is easy to point to regulatory requirements for membership (sign certain actuarial communications), but a lot of members are looking for more than just that narrow focus. The Academy needs to ask the question: “What practical day-to-day value do our members gain when they pay their dues each year.”
The other issue is an ongoing issue that I think the Academy has done a great job with already—but will need to continue to do more in the future and that is educating the public about the role of the actuary and enhancing our image with the public. With more and more exposure for actuaries in a variety of business areas, the need and importance of professionalism in the actuary's work product is more important than ever. Both in the public and private sectors, the actuarial work product is coming under more scrutiny. This means the Academy needs to help support and educate actuaries in their work to balance both creativity and a high level of professionalism.