Volunteer Opportunities
The Academy is seeking passionate professionals to serve on our committees. Your contributions can help guide the conversations that shape our industry and propel your practice.
Discover how you can make a difference.
Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) Committees
An ASB committee volunteer would be appointed for a three-year term and may serve up to two consecutive terms.
In accordance with the procedures of the ASB, this committee develops actuarial standards of practice that apply to actuaries in the property/casualty area.
Time Commitment: The committee meets monthly on average via teleconference but meets more often when reviewing a standard, usually weekly.
Skills/Experience: Committee members should be knowledgeable about current property/casualty actuarial practice and emerging practice issues, and understand the guidance that property/casualty actuaries need. Excellent written communication skills.
In accordance with the procedures of the ASB, this committee develops actuarial standards of practice that apply to actuaries in the enterprise risk management area.
Time Commitment: The committee meets quarterly on average via teleconference but usually meets weekly when drafting or revising a standard.
Skills/Experience: Committee members should be knowledgeable about current enterprise risk management actuarial practice and emerging practice issues, and understand the guidance that actuaries working in enterprise risk management need. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Minimal travel—not more than once a year, if at all.
In accordance with the procedures of the ASB, this committee develops actuarial standards of practice that apply to actuaries in all practice areas.
Time Commitment: The committee meets quarterly on average via teleconference but can meet more often when reviewing a standard. Teleconference calls when reviewing a standard can range from two to four hours.
Skills/Experience: Committee members should be knowledgeable about current actuarial practice in their particular area as well as emerging practice issues, and understand the guidance needed by actuaries in their particular area of practice. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Minimal travel—not more than once a year, if at all.
In accordance with the procedures of the ASB, this committee develops actuarial standards of practice that apply to actuaries in the health insurance area.
Time Commitment: The committee meets quarterly on average via teleconference but can meet more often when reviewing a standard. Teleconference calls when reviewing a standard can range from two to four hours.
Skills/Experience: Committee members should be knowledgeable about current health actuarial practice and emerging practice issues, and understand the guidance that health actuaries need. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Minimal travel—not more than once a year, if at all.
In accordance with the procedures of the ASB, this committee updates and develops actuarial standards of practice that apply to actuaries in the life insurance area.
Time Commitment: The committee meets monthly on average via teleconference but usually meets weekly when reviewing a standard.
Skills/Experience: Committee members should be knowledgeable about current life and annuity actuarial practice and emerging practice issues and understand the guidance that life actuaries need. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Minimal travel—not more than once a year, if at all.
In accordance with procedures of the ASB, this committee develops actuarial standards of practice in the pension area.
Time Commitment: The committee meets in person quarterly but can meet more often via teleconference when reviewing a standard. Teleconference calls when reviewing a standard can range from two to four hours.
Skills/Experience: Committee members should be knowledgeable about current pension actuarial practice and emerging practice issues, and understand the guidance that pension actuaries need. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Quarterly two-day meetings at the Academy office in Washington, D.C.
Presidential Committees
This committee is responsible for ongoing relations with existing and prospective Academy members. It focuses on ensuring member value is clear and effectively conveyed to current and prospective members. The committee periodically develops and reviews the Academy’s Member Value Survey and works with staff to develop new programs. It periodically reviews Academy membership and dues policies and recommends changes to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. In fulfilling its charges, the committee aims to ensure that member affiliations and new-member recruitment activities are included as a vital part of the Academy communications plan.
Time Commitment: Meets quarterly.
Skills/Experience: Knowledge of member benefits and programs associated with member engagement and volunteering. Commitment to upholding and advancing the MAAA designation and enhancing member value for current and prospective members and their employers. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Notes: No travel—most work is accomplished via conference call.
The Research Committee is a cross-practice committee that oversees the Academy’s research functions. Specifically, the committee:
- Formulates guidelines, policies and rules for the conduct of the Academy in engaging in research initiatives, including the process by which practice council-initiated and -directed public policy research initiatives will be proposed, and the selection and approval process for research projects.
- Develops and oversees policies for research with respect to mortality, morbidity, and industry experience studies in conjunction with relevant research bodies to facilitate public policy application of those studies.
- Develops protocols for joint ventures with external research partners.
- Develops and oversees application of protocol for priority-setting for research projects.
- Manages the annual Academy Award for Research.
- Recommends annually appropriate budget requests for research initiatives and provides oversight of the research budget.
Time Commitment: One meeting quarterly; one-two work group meetings quarterly; review of documents for meetings.
Skills/Experience: Active involvement in practice council work, experience with project management, familiarity with some research methods. Excellent written communication skills and ability to see the big picture on issues and opportunities that cross all practice areas.
Note: The vice presidents of the Academy make the final selection based on an evaluation process.
Casualty Practice Council
The Automobile Insurance Committee provides actuarial support, advice, and communications on topics that involve automobile insurance. This includes seeking out additional audiences and topics to address so that the committee can coordinate and respond to issues at the state and federal levels. This committee also interfaces with the NAIC.
Time Commitment: Typically several one-hour teleconferences per year.
Skills/Experience: Need strong experience in personal or commercial auto insurance. Excellent written communication skills.
This committee monitors activities regarding financial reporting related to property and liability risks, reviews proposals made by various organizations affecting the actuarial aspects of financial reporting and auditing issues related to property and liability risks, and evaluates property and liability insurance and self-insurance accounting issues.
Time Commitment: 40 hours per year.
Skills/Experience: Writers of Statements of Actuarial Opinions preferred but not required. Experience with financial reporting issues a must. The committee tries to maintain a diverse mixture of actuaries, including regulators, consultants, and insurance company actuaries. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Quarterly virtual meetings and one in-person meeting coincident with location of CLRS.
The Climate Change Joint Committee engages with various issues related to climate change, including analyzing aspects of climate disclosures, the variations of climate impacts, and broader climate issues. The committee also interacts with various federal agencies on climate-related issues in the form of comment letters and other correspondence.
Time Commitment: The group meets once a month on an hour-long conference call. 1 to 2 hours additional workload in work product drafting per month.
Skills/Experience: Experience with or assessing various aspects of climate risk preferred, and/or experience with climate disclosure requirements. Willingness to explore how climate risk affects all practice areas and provide input on cross-practice initiatives. Excellent written communication skills.
The Committee on Cyber Risk is looking at actuarial aspects of cyber risks. Specifically, it is focused on named and excluded perils and on latent exposures in both commercial and personal lines. Generally, the committee is not looking at enterprise risk to insurers themselves.
Time Commitment: 10 hours per year.
Skills/Experience: Membership on the committee requires an interest in emerging risks and a curiosity about complex relationships. Experience in and depth of knowledge of cyber risk along with excellent written communication skills.
Formed in 2024, the Homeowners’ Insurance Task Force’s charge is to weigh in on and provide an actuarial viewpoint on homeowners’ insurance public policy efforts to the public through work products on behalf of the American Academy of Actuaries. Content will include issue briefs, papers, and participation in ad hoc stakeholder engagement on the topic of homeowners’ insurance availability and affordability concerns in Florida, California, and other states stemming from extreme events and the effects on the market in those states.
Time Commitment: 10-20 hours per year, depending on active projects.
Skills/Experience: Familiarity with homeowners’ insurance issues. Current work with homeowners’ line is a big plus. Excellent written communication skills.
The Medical Professional Liability Committee proactively provides unbiased information, actuarial support, educational training, and perspective on medical professional liability issues. Its activities include seeking out new audiences, investigating current trends, and researching tort reform proposals so that the committee can coordinate and respond to actuarial issues as they arise at the state and federal levels. This committee actively interfaces with the NAIC, NCOIL, and others.
Time Commitment: The committee meets by conference call several times per year.
Skills/Experience: Direct experience with medical professional liability and familiarity with relevant current events. Excellent written communication skills.
This committee identifies possible extreme events (low-frequency/high-severity events that could generate extremely large property/casualty losses). The committee also identifies issues relevant to the treatment of such risks including sizing, insurability, pricing, funding, reserving, capital management, and loss mitigation. Included in the committee’s charge is monitoring of federal and state catastrophe legislation and interaction with the NAIC on these issues.
Time Commitment: Varies depending on current project list. Issue-specific work groups sometimes are formed, and members of such a work group may have an intense work period until a product is finalized. More often than not, though, the time commitment may be very small. The committee meets via several conference calls each year.
Skills/Experience: Knowledge or experience regarding catastrophe ratemaking, reserving, modeling, and portfolio management is desirable. Familiarity and experience applying ASOP Nos. 38 and 39 would be a good measure of the skill level needed. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Selected members may be asked to attend NAIC meetings. Occasional travel to Washington, D.C., is a possibility, depending on legislative activity.
The Actuaries Climate Index (ACI) is intended to provide a useful monitoring tool—an objective indicator of the frequency of extreme weather and the extent of sea level change. The Actuaries Climate Risk Index (ACRI) measures retrospectively the risk experienced by the U.S. and Canada (and subdivisions within) due to climate-related natural hazards. The ACI/ACRI Work Group provides guidance for the Academy’s collaborative efforts with three other actuarial associations as we work to revise the current indices. The work group also oversees the production of research papers on associated topics.
Time Commitment: 10-15 hours per year.
Skills/Experience: Knowledge of or experience working with climate data and catastrophe models wanted. Excellent written communication skills.
Provides independent actuarial perspective on property and casualty equity and fairness topics and informs public policymakers on property and casualty practices that could potentially disadvantage people of color and/or other people in marginalized groups.
- Provides key actuarial considerations regarding laws and regulations under consideration.
- Provides key actuarial considerations regarding proposals from industry groups and consumer groups to assist regulators and legislators in their decisions.
- Considers and provides objective perspective on potential solutions to concerns associated with the use of external data, complex models, and outputs from actuarial models.
Time Commitment: 30-40 hours per year. The committee meets via teleconference every other week for an hour. Volunteers are also divided into subgroups that meet sporadically and report on their findings to the larger group.
Skills/Experience: Knowledge of and experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and how they relate to property and casualty insurance. Excellent written communication skills.
The Workers’ Compensation Committee proactively provides actuarial support and perspective on topics that involve workers’ compensation insurance. The committee meets monthly to discuss current trends and to identify topics of interest so that the committee can coordinate and respond to actuarial issues as they arise at the state and federal levels. The committee regularly prepares issue briefs and participates in webinars on the topics of interest. This committee also interfaces with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, and National Council of Insurance Legislators, among other organizations.
Time Commitment: 10-25 hours per year, depending on active projects. When these arise, there are usually teleconference discussions and group work products to draft and review.
Skills/Experience: Familiarity with ongoing workers’ compensation issues. Current work with workers’ compensation line is a big plus. Excellent written communication skills.
Formed in 2024, the Commercial Liability Task Force’s charge is to weigh in on and provide an actuarial viewpoint on commercial liability public policy efforts not covered in workers’ compensation and medical professional liability to the public through work products on behalf of the American Academy of Actuaries. Content will include issue briefs, papers, and participation in ad hoc stakeholder engagement on the topics of general liability, products liability, construction liability, employment practices liability, directors & officers liability, and professional liability.
Time Commitment: 10-20 hours per year, depending on active projects.
Skills/Experience: Familiarity commercial liability insurance issues.
Notes: Newly formed task force, interested volunteers would be the founding members.
This committee works on risk-based capital (RBC) and related solvency management tools. It monitors the performance of, and suggests enhancement to, the RBC methodology used by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The committee is involved in a review of the current RBC approach and ways to improve it in the context of the Solvency Modernization Initiative. Some of the committee work is done at the request of the NAIC; there is significant interaction between the committee and the NAIC’s Property Risk-Based Capital Working Group. The committee provides actuarial input on all RBC and solvency issues and ensures its communication to all relevant audiences.
Time Commitment: 10-20 hours per year. The committee meets by teleconference several times a year. Members are asked to volunteer to work on specific projects, with each project requiring a commitment for a short period of time.
Skills/Experience: General familiarity with risk-based insurance and related issues. Excellent written communication skills.
Health Practice Council
The Behavioral Health Task Force’s charge is to formalize the ongoing ad-hoc efforts within the Health Practice Council around behavioral health issues. The task force will engage in activities that help inform the actuarial community on public policy issues related to behavioral health. These activities may include the creation of issue briefs, webinars, and other presentations.
Time Commitment: 2 hours a month.
Skills/Experience: We welcome volunteers with experience working in areas related to behavioral health in industry, public policy, and academia; as well as volunteers who may not have deep experience in behavioral health but have a strong interest in contributing to the topic. Excellent written communication skills.
The Individual and Small Group Markets Committee furthers the actuarial profession’s involvement in policy issues related to both the small group and individual medical markets. The committee monitors federal legislation and regulatory activities and is charged with developing issue briefs and accompanying webinars, intended to inform and educate senior federal policymakers on issues related to the small group and individual markets.
Time Commitment: Volunteers must be willing to take an active role in helping draft policy statements, participating on conference calls, and contributing to written work products released by the Academy. The committee expects to have a monthly 60-minute virtual meeting. Most work is done offline by members creating and circulating draft proposals to create the final issue brief. The timing of the work is often dictated by the federal and regulatory activities, and the group must accommodate this timeline. This monthly work can range from 5-10 hours per month. However, if there is a time-sensitive issue, like proposed federal regulations that provide for a specified number of days for comment (e.g., 60 days), then the commitment would be more intense during that period.
Skills/Experience: Must have experience working with either the individual and/or small group medical markets. Excellent written communication skills. Specifically, the committee is looking for background on:
- The Affordable Care Act (ACA): Public Exchange Strategy and Operations, National Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP), AV and MV Calculators
- Individual Premium Rate Determination/Pricing
- Small Group Premium Rate Determination/Pricing
- Individual Benefit Plan Design
- Small Group Benefit Plan Design
- Risk Adjustment in the ACA Market
This committee provides an oversight role for task forces and work groups established to address Medicare reform initiatives on behalf of the Health Practice Council.
Time Commitment: About 20 hours during the year spent on conference calls and drafting.
Skills/Experience: Knowledge of and experience with Medicare including bid development, risk adjustment, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), alternative payment models (APMs), and other methodology topics. A good knowledge of Medicare by committee members is expected, but actuaries who want to learn more about Medicare are also welcome. Excellent written communication skills.
This committee is charged with monitoring and responding to changes to the Medicaid and CHIP programs and recommending program improvements. We expect committee members to play an active role in meetings and in bringing forth ideas to the group for discussion.
Time Commitment: 15-25 hours per year. The work group meets periodically, but time outside of the meetings for drafting and review of documents is important.
Skills/Experience: Experience and expertise in Medicaid and CHIP. Strong written and verbal skills.
This subcommittee looks at issues pertaining to Medicaid long-term care/long-term services and supports. It also coordinates with the Medicaid Subcommittee and the Long-Term Care/Disability Committee to examine the intersection of Medicaid and commercial long-term care insurance.
Time Commitment: 10-20 hours per year. The work group meets periodically; some time outside of the meetings for reviewing and/or drafting documents may also be needed.
Skills/Experience: Interest in and familiarity with Medicaid long-term care/long-term services and supports issues. The LTC Medicaid Subcommittee coordinates a significant portion of its work with the Medicaid Committee, thus it is helpful to have some members of this subcommittee simultaneously sit on the Medicaid Committee. The subcommittee also needs members who have familiarity with commercial long-term care insurance to facilitate its work. Excellent written communication skills.
The Health Care Delivery Committee seeks to understand:
- Components of health care costs and cost increases, with a focus on the delivery system in particular,
- The impact of proposed regulation and legislation that directly impacts the delivery system, and
- Current and emerging forces that are driving change in the delivery system.
The committee engages with policymakers in a neutral and informative manner to promote the sustainability of the system while addressing significant cost drivers.
Time Commitment: Monthly calls and interim document review. More frequent calls for committee-designated work groups to develop specific work product.
Welcomed Skills/Experience: Knowledge of medical coding, common payment approaches, and delivery system structures/perspectives; insights into alternate site care delivery including telehealth and remote patient monitoring; working understanding of pharmacy operations, inclusive of PBMs; research base/experience in population health interventions, wellness initiatives, quality considerations, payment reforms/alternate payment methods, and delivery system reforms.
If you are an energetic individual with an interest in health care delivery and finance, desire to learn, willingness to research, and/or a unique perspective to share, please consider volunteering for this group regardless of experience. Excellent written communication skills.
The Health Equity Committee furthers the actuarial profession’s commitment to health equity throughout the health care system. The committee examines actuarial practices and methods to assess the extent to which they may affect health disparities and recommends changes when appropriate, identifies areas in which actuarial methods can contribute to improving health equity, educates actuaries and other stakeholders on health equity issues, and applies an equity lens to the Academy’s health policy work.
Time Commitment: Monthly calls; periodic calls of committee-designated subgroups for specific workstreams.
Skills/Experience: Health actuary with at least one of the following areas of expertise: big data, algorithms, AI, Medicare Advantage, provider contracting, risk adjustment, pricing/benefit design, and experience doing literature searches and original research. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
This committee monitors financial reporting activities related to all areas of the health actuarial practice, reviews proposals made by various organizations affecting the accounting and auditing issues related to health practice, and generally is responsible for analysis and recommendations on health practice accounting issues. The committee has primary responsibility in the creation and updating of all health practice notes. Acting as the primary point of collaboration with the Risk Management and Financial Reporting Council, the committee works in conjunction with the Health Practice International Committee in monitoring international issues with U.S. health care implications.
Time Commitment: Bimonthly.
Skills/Experience: Knowledge of health financial reporting issues. Excellent written communication skills.
This work group is charged with updating a 1994 report to the NAIC on stop-loss factors.
Time Commitment: Calls and development of analysis/comment for NAIC on an as-needed and periodic basis expected to begin in Q3, 2024.
Skills/Experience: Familiarity with health risk-based capital and either employer stop-loss or reinsurance. Excellent written communication skills.
The Active Benefits Committee furthers the actuarial profession’s involvement in policy issues specific to group benefit plans, with a particular focus on health care benefit plans for active employees. The committee monitors federal legislation and regulatory activities and is charged with supporting senior federal policymakers on issues related to active employee group health plans. This support often includes ad hoc virtual meetings with Academy as well as agency or policy staff, and may include developing background papers. Collaboration with other Academy committees and task forces is common.
Time Commitment: From 15-60 hours a year. The time commitment varies depending on issues (for example: inquiries from government entities, proposed legislation), and is not dependent on a seasonal cycle. When working on a specific project, volunteers would be expected to actively participate in calls (which typically average once a month) and small work groups.
Skills/Experience: Must have experience working with active employee group health plan issues. Experience through consulting, insurance, or nontraditional work is pertinent, and could range from early career actuaries to those with extensive experience. Excellent written communication skills.
This committee’s mission is to bring to the public the U.S. actuarial profession’s expertise regarding employer-sponsored group benefit plans, with particular focus on health care benefit plans for retirees. Within the scope of this mission, this committee:
- Serves as a resource to both the Health and Retirement practice councils.
- Provides independent and objective analysis, advice, and education to stakeholders of retiree health plans with respect to:
- Funding.
- Financial reporting, in conjunction with Pension Accounting Committee.
- Managing financial risks.
- Plan design.
- Identifies emerging issues and monitors legislative and regulatory proposals affecting group benefit plans.
- Coordinates with other Academy committees where appropriate on issues with overlapping interests.
- Develops practice notes for the membership.
- Comments on actuarial standards of practice related to retiree health plans.
Time Commitment: From 20-80 hours a year. The time commitment varies depending on issues; there may be close review of several ASOPs and consideration of practice notes related to recent ASOPs, accounting standards, or legislative/regulatory changes. When working on a specific project, volunteers would be expected to actively participate in calls and small work groups.
Skills/Experience: Must have extensive experience working with retiree health issues from either the pension or health perspective. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Optional in-person meeting once a year or more.
The Health Solvency Subcommittee analyzes solvency issues at the state level, including the NAIC risk-based capital formulas, emerging NAIC principle-based requirements, and individual state rules. In addition, the work group follows emerging international requirements and federal regulation of insurance companies, in relation to what effect they have on solvency requirements.
Time Commitment: Monthly or bimonthly—periodic calls of committee-designated work groups for specific workstreams.
Skills/Experience: Knowledge of health statutory reporting, health solvency, and health RBC issues. Excellent written communication skills.
This committee addresses actuarial issues affecting programs that provide or finance long-term care services. It monitors and comments on developments in this area at the federal level and state level and works with policymakers to assist in developing public policies affecting long-term care.
Time Commitment: Up to four to eight hours per month.
Skills/Experience: Knowledge/involvement in at least one aspect of addressing LTC needs, use, and financing. All levels of experience welcomed and valued.
Notes: Minimal travel. Most work is done virtually. Click here to see examples of our work.
Life Practice Council
The Economic Scenario Generator Subcommittee provides the technical guidance in the development and maintenance of the economic scenario generators ESGs), including those used for regulatory requirements.
Time Commitment: 3-4 hours per week.
Skills/Experience: Experience using ESGs in actuarial practice. Excellent written communication skills.
The Life Investment and Capital Adequacy Committee (LICAC) analyzes issues related to life and annuity capital adequacy and recommends methods to improve life risk-based capital requirements. The LICAC is a technical adviser on solvency issues to the NAIC.
Time Commitment: 1-hour calls a couple of times a month, plus any time spent gathering data/analysis for discussion.
Skills/Experience: Background with RBC framework for life insurance. Any specific experience with correlation of risks or existing approach to C-3 market risks. Excellent written communication skills.
The C1 Subcommittee reviews capital requirements for the investment risks of life insurance companies, as contained in the Life RBC formula. The subcommittee reviews all aspects of the C1 component, including assumptions, methodologies and consistency of risk measures. The subcommittee will recommend revisions as appropriate, which may include RBC factor updates, NAIC bond designations, and use of alternative methods of capital determination for specific asset classes. The subcommittee also provides technical guidance to the NAIC regarding risks related to collateralized loan obligations and other complex assets.
Time Commitment: The subcommittee holds a monthly 1-hour call but will hold more frequent calls when writing comment letters or preparing reports; the subcommittee would like members to participate in the drafting process.
Skills/Experience: Familiarity with the RBC framework and with life insurance investment portfolios. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: No travel is required, although attendance at NAIC meetings is encouraged.
The Tax Committee educates and advises the Life Practice Council on federal income tax issues. The committee clarifies the potential tax implications of proposals and identifies and communicates constraints, options, and alternatives.
Time Commitment: Weekly 1-hour conference call plus periodic review and comment of committee work product.
Skills/Experience: None required, but familiarity with tax issues from either a valuation/financial reporting or product development perspective would be helpful. Excellent written communication skills.
This subcommittee will monitor investment trends for the life insurance industry to assess actuarial implications. The subcommittee will monitor certain regulatory groups (e.g., NAIC Valuation of Securities Task Force, Statutory Accounting Principles Working Group, Risk-Based Capital Investment Risk Evaluation Working Group, Life Actuarial Task Force) for regulatory developments affecting the investment activities of life insurers. The subcommittee will coordinate comments regarding actuarial-related investment regulatory matters either directly or by coordinating with other LPC committees as necessary.
Time Commitment: Likely 4-6 hours per month on calls and associated work.
Skills/Experience: Experience with investments, evaluation of asset classes, investment risks, modeling cash flows. Good understanding of market economics and constraints affecting asset allocation for life insurers statutory reporting/valuation, investment laws, valuation, and capital requirements. Excellent written communication skills.
The Life Experience Committee is responsible for experience studies, assumptions, and related elements, including mortality, policyholder behavior, and expense assumptions. The committee writes papers on these topics and reviews research from external organizations as applicable, including research on topics such as inflation, margins, and credibility with respect to the work of actuaries in modeling and more comprehensive papers on subjects such as the modeling of guaranteed living benefits in annuities. In addition, the Life Experience Committee is responsible for working with the Society of Actuaries, regarding experience studies and addressing NAIC amendments related to life actuarial assumption development and experience studies.
Time Commitment: Meets biweekly as needed according to ongoing projects and deadlines driven by NAIC.
Skills/Experience: We have volunteers who range from relative newbies (who are very valuable in letting the group know where they would like help in modeling or other activities related to assumptions) to experts in the field (who help with drafting/editing the papers.) We sometimes have an Academy webinar on our paper. Excellent written communication skills.
The Life GAAP Reporting Committee proactively provides actuarial advice and communication on life insurance topics that involve financial reporting matters, with an emphasis on GAAP issues.
Time Commitment: 4-8 hours per month.
Skills/Experience: Strong GAAP and IFRS financial reporting experience for life insurance and/or annuities. Excellent written communication skills.
The Life Products Committee proactively provides actuarial support, advice, and communications on life and annuity products. The committee focuses on product features and their design and may coordinate with other committees on financial and solvency issues. The committee communicates with, and provides information to, the membership of the Academy when there are actuarial developments of interest to the membership that warrant additional communications. The committee also stands ready to respond to regulatory requests on product issues, and proactively seeks areas where the Academy should provide input to regulators. The committee engages in the development of public policy at the state, federal, and international levels.
Time Commitment: 1 hour/month conference call plus periodic review and comment of committee work product.
Skills/Experience: Previous active membership in one or more Academy work groups; knowledge of current life and annuity product design, pricing, illustration, sales and/or management practices; familiarity with ongoing developments in regulations and actuarial standards. Excellent written communication skills.
The Index-Linked Variable Annuity Subcommittee provides actuarial support, recommendations, and communication on activities that involve index-linked variable annuities, including the development of and revisions to actuarial guidelines, development of Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission (“Compact”) product standards, and related changes in actuarial practices.
Time Commitment: We meet every other week for an hour. Reviewing of materials before meetings is recommended.
Skills/Experience: Pricing experience on variable or fixed indexed annuities. Understanding of the standard nonforfeiture regulations for different types of annuities. Excellent written communication skills.
The Life Underwriting and Risk Classification Subcommittee assesses the impact of underwriting and risk classification mandates in the life insurance and annuity marketplace. The subcommittee researches regulations, monitors industry practices, and advises on emerging topics.
Time Commitment: 2-5 hours per month; group meets every two weeks with additional meetings and outside work as needed.
Skills/Experience: Knowledge of life insurance underwriting, life and/or annuity product design, and pricing; familiarity with ongoing developments in regulations and actuarial standards. Excellent written communication skills.
The Life Illustrations Subcommittee provides commentary and educational materials involving actuarial issues related to life insurance products. The group maintains the Academy’s existing Life Insurance Illustrations practice note to reflect changes that have occurred since the practice note was published. The group monitors updates to Actuarial Standard of Practice No.24, changes in generally accepted practices and regulations, and new product designs and features.
Time Commitment: Members are expected to regularly attend weekly phone calls as the group navigates issues surrounding compliance with the illustration model regulation.
Skills/Experience: Involved with illustration testing and/or compliance with the illustration model regulation. Excellent written communication skills.
The Non-Guaranteed Elements Subcommittee provides commentary and educational materials involving actuarial issues related to the development and management of non-guaranteed elements (NGEs) in individual life insurance and annuity products. The Non-Guaranteed Elements Subcommittee is developing a practice note related to Actuarial Standards of Practice (ASOP) No.2. The subcommittee will monitor ASOPs (focusing on ASOP No. 2), practice notes, white papers, study notes, and other publications, and will make recommendations regarding new or revised ASOPs, practice notes, regulations, actuarial guidelines, and educational materials.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours every two weeks.
Skills/Experience: Familiarity setting rates for products with NGEs both new pricing and inforce management is helpful. Excellent written communication skills.
The Life Valuation Committee proactively seeks to provide actuarial support, advice, and communication on life insurance topics that involve the valuation of life insurance and annuity products. The committee addresses issues that involve the valuation of, and support for, the valuation of statutory reserves for these products.
Time Commitment: The committee meets once per month for a 1-hour call. 2-3 hours of work per month is expected.
Skills/Experience: Experience with valuation and modeling. Excellent written communication skills.
The Variable Annuity Reserve and Capital Subcommittee proactively provides actuarial support, advice, and communication on issues involving statutory reserve and risk-based capital requirements for variable annuity products. This includes developing proposals for ways in which the NAIC and the actuarial profession can better evaluate the overall effectiveness of the requirements and actuarial practices used in the implementation of the requirements. The subcommittee also communicates and provides information to the Life Practice Council regarding these issues.
Time Commitment: Varies, with a minimum of 1 to 2 hours per month.
Skills/Experience: Familiarity with variable annuity products and AG43/VM-21 and C-3 Phase 2 RBC requirements. Excellent written communication skills.
The Annuity Reserves and Capital Subcommittee is working with the NAIC to develop a proposal for a principle-based reserve and capital framework requirement for non-variable annuity products.
Time Commitment: Biweekly meetings with the possibility for more depending on regulatory developments.
Skills/Experience: We would welcome new members with experience in principle-based reserves and non-variable annuities. Excellent written communication skills.
This subcommittee conducts an annual peer review of the Life & Health Valuation Law Manual.
Time Commitment: 1 hour kickoff meeting in early November; 4-6 additional hours spent reviewing the manual from mid-November to early December.
Skills/Experience: Strong attention to detail and familiarity with valuation regulations and actuarial guidelines. Familiarity with ongoing developments in regulations and actuarial standards is helpful but not required. Excellent written communication skills.
The Life Reserves Subcommittee provides commentary and analysis related to reserve frameworks applicable to life insurance products, with a focus on principles-based reserving.
Time Commitment: Varies by the number of issues being considered but includes two to four 1-hour meetings per month and active participation reviewing the implications of new developments and issues. Active participation is expected in activities such as developing comments on issues or proposing amendments to the Valuation Manual to address such issues.
Skills/Experience: Knowledge and experience sufficient to understand existing principles-based statutory valuation for directly written life insurance policies. Excellent written communication skills.
The PBR Implementation Subcommittee provides educational materials, such as webinars and practice notes, related to Valuation Manual requirements. The subcommittee is responsible for practice notes, white papers, study notes, and other educational materials related to principle-based modeling, model validation, model governance, assumption setting, and reporting of results. This group may also review actuarial standards of practice and make suggestions to the Actuarial Standards Board for further guidance.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month with the possibility for more if involved in the development of educational materials.
Skills/Experience: Familiarity with at least one of VM-20, VM-21, or the proposed VM-22. Willingness to think strategically about membership needs related to education and guidance. Ability to contribute to knowledge base to address member needs. Excellent written communication skills.
Retirement Practice Council
The committee’s purpose is to bring expertise regarding multiemployer pension plans to the public and the United States actuarial profession. Within the scope of this mission, the committee:
- Provides independent and objective analysis, advice, and education to stakeholders (such as legislators, contributing employers, trustees) of multiemployer plans with respect to:
- Funding
- Financial reporting
- Managing financial risks
- Plan design
- Maintains contact with federal regulatory agencies to offer advice and seek action on current issues; monitors state regulatory agencies.
- Develops practice notes for the membership.
- Comments on actuarial standards of practice related to multiemployer plans.
Time Commitment: Varies, but active participation in calls, webcasts, projects, and research assignments is expected.
Skills/Experience: A solid understanding of and experience with the multiemployer pension plan environment, from both a technical/actuarial and consulting standpoint. Consulting experience needed includes firsthand knowledge of stakeholder interests—employers, unions, participants, regulatory agencies, financial statement users and government policymakers. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Occasional meetings in Washington, D.C., with federal agencies; remote participation is sometimes possible. Opportunities for participating in webinars and meetings with external stakeholders as well.
The committee’s purpose is to bring to the public and the United States actuarial profession expertise regarding public and private retirement plans. Within the scope of this mission, the committee:
- Provides independent and objective analysis, advice, and education to stakeholders of public and private retirement plans with respect to:
- Funding
- Financial reporting
- Managing financial risks
- Plan design
- Actively consults with public policymakers about the effects of legislation and regulations on retirement benefits.
- Identifies emerging issues affecting retirement benefit plans.
- Comments on pending retirement legislation and regulations.
- Coordinates with other Academy committees where appropriate on issues with overlapping interests.
- Develops practice notes for the membership.
- Comments on actuarial standards of practice related to public and private plans.
Time Commitment: Monthly conference calls and additional involvement in projects throughout the year. 75-100 hours a year.
Skills/Experience: Minimum of 10 years experience. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Attendance at two of three in-person meetings/year (at least), along with regular Zoom/hybrid meetings. Opportunities for participating in webinars and meetings with external stakeholders.
The Defined Contribution Subcommittee provides actuarial expertise and objective analysis regarding the use of defined contribution retirement plans as a means of delivering employee retirement benefits by:
- Providing independent and objective analysis, advice, and education to stakeholders of defined contribution retirement plans regarding:
- Designing plan provisions and features to improve retirement outcomes
- Using defined contribution retirement benefits to provide retirement income, including lifetime income
- Consulting with public policymakers about the effects of current legislation and regulatory guidance on defined contribution retirement benefit plans
- Identifying emerging issues affecting defined contribution retirement benefit plans
- Commenting on pending defined contribution retirement plan legislation and regulatory guidance
- Developing issue briefs, practice notes, and other educational material for the membership
Time Commitment: Recurring monthly calls plus time on specific projects. Actual time commitment will vary depending on the project.
Skills/Experience: Experience working with lifetime income products in the defined contribution space and/or expertise on participant or plan administrator perspectives. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Opportunities for participating in webinars and meetings with external stakeholders upon occasion. The committee is actively seeking volunteers who, in particular, work directly with DC plans in some way and have a significant amount of time (i.e., are not also volunteering elsewhere) to devote to the DC subcommittee.
The committee’s purpose is to bring to the public and the United States actuarial profession expertise regarding retirement plans for state and local government employees. Within the scope of this mission, the committee:
- Provides independent and objective analysis, advice, and education to stakeholders of state and local government employee benefit plans with respect to:
- Funding
- Financial reporting
- Managing financial risks
- Plan design
- Emerging events
- Other related topics
- Develops issue briefs and practice notes for the membership.
- Comments on actuarial standards of practice related to public plans.
Time Commitment: Monthly calls plus time on specific projects. The actual time commitment varies in intensity depending on the project.
Skills/Experience: Experience providing actuarial services to retirement plans for state and local government employees, and a commitment to being an active member of the committee. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Very little travel. Occasional remote meetings with federal agencies seeking a public plan perspective, as well as webinar participation.
The committee evaluates various facets of the U.S. retirement system, providing comments or analysis on potential changes to enhance the design and delivery of retirement benefits. The committee may assess retirement system designs with respect to the established Retirement for the AGES framework (Alignment, Governance, Efficiency, and Sustainability).
Time Commitment: Weekly meetings are held by Zoom. In general, the full committee meets once a month and work subgroups use the designated meeting time to discuss their projects. Subgroups are formed to do the initial drafting of issue briefs and AGES assessments. Actual time commitment varies with the projects. Assume up to 100 hours per year for committee meetings and work on projects.
Skills/Experience: Prefer members who have some experience/interest in the retirement systems and policies in the U.S. and elsewhere. Strong interest in recruiting new members who are currently working and are earlier in their career. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Very little travel. A number of members are either retired, self-employed, or work for the government, so face-to-face meetings are not usually held. Meetings are generally held by Zoom. One or two members participate in annual meetings (in Washington, D.C., or virtually) with government agencies and/or with congressional staff. Opportunities for participating in webinars and meetings with external stakeholders.
The committee’s purpose is to bring to the public and the United States actuarial profession expertise regarding the United States social insurance systems with a principal focus on Social Security. Within the scope of this mission, the committee provides independent and objective analysis, advice, and education to stakeholders of social insurance programs with respect to financing, annual reporting, managing system risks, and program design.
Time Commitment: The committee desires members able to volunteer up to 10 days (including up to four one-day meetings and several hourlong remote meetings per year to committee activities. Members who are willing to write/co-write or review projects related to Social Security suggested by themselves or by another committee member might incur a substantial additional time commitment.
Skills/Experience: An interest in social insurance systems is required and expertise is desirable. A particular interest in U.S. Social Security and a willingness to learn and share your perspective are required. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Plan for up to four one-day meetings in Washington, D.C., Remote attendance is presently available, but not preferred. Opportunities for participating in webinars and meetings with external stakeholders.
Council on Professionalism and Education
This committee promotes knowledge of professionalism within the profession. When it seeks to promote the knowledge of standards of conduct, qualification, and practice, the committee shall do so in coordination with the responsible Academy bodies.
Time Commitment: Generally, a one-hour call per month with additional task force or subgroup work needed related to the development of discussion papers. Time to read and review papers in preparation for calls is also required, with additional time dedicated to drafting and/or updating discussion papers in subgroups.
Skills/Experience: Prior experience and knowledge of standards of conduct, qualification, and practice. Commitment to upholding and advancing the profession’s image and responsibilities of the profession. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Limited travel if any—most work is accomplished via conference call. The chairperson attends three Council on Professionalism and Education meetings and two Actuarial Professionalism Liaison Committee meetings per year.
This committee investigates issues arising with respect to the minimum requirements necessary to qualify members to issue Statements of Actuarial Opinion in the United States. It recommends to the Academy Board of Directors minimum qualification standards, including continuing education requirements for credentialed actuaries practicing in the United States, and counsels such actuaries on questions relating to individual qualifications. It also develops guidelines for the administration of the U.S. Qualification Standards, including continuing education requirements.
For the U.S. Qualification Standards and related information please click here.
Time Commitment: Generally one hour per month.
Skills/Experience: Deep knowledge of the U.S. Qualification Standards and commitment to upholding and advancing actuarial professionalism. Excellent written communication skills.
The Committee’s charge is to support: a. The Academy’s future educational efforts including the creation and development of educational programs; and b. The Academy’s staff and its directors of professionalism and public policy in monitoring the quality and consistency of the Academy’s education programs by reviewing survey results for both recurring educational programs and public policy/professionalism webinars across all offerings.
Time Commitment: Generally one hour per month, with additional sub-group work as needed for the development of educational programs.
Skills/Experience: Deep knowledge of actuarial professionalism (Code, ASOPs, USQS) and ability to collaborate and work across practice areas, and experience creating actuarial educational material. Excellent written communication skills.
The Myers Task Force convenes once each year to consider nominations for the Robert J. Myers Public Service Award, which honors an actuary for a single noteworthy public service achievement or a career devoted to public service. The Myers Task Force recommends an awardee to the Academy Board each year.
Time Commitment: 5-10 hours in June and July each year.
Skills/Experience: Must be a public service actuary, that is, a government employee, the employee of an organization whose primary focus is government work, or an unpaid volunteer working at a philanthropic organization. Excellent written communication skills.
The Life and Health Qualifications Seminar Subcommittee runs the annual Life and Health Qualifications Seminar. This subcommittee develops a syllabus, materials, and exam that will assist actuaries to meet the basic education requirements under the Specific Qualification Standards needed to issue the NAIC Health Annual Statement (Orange Blank) or the NAIC Life and A&H Annual Statement (Blue Blank), or both.
Time Commitment: Several hours each month, plus a week in November.
Skills/Experience: Deep knowledge of one or more of the topics covered by the seminar, which include the following:
- Asset adequacy testing
- Actuarial opinions
- Cash flow testing
- Statutory insurance accounting
- Life Insurance
- Annuities
- Reinsurance
- Valuation and nonforfeiture requirements
- Overview of health insurance
- Health claim reserves and health insurance valuation topics
- Premium, loss, expense, and contingency reserves
- Principle-based reserving (PBR)
- Risk-based capital
- Actuarial professionalism
Notes: The subcommittee meets virtually each month to plan the seminar. Subcommittee members are expected to serve as faculty and attend the seminar, held annually, in-person.
Risk Management and Financial Reporting Council
To assist actuarial professionals in recognizing and ethically integrating behavioral economics in the insurance industry in a manner that benefits both policyholders and insurance companies.
Time Commitment: The group meets once a month on an hourlong conference call. 1 to 2 hours additional on work product drafting per month.
Skills/Experience: Experience with or interest in analyzing means to influence human behaviors, and areas within insurance pricing and modeling which could be impacted by behavioral economics. Excellent written communication skills.
The Climate Change Joint Committee engages with various issues related to climate change, including analyzing aspects of climate disclosures, the variations of climate impacts, and broader climate issues. The committee also interacts with various federal agencies on climate-related issues in the form of comment letters and other correspondence.
Time Commitment: The group meets once a month on an hour-long conference call. 1 to 2 hours additional workload in work product drafting per month.
Skills/Experience: Experience with or assessing various aspects of climate risk preferred, and/or experience with climate disclosure requirements. Willingness to explore how climate risk affects all practice areas and provide input on cross-practice initiatives. Excellent written communication skills.
To further the actuarial profession’s involvement in big data and machine learning technologies and to inform public policy decision-making related to the use of big data, predictive models, and other advanced analytics in unbiased and objective terms. The committee monitors federal legislation and regulatory activities and is charged with developing papers intended to educate stakeholders.
Time Commitment: The group meets once a month on an hour-long conference call. 1 to 2 hours additional workload in paper drafting per month.
Skills/Experience: Experience with or interest in big data, predictive models, and emerging issues in the field.
This group aims to further the actuarial profession’s involvement in artificial intelligence and to inform public policy decision-making related to the use of artificial intelligence in unbiased and objective terms. The subcommittee operates in a cross-practice function to monitor the use of AI across the industry as well as provide technical expertise to inform and educate stakeholders.
Time Commitment: The group meets once a month on an hour-long conference call. 1 to 2 hours additional workload in paper drafting per month.
Skills/Experience: Experience with or interest in artificial intelligence, especially from a health or property/casualty perspective. Excellent written communication skills.
The ERM/ORSA Committee represents the Academy in enterprise risk management (ERM) and Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) matters at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the International Actuarial Association (IAA), and before other interested stakeholders by producing position papers on ERM and ORSA matters and developing ideas for research on ERM and ORSA issues. The committee includes members from property/casualty, life, and health practice areas.
Time Commitment: One conference call every other month and 2 to 4 hours per month maximum workload.
Skills/Experience: A working knowledge of enterprise risk management principles, including governance, risk assessment, risk quantification, and model risk management is preferred. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: The committee appreciates all active volunteers, and would particularly appreciate new members with health, climate risk, or cyber risk experience, or those working in a government or academic setting.
The CRFD subcommittee of the ERM/ORSA Committee is both researching CRFD and commenting on current proposals to add and/or revise CRFD requirements by regulators. The subcommittee is currently reviewing climate risk-related guidance to actuaries and how this guidance might be improved.
Time Commitment: One to two calls a month plus additional 2-4 hours work per month depending on project.
Skills/Experience: Interest in climate disclosures and climate risk issues preferred. Excellent written communication skills.
This committee coordinates and develops Academy work on domestic and international financial reporting issues that affects multiple areas of actuarial practice. The committee also monitors related work within the other practice councils to ensure consistency and avoid conflicts across practice areas.
Time Commitment: One monthly conference call and 2 to 4 hours per month expected workload.
Skills/Experience: Financial reporting experience is required. Public accounting financial reporting (e.g., U.S. GAAP, or IFRS) is a plus. Excellent written communication skills.
Notes: Optional annual meeting with AICPA’s Insurance Expert Panel.
The IFRS 17 Work Group of the Financial Reporting Committee focuses on the comprehensive International Financial Reporting Standards that establish the accounting for insurance contracts. IFRS 17 was released in May 2017, and after being deferred two years, has an effective date of January 1, 2023. Companies are in the midst of determining their implementation strategy. The work group analyzes and discusses the implementation of the new international standard and creates educational resources for actuaries working in financial reporting. The work group also responds to international stakeholder exposures related to IFRS 17.
Time Commitment: The group generally meets once every other month on an hourlong conference call.
Skills/Experience: Financial reporting experience particularly related to IFRS matters is required. Excellent written communication skills.
The Reinsurance Work Group works on reinsurance issues that affect multiple areas of actuarial practice. The work group discusses research and public policy initiatives relating to reinsurance and develops Academy work on reinsurance-related public policy issues that affect multiple areas of actuarial practice, domestically and abroad. Importantly, the work group monitors and interacts with the reinsurance committees of the International Actuarial Association and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors.
Time Commitment: The group meets once a month on an hourlong conference call. 1 to 2 hours additional workload in work product drafting per month.
Skills/Experience: Experience of reinsurance issues is required. Excellent written communication skills.
Short-Term/Micro-Volunteer Opportunities
The Pension Assistance List (PAL) is a service created by the Academy. It is open to actuaries who are interested in helping individuals who seek to understand their pension benefits. It is intended to provide professional services to consumers who have questions about their pension plans. PAL is not intended to provide legal support or expert witness services in connection with pending or contemplated litigation. When a request is received, the PAL coordinator seeks to find an actuary from the PAL volunteer list who has the appropriate expertise. The PAL actuary contacts the consumer directly and commits to offer up to four hours of free help. Knowledge of pension and retirement benefits is required. For more information about the PAL program, please visit the webpage.
There are opportunities to contribute an article to the Academy’s bimonthly publication, Contingencies. The Academy may contact volunteers to check availability and willingness to write, be interviewed for, or contribute in some other way to the development of an article.
If you are interested in contributing an article to Contingencies, please list the preferred topics of interest for the article. Please note that indicating an interest in contributing an article does not mean that you will be contacted. It will depend on how many members respond and what opportunities are available.
This option allows the Academy to contact you to present or co-present on an Academy-related professionalism or public policy topic for an actuarial club, employer group, or other external event.
This option allows the Academy to contact you to review written public policy or professionalism materials for publication by the Academy.
This option allows the Academy to contact you for an opportunity to contribute material for dissemination in one of the Academy’s publications (the practice-specific quarterlies or Contingencies).
This option allows the Academy to contact you to participate in Actuary Voices, the official podcast of the American Academy of Actuaries. This podcast brings thoughtful conversations on the role of professionalism in actuaries’ day jobs and the Academy’s public policy work.
This option allows the Academy to contact you to be interviewed to share a glimpse of your professional and personal lives.
My subject matter expertise/topical interest:
- Professionalism
- Public policy within my area of practice(s)
- Public policy cross-practice
- Education and Events
- Communications
- Membership
- Future actuary/pipeline
- Other
This is a pilot option for established volunteers interested in mentoring volunteers.
This option allows the Academy to contact you to help with various opportunities around our in-person events, including greeters, dine-around hosts, etc.
This option allows the Academy to contact you to help with focus groups around new Academy activities, coordinate outreach to students, become social media ambassadors, etc.
The Academy Education and Events team needs volunteers in all practice areas who would be willing to make themselves available at various times throughout the year for education programming purposes – possible tasks include reviewing program proposals, virtual event development and speaker recruitment, content tagging and course and curriculum development in Academy Learning, writing learning objectives for content, regular review of Academy Learning content for relevancy, etc.
Time Commitment: will vary depending on project.
Skills/Experience: Deep knowledge of actuarial professionalism (Code, ASOPs, USQS) and ability to collaborate and work across practice areas, and experience creating actuarial educational material. Excellent written communication skills.”
This option allows the Academy to contact you for an opportunity to contribute resources and perspectives to enhance the Academy’s work and programs (e.g., written materials, videos, presentations, events) and your engagement in Academy activities.
This option allows the Academy to contact you for an opportunity to contribute resources (e.g., written materials, videos, presentations) for the Academy’s Career Center.
This option allows the Academy to contact you for an opportunity to contribute resources (e.g., written materials, videos, presentations) for students and educators.