Insights and Ideas from the American Academy of Actuaries
Contingencies
Features
Bringing Objectivity to Public Discourse
By Ted Gotsch Far from the world of lobbying, the Academy helps shape public policy by offering independent, actuarially grounded insights on complex issues-from retirement security and insurance affordability to climate risk and emerging...
Building a Public/Private Framework for LTC Financing
By Steve Schoonveld A coordinated approach between public programs and private insurance can create a sustainable foundation to meet the growing long-term care needs of older adults and their families. There is overwhelming consensus among...
Strengthening NAIC-Academy Ties for the Public Good
By Preeti Vasishtha NAIC President Jon Godfread, Nebraska Insurance Commissioner Eric Dunning, Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Nathan Houdek, and NAIC President-Elect Scott White explore how deepening collaboration with the Academy bolsters...
Inside Insurtech’s Second Wave
As insurtech enters its next phase, actuaries have an essential role to play-one that blends technical expertise with strategic insight. By Nancy Mann Jackson When Charles Zhu worked as an actuarial analyst, he would sometimes spend hours...
Rethinking Demographic Changes in Actuarial Models
By Bryon Robidoux This article explores, as demographic patterns grow more complex, how integrating complexity theory into actuarial science and deeper engagement with heterodox economic perspectives can help actuaries build more resilient,...Departments
Editor’s Note
The Actuary as Policy Architect
By Preeti Vasishtha
At first glance, public policy and actuarial science might seem like distant disciplines-one is typically shaped by political debate and legislative compromise, the other is rooted in data, models, and mathematics. But...
President’s Message
How Relationships and Rigor Support the Academy’s Public Policy Efforts
By Darrell Knapp
The September/October issue of Contingencies is focused on public policy and the Academy's role as the leading voice on issues that need an independent and objective actuarial perspective. The Academy's public policy efforts...
CEO Insights
What the Academy Stands For—and Why It Matters
By William J. Michalisin
Through this newly introduced column, I plan to periodically share updates on and from the Academy in Contingencies, with the hope that my messages will help you better understand the Academy's unique role and the...
Up To Code – Perspectives from the ABCD
At the Top of Your Game
By Tim Geddes
As a kid growing up in Michigan, I had the opportunity to play a lot of hockey. Maybe it is my imagination, but the winters seemed colder back then-cold enough that my friends and I could skate on frozen ponds for nearly the whole...
Tradecraft
A New Look at Designing ERISA Retirement Plans
By Mark Shemtob
Over the past few decades, private-sector employers have steadily shifted away from traditional defined benefit (DB) plans that offered guaranteed lifetime income, favoring instead defined contribution (DC) plans focused on asset...
Member Spotlight
Jon Wu
Give More, Receive More
Jon Wu's actuarial career has spanned continents, practice areas, and disciplines-from life insurance to enterprise risk management to mergers and acquisitions. Wu, MAAA, FSA, CERA, who worked with the Connecticut...
Cryptic Puzzle
Are We on the Same Wavelength?
By Tom Toce
Eight of the across entries require a letter to be changed, which will create a new word before entry. These letters are all crossed, so the down entries will help you determine which letters to substitute. The exchange occurs in a...
Puzzles
Party People
By Stephen Meskin
There is a well-known problem in mathematical folklore that's been around at least 75 years. "Prove that at a party of six people, there are either three mutual acquaintances or there are three mutual strangers." Of course,...
The Last Word
Public Goods and Actuaries
By Sam Gutterman
A good deal of political science discussion has dealt with the implications of public and private goods. Two fundamental characteristics of a public good are non-excludability, meaning it is difficult to prevent people from using...
