This Week, Jan. 6 - 10, 2025

MEMBERSHIP

Volunteer Training Webinar Next Week

The Academy will hold a volunteer-focused training webinar next week that will be repeated later this month to offer volunteers an introduction to new technology to support the critical work of our committees. The two online platforms will help streamline and enable virtual collaboration for committees and foster stronger virtual connections, and community-building, for volunteers.

• RSVP here for the Jan. 15 session.

• RSVP here for the Jan. 28 session.

Both sessions are for Academy volunteers only. For current Academy volunteers, please check your email for a link to the Volunteer Feedback Survey. We value your input. To learn more about becoming an Academy volunteer, visit actuary.org/volunteer. For more information, please contact Volunteer and Member Engagement Manager Anthony Washington at volunteer@actuary.org, or 202-223-8196.

OUTREACH & NEWS

P/C, Life & Health Law Manuals Available for Order

The Actuarially Sound blog kicks off the new year with a post on the Academy’s P/C Loss Reserve Law Manual and Life and Health Valuation Law Manual—useful reference tools that are updated annually for casualty, life, and health actuaries and are available to order.

Testimonials:

• “I refer to the Law Manual multiple times throughout the year as my clients come up with any number of reserving-related regulatory questions that they want me to assist with,” said Leslie Marlo, chairperson of the P/C Law Manual Subcommittee. “It’s great to have one handy resource in order to help them out.”

• “The law manual is an invaluable resource for navigating the complexities of state-based regulations,” said Michael Watanabe, chairperson of the Life and Health Law Valuation Manual Review Subcommittee. “Having a single document to review and confirm the historical reserving methods, assumptions, and requirements across all 50 states has been a significant time-saver when addressing any questions or challenges that may arise from regulators, auditors, or internal reviews—more effective than searching for answers online for hours.”

Order your law manuals today.

In the News

• Academy Life Vice President Jason Kehrberg discussed some of the impacts a new economic scenario generator may entail for actuaries and life insurers in a subscriber-only Life Annuity Specialist story.

Spread the Word—Academy Promotes Resources for Actuarial Students

As a new semester begins at many institutions of higher learning, the Academy reached out to almost 200 university actuarial science educators, highlighting the Student Resources Page and available resources, including speakers on professionalism and public policy topics. University programs interested in hosting a virtual or in-person Academy speaker may also send a request to communications@actuary.org. Please spread the word with your alma maters and any academic organizations you support.

PROFESSIONALISM

ICYMI—The ‘Alphabet Soup’ of the ABCD

In case you missed it, the Contingencies Up to Code column by outgoing Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (ABCD) member Tammy Dixon covers the “Alphabet Soup—An ABCD Primer” and the ABCD’s confidential request for guidance (RFG) process.

• Read more—The December “Professionalism Counts” also covers the RFG process.

EDUCATION & EVENTS

Jan. 23 Webinar to Focus on Behavioral Economics Research

The Academy will hold a webinar later this month, Behavioral Economics in Insurance and Retirement Planning: Select Award for Research Submissions, which will feature presentations by 2024 Award for Research winner Doron Samuell and two others who presented submissions for the award. It will be moderated by Research Committee Chairperson Grace Lattyak and will feature insights relevant to all practice areas. It’s set for Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. EST. Registration will open soon.

PUBLIC POLICY

COPLFR Webinar Discusses P/C Practice Note

The first webinar of 2025 was hosted by the Committee on Property and Liability Financial Reporting (COPLFR) on Wednesday. COPLFR 2024 Opinion Season featured COPLFR members, including moderator Aaron Hillebrandt, who looked at key issues in its annual practice note on statements of actuarial opinion on P/C loss reserves, along with the recent Seminar on Effective P/C Loss Reserve Opinions (and a look ahead to this year’s, set for Salt Lake City in December), and the P/C Loss Reserve Law Manual. Watch a replay on Academy Learning.

Public Policy in Brief

• The Non-Guaranteed Elements Subcommittee released a public policy practice note, Actuarial Standard of Practice (ASOP) No. 2: Non-Guaranteed Elements for Life and Annuity Products, which examines the circumstances in which insurers have the right to exercise discretion to prospectively change a non-guaranteed element to be within the scope of ASOP No. 2.

Visit the Public Policy webpage to stay on top of the latest news and activity.

2025 EVENTS CALENDAR

• Jan. 15: Academy Volunteer Training—Box and Higher Logic

• Jan. 23: Behavioral Economics in Insurance and Retirement Planning: Select Award for Research Submissions

• Jan. 28: Academy Volunteer Training—Box and Higher Logic

• Feb. 4: Insights From the PBGC Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate

• Feb. 26: Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) Plans: What Are They and Could They Work in the U.S.?

• Feb 27: The Academy’s New Membership Requirements: What You Need to Know

• April 2–4: Academy Hill visits; Washington, D.C.

• May 22–23: Insuring the Future: Insurance Investment Summit; New York City

• June 12: Future of Retirement Symposium; Washington, D.C.

• Sept. 8–10: Casualty Loss Reserve Seminar; Philadelphia

• September: Health Equity & Behavioral Health Symposium; Washington, D.C.

• Nov. 17–20: Life and Health Qualifications Seminar; Arlington, Va.

• Dec. 8–9: Seminar on Effective P/C Loss Reserve Opinions; Salt Lake City

Visit the 2025 Events Calendar for a complete listing of Academy events, including links to post-webinar slides and recordings via Academy Learning.