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SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries

English, Finance, 1 season, 192 episodes, 3 days, 11 hours, 56 minutes
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This is the official podcast feed of the Society of Actuaries
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Health Section: ACA Hot Topics

Join Host Jackie Lee in a discussion of ACA hot topics in preparation for the upcoming CY 2026 filing season with Lydia Tolman.
10/14/202432 minutes, 23 seconds
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Marketing & Distribution Section: Impact of Lower Interest Rates on Marketing and Distribution

In this episode, host Tiana Zhao, FSA, CERA explores impacts of interest rate changes on insurance market, specifically on marketing and distribution.
10/3/20249 minutes, 58 seconds
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Health Section: Medicare STAR(T) of a New Era

Listen in as host Jackie Lee talks to Suzanna-Grace Tritt about Medicare Stars again. We first began this discussion with the 2020 podcast, Health Section: Medicare Star Ratings. Is it a STAR(T) of a new era? What has happened with Stars since Covid? What happened during the summer of 2024 that was unprecedented?   Also, here are other articles from Suzanna-Grace and her Wakely team to dig deeper into Stars: -            Initial Star Ratings and the impact of a significant cut point methodology change -            Updated Star Ratings, which were changed due to SCAN and Elevance lawsuits -            CMS proposes additional temporary changes to Stars
9/30/202433 minutes, 42 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Endless Possibilities - The Wide Variety of Uses for the Actuarial Skillset

Join us for the September edition of the YPAC podcast as host Derek Camenga, ASA, is joined by Ross Starfeldt, FSA, who discusses the various roles and challenges he has encountered throughout his career as an actuary. From his start in consulting to traditional actuarial functions to strategic leadership positions, Ross has seen a wide variety of ways in which an actuary could provide value and shares his thoughts on how these roles shaped his career for the better. Ross also shares tips on how to position yourself for different opportunities and for succeeding in any role you hold as an actuary. 
9/23/202429 minutes, 28 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Roy Ju

In this episode Roy Ju, FSA, CERA, MAAA, joins host Nick Kocisak, ASA, to discuss how to build credibility early in your career and accelerate your professional growth. Roy shares his experience through his exam journey and highlights some of the key actions and perspectives that have fueled his success. 
9/11/202445 minutes, 1 second
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Emerging Topics Community: Understanding LLMs - Tokenization

Join Anders Larson and Shea Parkes as they delve into the technical aspects of large language models (LLMs); this episode focuses specifically on the process of tokenization. They discuss how understanding the workings of these models can aid in interpreting their outputs and integrating them into actuarial work. The conversation covers the evolution of natural language processing, the significance of tokens in LLMs for bridging text to numbers, and the stochastic process of generating new tokens.
9/6/202421 minutes, 11 seconds
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Marketing & Distribution Section: The Future of US Individual Insurance Markets: Navigating Trends, Strategies, and Visions

In this podcast episode, join host Tiana Zhao, FSA, CERA and guest Leyla Lesina, Head of Individual Markets Distribution at Guardian Life, to take an in-depth look at the current state of the US individual insurance market, including the key trends, challenges, and opportunities facing insurers. We'll explore the evolving consumer landscape, the impact of financial volatility, and discuss how to set visions and strategies in today’s world.
9/4/202416 minutes, 20 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Navigating the Future: Insights from Insurtech Leader Blake Hill, FSA, FCIA

Join us for another exciting episode of YPAC podcast as host Yisi Wang, FSA, CFA sits down with Blake Hill, FSA, FCIA, a distinguished leader in the insurtech industry. Discover the transformative power of technology in insurance, and the unique challenges and opportunities within the insurtech sector. Blake also shares invaluable career advice for young professionals and highlights the benefits of volunteering within actuarial organizations. 
8/26/202419 minutes, 56 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Austin Kang

Host Nick Kocisak, ASA, is joined by Austin Kang, FSA, MAAA, CERA, to discuss the importance of being more than just a "number cruncher" as you fulfill your actuarial duties.  Austin shares his experience working in the health consulting industry and provides lessons learned on how to leverage your actuarial background to gain trust and confidence with your clients and coworkers. 
8/14/202425 minutes, 20 seconds
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The Actuarial Foundation: Math Motivators: Inspiring the Next Generation of Math

In this podcast episode, Virginette Scott, The Actuarial Foundation’s Stem Stars/Math Motivators Program Specialist sets the spotlight on The Actuarial Foundation’s Math Motivators program. Virginette’s guests are Barry Jacobson, retired actuary and the visionary founder of Math Motivators, and Jill Geritano, the parent of a former and a current Math Motivators student, who both thrived in the program. We will delve into the history of the Math Motivators program with Barry and explore its transformative impact on the educational journeys of students who have participated.
8/7/202413 minutes, 21 seconds
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Marketing & Distribution Section: Emerging Risks and Their Implications on Marketing and Distribution with Max Rudolph and Tiana Zhao

In this episode, we explore the rapidly evolving landscape of emerging risks and how they are impacting the world of marketing and distribution. From climate change and artificial intelligence to financial volatility and geopolitical landscapes, we'll dive deep into the key challenges and opportunities facing businesses today.
8/6/202424 minutes, 18 seconds
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From Actuary to CFO - The Journey to a Non-Traditional Actuarial Role

In this podcast episode, Jonas Brobbey hosts Elizabeth Dietrich FSA, CERA, MAAA, who takes us through her career journey from Actuary to CFO and provides actionable tips on navigating and forging a successful career as an Actuary.   
7/29/202438 minutes, 17 seconds
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Health Section: Continuous Medicaid Unwinding: What’s Next for the Health Care Markets in 2024?

After being in effect for over three years, the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) expired in May 2023. From the start of the PHE, state Medicaid programs applied continuous coverage (or non-termination) requirements to access additional federal matching funds provided through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 ended the Medicaid continuous coverage requirements in March 2023, disconnecting the federal match requirements from the PHE. This change was projected to result in millions of individuals losing their Medicaid coverage, raising questions about significant short-term and long-term impacts on state Medicaid programs and other health insurance markets.  During this podcast, our guests discuss where we are over a year into the unwinding of the continuous coverage requirements, as well as the projected effects on health coverage for the Medicaid population. Presenters also shared considerations for addressing the unwinding in Medicaid managed care capitation rate-setting.
7/22/202423 minutes, 10 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Taylor Pickett

Join host Nick Kocisak, ASA and guest Taylor Pickett, FSA, MAAA for a discussion of the importance of leveraging foundational actuarial principles and communicating effectively when working in innovative areas of the profession. Taylor shares his experience working with accelerated underwriting programs around the industry and provides insights into how he and his team help insurers get comfortable with the assumptions developed for each unique program. 
7/10/202445 minutes, 47 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Evolution of Technology: A Journey Through Time

Join us for a conversation that journeys from the 1980’s to today, exploring how technology along with the nature of actuarial work has evolved. On this podcast, Bill Sayre, FSA (an actuary with decades of experience) will take Shang Xu, FSA (a Gen Z actuary) into the past, examine how the nature of actuarial work changed with the advancements in technology, how actuarial analysis became more sophisticated as products became more complex. This podcast highlights the only constant throughout history is change and encourages the listeners to stay curious and embrace the changes we face in our profession.
6/24/202434 minutes, 21 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Cyber Insurance: Evolution, Trends, and Risk Mitigation Strategies

In this podcast Joe Alaimo interviews Rahul Nawab, SVP, Analytics at EXL to discuss cyber insurance evolution, risk mitigation, and emerging trends. They explore emerging trends, adaptive strategies, data analytics, and insurer innovations in cyber insurance and risk mitigation.
6/12/202429 minutes, 6 seconds
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Health Section: Saudi Women in Actuarial Field

In this episode, Dave Dillon has a conversation with Ashwag Alzahrani; Saudi Arabia’s First Female FSA. 
6/10/202426 minutes, 15 seconds
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Upward Calculations: Navigating Success through Managing Up

Join us for a conversation dedicated to helping actuaries navigate the complexities of “managing up” in their profession. On this podcast, Tasha Boland, FSA and Morgan Zuidema, FSA will delve into practical strategies and insights for building effective relationships with managers, understanding leadership styles, and achieving career growth within actuarial teams. From communication techniques to goal-setting strategies, listeners will gain valuable tips to elevate their professional presence and excel in their actuarial careers. 
6/3/202431 minutes, 43 seconds
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Financial Reporting Section: Demystifying Regulatory Bodies and Rating Agencies (Part 2): NAIC

In the next installment in a series to further explore and differentiate the regulatory bodies and rating agencies overseeing the insurance industry, this podcast presents a conversation with Fred Anderson, Chief Life Actuary for the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Fred describes his role as the Chief Life Actuary for the state as well as the interaction between state insurance departments and the NAIC, current priorities at the NAIC, and a view on future regulatory changes and how they will affect financial reporting actuaries.
6/3/202422 minutes, 56 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Mike McPhee Anderson

Join new host Nick Kocisak, ASA, and Mike McPhee Anderson, FSA, to learn about Mike's unique educational background and the importance of data science know-how in the actuarial world.  In this episode, Mike discusses some advantages of continuing education and dispels data science "dirty words" like Poisson distribution and decision tree in hopes that actuaries will embrace these advanced techniques and continue to drive the profession forward!
5/28/202414 minutes, 27 seconds
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Health Section: Gene and Cell Therapy Basics

In this episode, Dave Dillon discusses some basics of gene and cell therapies with Marnie Bute of AON and Kristi Bohn of RGA, including a summary on the science, costs, as well as network and coverage concerns. 
5/27/202429 minutes, 44 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: What Are the Chances We Will Lose More Than $1 Million?

In this episode Joe Alaimo interviews Joan Barret, Achilles Natsis and Tony Pistilli to discuss total risk analysis, a technique that provides a consistent methodology for answering questions like “what are the chances we will lose more than $1 million?”
5/22/202421 minutes, 15 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: Mike Bergerson and the M&A Webcast on May 23

Roger Loomis gets to know Mike Bergerson and learns about the upcoming webcast “LTC M&A—Are the Floodgates Opening?” The webcast is on May 23rd 2024 from 12:00 to 1:15 PM ET. Please register here: https://www.soa.org/prof-dev/webcasts/2024-ltc-floodgates/
5/16/202417 minutes, 27 seconds
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Health Section: Weight Loss Management Drugs

Listen as host Jackie Lee discusses GLP-1s and their role in Weight Loss Management, with Tyler Engel. They discuss how these drugs are being used and what actuaries should consider when assessing their costs and implications. 
5/13/202422 minutes, 19 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Return to Trees, Part 4: Gradient Boosting Machines

In the final episode of this mini-series, Shea and Anders cover the other common tree-based ensemble model, the Gradient Boosting Machine. Like Random Forests, GBMs make use of a large number of decision trees, but they use a “boosting” approach that cleverly makes use of “weak learners” to incrementally extract information from the data. After an explanation of how GBMs work, we compare them to Random Forests and go over a few examples where they have used GBMs in their own work.
5/1/202426 minutes, 8 seconds
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The Actuarial Foundation: Math Competitions - Developing Mathletes

Nichole Semprit, The Actuarial Foundation Senior Program Specialist and  Channy Cornejo, AP Calculus and AP Statistics Instructor at Santa Teresa High School discuss how the Foundation math competitions, Modeling the Future Challenge and The Hardest Math Problem Student Contest help students expand their skills, build confidence and win college scholarships.
5/1/202415 minutes, 3 seconds
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Health Section: Calculated Risk

Listen in as host Jackie Lee talks with Joan Barrett about the recent research paper, “Calculated Risk: Driving Decisions Using the 5/50 Research.” The discussion and report will help you answer key questions like “what are the chances we will lose more than $1million.”
4/29/202422 minutes, 12 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Unique Actuarial Career Journeys: Not All Paths to Becoming an Actuary are Linear

Join us for another exciting YPAC podcast as host Shawn Stender, FSA, MAAA, discusses unique actuarial career journeys with Lana Marozava, ASA, CERA, and Joe Long, ASA, MAAA. This podcast will shed light on the numerous different paths that young professionals can take on their journey to become an actuary. Whether that means changing careers from a teacher, project manager, or data scientist or just taking the exams at your own pace—this podcast will help young actuaries understand that there is more than one way to be successful in actuarial work.  
4/29/202431 minutes, 8 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Frank Yeager

Join Frank Yeager, FSA and Chris Smith, ASA for an insightful discussion about leadership, the future of actuarial consulting, and the value of strong relationships. Frank shares his advice for aspiring and early-career actuaries gleaned over the course of a two-decade long career at Mercer that has culminated in his latest role as US Health Actuarial and Financial Group Leader.
4/16/202432 minutes, 20 seconds
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Health Section: Leadership Series: Tim Rozar

Listen as host Jackie Lee talks with SOA President and Chair, Tim Rozar. They discuss Tim’s actuarial and volunteer background and the SOA’s goals for the year to come. Be sure to check out Tim’s Presidential address here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BG0AhwX6Ic  
4/15/202425 minutes, 38 seconds
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Product Development Section: Promises and Risks of Emerging Data in Insurance

Podcast on the industry adoption of emerging data sets across the insurance value chain. The participants include recognized leaders from business, regulation, legal, and innovation. The discussion covers current adoption practices, business opportunity, regulatory  and legal considerations.
4/12/202450 minutes, 12 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Return to Trees, Part 3: Random Forest

Building on the discussion of individual decision trees in the prior episode, Shea and Anders shift to one of today’s most popular ensemble models, the Random Forest. At first glance, the algorithm may seem like a brute force approach of simply running hundreds or thousands of decision trees, but it leverages the concept of “bagging” to avoid overfitting and attempt to learn as much as possible from the entire data sets, not just a few key features. We close by covering strengths and weaknesses of this model and providing some real-life examples.
4/10/202431 minutes, 9 seconds
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Health Section: Actuaries Discuss Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

Dave Dillion and Bryon Robidoux discuss the book Dare to Lead, which was the Joint Risk Management and Leadership & Development Sections book club selection for December. They discuss what it means for managers to be vulnerable. How to give and receive feedback from both a manager’s perspective and the direct report perspective. The end the podcast talking about actuaries can be more curious and innovative.
4/1/202423 minutes, 9 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Professionalism – The Code and Beyond

What is professionalism?  Is it just following the law?  The code/rules of professional conduct?  Is it more than both of those? Listen to our podcast where YPAC member Patrick Samborsky, ASA, MAAA discusses professionalism with Charly J Pazdor, FSA retired, who has written about professionalism for The Actuary magazine as well as being a course director and facilitator for the FAC. 
3/25/202429 minutes, 36 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Return to Trees, Part 2: Single Decision Trees

Shea and Anders dive into tree-based algorithms, starting with the most fundamental variety, the single decision tree. We cover the mechanics of a decision tree and provide a comparison to linear models. A solid understanding of how a decision tree works is critical to fully grasp the nuances of the more powerful ensemble models, the Random Forest and Gradient Boosting Machine. In addition, single decision trees can still be useful either as a starting point for building more complex models or for situations where interpretability is paramount.
3/20/202442 minutes, 1 second
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Health Section: Great Unwinding

Join host Jackie Lee and guest Colby Schaeffer as they delve into the recent SOA research paper, “Modeling the Impact of the Great Unwinding on State Medicaid Programs.” They explore the model presented in the research paper and discuss the societal and actuarial implications of the Great Unwinding. Tune in to learn more about this important topic.
3/18/202423 minutes, 11 seconds
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Health Section: Neurofeedback: A Potential Game Changer for Mental Healthcare?

Dave Dillon talks to psychologist Matt Fleischman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Neurofeedback Advocacy Project, and Charlie Doe, a retired group health actuary, about neurofeedback, infra-low frequency (ILF) neurofeedback, the data on over 500 clients who have completed 20 sessions of ILF neurofeedback, and the prospect to expand neurofeedback's availability.   
3/4/202421 minutes, 56 seconds
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Financial Reporting Section: Demystifying Regulatory Bodies and Rating Agencies (Part 1): AM Best

In the first of a series to further explore and differentiate the regulatory bodies and rating agencies overseeing the insurance industry, this podcast presents a conversation with Matthew Mosher, MAAA, FCAS, CERA, President and CEO of AM Best Rating Services. Matt presents an overview of the goals of and approaches taken to evaluate insurance companies with a focus on the important considerations for financial reporting actuaries and how they assist the relationship between AM Best and the companies under review.
2/29/202428 minutes, 58 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Jim Cristallo

Join Jim Cristallo, FSA and Chris Smith, ASA for an insightful discussion as they dive into the topics of entrepreneurship, blockchain, baseball cards, and - of course - tips and tools for early-career actuaries.
2/28/202429 minutes, 1 second
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Long Term Care Section: Update on Public LTC Financing Exploration in California

Roger Loomis interviews Stephanie Moench about her research supporting the exploration of a statewide Long Term Care insurance program in California.
2/28/202443 minutes, 22 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Return to Trees, Part 1: Overview of Tree-Based Algorithms

This is the first episode in a new mini-series, “Return to Trees”. In this series, Shea and Anders will be covering tree-based algorithms, including single decision trees, Random Forests, and Gradient Boosting Machines. In this episode, we discuss the rationale for re-visiting these models, which were covered in older podcast episodes in the mid-2010s, as well as an overview of what’s to come in the remaining episodes of the mini-series.  
2/28/202410 minutes, 11 seconds
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From Career Crossroads to Volunteering: A Non-Traditional Actuarial Odyssey

Prepare for a dynamic conversation on the YPAC podcast as host Silver Zhou, FSA, engages in a rich discussion with special guest, Kelly Hennigan, FSA, CFA, a leader in business who transitioned away from traditional actuarial roles. From the impactful influence of mentors on career paths, navigating trust in the workplace, and the intricacies of working with non-actuaries, this episode promises special insights and perspective. Also, discover the secrets of staying motivated and dedicated to giving back to the profession as Kelly shares her experiences as a longtime volunteer.
2/26/202424 minutes, 31 seconds
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Health Section: Critical Illness: Past, Present & Future

Listen to Ashlee Borcan and Jennifer Howard of Milliman discuss the past, present and future of critical illness insurance.  This podcast is based on the article, “Critical Illness Turns 40!”, written by Ashlee and Jennifer.
2/19/202424 minutes
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The Actuarial Foundation’s Impact: Celebrating our 30th Anniversary

Jeff Johnson, The Actuarial Foundation immediate past board chairperson talks with Andy Ferris, current board chairperson and incoming board chairperson, Sharon Robinson about the vital work being done by the Foundation. The group highlights how the Foundation’s advancement efforts positively influence the lives of our students and how the actuarial community drives our impact. Visit the https://actuarialfoundation.org/ for more information.
2/7/202411 minutes, 26 seconds
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Health Section: Unveiling Healthcare’s Hidden Numbers: Navigating the Landscape of Price Transparency and Coverage Data

Dive deep into the world of healthcare data with industry experts discussing the groundbreaking machine-readable files, unraveling hospital charges, discounted cash prices, and negotiated rates with health plans. Learn about the positive applications and pitfalls within these extensive datasets, gaining valuable insights from experts who have navigated the complexities of transparency in coverage.
2/5/202424 minutes, 43 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Ryan Wodarski

It's a new year and a new episode! Listen in as Ryan Wodarski, ASA, and host Chris Smith, ASA, discuss how to stand out to employers, transition successfully from the ASA to the FSA exam track, and plenty of other tips for early career actuaries.
1/30/202425 minutes, 10 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Actuarial Career In Reinsurance - The Experience And Insights of Stephen Abrokwah Ph.D, FSA, CERA, MAAA

In this podcast, fast-rising leader in the reinsurance space, Stephen Abrokwah Ph.D, FSA, CERA, MAAA, shares some general knowledge about reinsurance and delves a bit more into his own career journey and experience as a client-facing reinsurance Actuary.
1/29/202443 minutes, 43 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Vy Le

Join Vy Le, FSA, CERA and Chris Smith, ASA for a great discussion of topics that include pursuing your passions (both at work and outside of it), the value of education and the SOA exam track, and - of course - tips and tools for early-career actuaries.
12/27/202331 minutes, 32 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Being An Actuary In Latin America - Part Two

Join Roberto Gomez, ASA, and Kiu Yuen, FSA, as they explore the Actuarial world within Latin America with their expert panel in this two-part episode. This discussion promises a rich conversation covering topics like the journey of becoming an actuary, the role of SOA in Latin America, and the myriad career paths that actuaries can embark upon. Whether you're an aspiring actuary or an industry professional, this episode is your gateway to understanding the nuances of being an actuary in Latin America. Please enjoy our Spanish introduction by our Host, Roberto Gomez, ASA!
12/25/202323 minutes, 19 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in Insurance Product Development Part 2

Discover the role that a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) has in insurance product development in our two-part podcast series. Experts Joe Alaimo and Chris Siudzinski explore how MVP and agile software development can innovate insurance solutions.
12/22/202336 minutes, 6 seconds
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Marketing and Distribution Section: Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in Insurance Product Development Part 2

Discover the role that a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) has in insurance product development in our two-part podcast series. Experts Joe Alaimo and Chris Siudzinski explore how MVP and agile software development can innovate insurance solutions.
12/22/202336 minutes, 6 seconds
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Health Section: The Biosimilar Wave

Are the many new biologic drugs that launch each year bringing the clinical innovation that patients desperately need or the financial doom that healthcare benefit plan sponsors and their members cannot afford?  Or both?  What are biosimilar drugs and how can they help?  This podcast and its related series of articles in Health Watch helps actuaries better understand the potential clinical and financial impact that the coming wave of biosimilars could have on our healthcare system and how plan sponsors can best leverage it for their populations.
12/18/202325 minutes, 26 seconds
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Health Section: The Inflation Reduction Act: What Should Actuaries Know?

In this podcast, Jackie Lee interviews Milliman Principal Gabriela Dieguez on the highlights of the Inflation Reduction Act and how it is shaping Medicare Part D, the largest prescription drug program in the world.
12/4/202321 minutes, 19 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Jennifer Lang

Join Jennifer Lang, FIAA and Chris Smith, ASA for a great discussion on this latest episode of the Actuary of the Future section’s podcast for aspiring actuaries. Topics include actuaries’ intersection with the field of data science, our role in helping manage the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and - of course - tips and tools for early-career actuaries.
12/1/202336 minutes, 4 seconds
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Marketing and Distribution Section: Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in Insurance Product Development

Discover the role that a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) has in insurance product development in our two-part podcast series. Experts Joe Alaimo and Chris Siudzinski explore how MVP and agile software development can innovate insurance solutions.
12/1/202335 minutes, 50 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in Insurance Product Development

Discover the role that a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) has in insurance product development in our two-part podcast series. Experts Joe Alaimo and Chris Siudzinski explore how MVP and agile software development can innovate insurance solutions.
12/1/202335 minutes, 50 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Being an Actuary in Latin America - Part One

Join Roberto Gomez, ASA, and Kiu Yuen, FSA, as they explore the Actuarial world within Latin America with their expert panel within a two part episode. This discussion promises a rich conversation covering topics like the journey of becoming an actuary, the role of SOA in Latin America, and the myriad career paths that actuaries can embark upon. Whether you're an aspiring actuary or an industry professional, this episode is your gateway to understanding the nuances of being an actuary in Latin America. Keep an eye out for Part 2 of this episode, releasing in December. Please enjoy our Spanish introduction by our Host, Roberto Gomez, ASA!
11/29/202323 minutes, 34 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: A Little Help from My Friends: The Power of Networking with SOA Sections

Join Morgan Zuidema, FSA, and Bryon Robidoux as they take you into the world of SOA Sections. Uncover the practical insights, tools, and strategies that can help you leverage Sections to advance your professional journey through becoming a "Friend of a Section". Gain a comprehensive understanding of what Sections are, their tangible benefits, and how they can be a pivotal asset in shaping your career for success.
10/30/202319 minutes, 12 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Actuaries in the Age of AI: A conversation with ChatGPT

In this captivating podcast, Joe Alaimo, CEO of ProComp, sits down with ChatGPT, one of the most advanced AI models, to delve into the future of the actuarial profession.  ChatGPT provides thought-provoking insights and predictions on where the profession is headed, the challenges that lie ahead, and the opportunities that come with embracing innovation. Whether you're a seasoned actuary, a student, or just someone fascinated by the intersection of AI and actuarial science, this podcast offers a fresh perspective unlike any other. Tune in to stay ahead of the curve and be part of the conversation shaping the next chapter of the actuarial world.
10/12/202314 minutes, 33 seconds
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Social Insurance & Public Finance Section: Episode 4 - Social Security: A Look Ahead

In the conclusion of a four-part series, Bruce Schobel and Geof Hileman discuss what lies ahead for the Social Security program. The trust funds are projected to be depleted around 2034, but what does that really mean for beneficiaries? And what can be done?
10/11/202338 minutes, 33 seconds
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Social Insurance & Public Finance Section: Episode 3 - Social Security: Benefit Calculations

In Part 3 of a four-part series, Bruce Schobel and Geof Hileman dive deep into some of the finer calculation details related to Social Security benefits. If you don't know what a bend point or a COLA is, this episode is for you.
10/11/202336 minutes, 35 seconds
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Social Insurance & Public Finance Section: Episode 2 - Social Security: Key Beneficiary Decisions

In Part 2 of a four-part series, Bruce Schobel and Geof Hileman analyze some of the key decisions that retirees face, most importantly the critical question of when to start receiving Social Security benefits. Disability benefits and spousal benefits are also covered in this episode.
10/11/202347 minutes, 27 seconds
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Social Insurance & Public Finance Section: Episode 1 - Social Security: An Overview

In Part 1 of a four-part series, Bruce Schobel and Geof Hileman discuss the history and structure of the Social Security program, which provides benefits to over 66 million Americans each month. In this episode, you will learn why you should care about this program, both as an actuary and as a taxpayer and likely future beneficiary.
10/11/202333 minutes, 40 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Dominic Lee, The Maverick Actuary

The Maverick Actuary, Dominic Lee, ACAS reflects on his dynamic career journey which traverses insurance, software, content creation, and public speaking with host Chris Smith, ASA. Dominic shares granular insights on opportunities for actuaries outside of insurance, AI's impact on the actuarial profession, navigating career moves, presenting to senior leaders, and working remotely in a post-pandemic world. 
10/2/202348 minutes, 54 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: The Actuary’s International Roadmap

Join us for a captivating episode as YPAC Member Silver Zhou, FSA, MAAA, sits down with special guest Andres (Andy) Montes, ASA, MAAA, MBA. Delving into Andy's one-of-a-kind international career journey, offering valuable insights for those looking to shape their own distinctive career paths. Discover the benefits of working abroad and how to seize those exciting prospects!
9/25/202321 minutes, 58 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Launching Your Actuarial Career: Mary Pat Campbell

Join Chris Smith, ASA, and Mary Pat Campbell, FSA for an insightful discussion full of tips and tricks for early-career actuaries and those aspiring to enter the field (as well as a brief detour into the topic of poker).
9/18/202333 minutes, 36 seconds
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Entrepreneurial and Innovation Section: Everyday Entrepreneur: From Dance to Actuarial Innovation

Host Rong Rong, FSA, CPCU, and Arthur da Silva, FSA, FCIA, talk about how dancing and music relate to an actuarial career and what day-to-day work is like in a start-up company.
9/13/202334 minutes, 58 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: LTC Innovation and Wellness

Roger Loomis and Erik Wenzel discuss Assured Allies wellness program which reports it can reduce LTC claim costs by 18%.
9/13/202329 minutes, 40 seconds
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Health Section: SDOH Beyond the Numbers

Listen in as host Jackie Lee and guests Rebecca Owen and Sara Teppema delve into the intricate world of social determinants of health (SDOH) and their profound impact on actuarial workstreams. They explore how SDOH data, sourced from a range of primary and secondary sources, shapes actuarial decisions in the healthcare sector. From ethical considerations surrounding human data to the evolving landscape of health information, they discuss the strategies and insights that guide actuaries in leveraging SDOH data responsibly. Tune in to discover how actuaries and health insurance professionals can harness this rapidly evolving area to drive positive outcomes and contribute to a healthier future. https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2023/soc-phy-cultural-doh/ https://www.soa.org/496f00/globalassets/assets/files/resources/research-report/2023/sdoh_act_data_workstreams.pdf  
9/11/202326 minutes, 30 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: AI and the Future of Actuarial Work: Shaping the Future of Insurance and Actuarial Science

Welcome to the final episode of our 3-part series on AI and ChatGPT and their implications for actuaries. In this concluding episode, Joe Alaimo, CEO of ProComp, is joined by Deloitte AIS team members and AI experts Andrew McLeod and Harrison Jones to explore the future trajectory of AI technology and its potential disruption of the insurance and actuarial professions. They reflect on the lessons learned from the adoption of ML/AI technologies in the past decade and anticipate how the impact of General AI (GAI) and Large Language Models (LLM) might deviate from this path. The conversation then navigates through the ethical and professional challenges that could arise with the implementation of GAIs and LLMs in the actuarial profession, strategies insurers can adopt to leverage these technologies while mitigating risks, and how the job market for actuaries might be reshaped with increased adoption of these advanced tools. This podcast offers a fascinating insight into the evolving landscape of the actuarial profession, providing valuable perspectives for anyone in or considering a career in actuarial science. For more in-depth coverage read Harrison Jones and Andrew McLeod's article in The Actuary.
9/8/202321 minutes, 42 seconds
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Financial Reporting Section: Assumption Governance Overview

Industry experts discuss the latest trends and developments relating to assumption governance, especially as it relates to financial reporting and valuation work.
8/30/202320 minutes, 8 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Supporting the Future

Join Young Professional Advisory Council Chair Kiu Yuen, FSA, MAAA as she chats with SOA’s Beth Gall, Senior Director, Member and Candidate Engagement. Beth discusses the various ways SOA supports candidates, members, DEI initiatives and volunteerism. 
8/28/202315 minutes, 6 seconds
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Entrepreneurial and Innovation Section: Everyday Entrepreneur: Conversation with a Generalist Actuary

Host Rong Rong, FSA, CPCU, learns about uncommon actuarial and entrepreneurship experiences with generalist actuary Sam Wehner, ASA, MAAA.
7/31/202342 minutes, 20 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council- Actuarial Careers: Consulting vs. Insurance

Join Lisa Jiang, FSA, MAAA and Young Professional Advisory Council (YPAC) member as she talks with fellow YPAC member Patrick Samborsky, ASA, MAAA, and colleagues Jing Qian, ASA, MAAA and Joyce Wang, FCAS about their unique experiences working in both consulting and insurance. 
7/31/202320 minutes, 28 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Reimagining Actuarial Reporting with AI: Introducing ReportGen.AI (Part 2 of 3)

Welcome back to part 2 of our 3-part series on AI and ChatGPT, where we continue to explore the potential impacts of AI on the actuarial profession. In this episode, Joe Alaimo, CEO of ProComp, resumes the conversation with Deloitte AIS team members and AI experts, Andrew McLeod and Harrison Jones, focusing on a fictional AI product named ReportGen.AI. This innovative concept aims to revolutionize actuarial reporting by streamlining and enhancing the process. Together, they discuss the benefits of integrating AI in report generation, potential implementation challenges, and the possibilities of incorporating interactive data visualizations and quantitative computation. They also touch upon other potential applications of generative AI and LLMs in the insurance industry. Tune in to delve deeper into how AI is set to reshape the future of actuarial work and stay tuned for the concluding part of the series where they will discuss the future state of this technology. For more in-depth coverage read Harrison Jones and Andrew McLeod's article in The Actuary.
7/28/202317 minutes, 18 seconds
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Health Section: Optimizing Operations - an Interview with Chad Hollenback

Dave Dillon talks with Chad Hollenback about his new role as Executive Director of Resource Management FP&A at Aetna - and the lessons he's learned along the way. From key leadership initiatives to implementation missteps - Chad shares his thoughts on getting the most out of people and creating a positive and productive workplace.
7/3/202322 minutes, 29 seconds
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Interview with LTCI Producer Sally Leimbach

Roger Loomis discuss the past and future of the LTC insurance industry with an LTC sales veteran.
6/29/202335 minutes, 6 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: A DEI Discussion

Listen in on a robust conversation with Harrison Lin, FSA, MAAA, YPAC member and Vice-Chair of the SOA DEI Committee as he discusses exciting new DEI initiatives with Karthik Balaji, FSA, EA and Chair of the Joint Committee on Inclusion, Equity & Diversity. 
6/26/202323 minutes, 55 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Unveiling AI and GPT-4: Actuarial Impacts and Insights (Part 1 of 3)

In this first episode of a 3-part series, Joe Alaimo, CEO of ProComp, is joined by Deloitte AIS team members Andrew McLeod and Harrison Jones to delve into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a specific focus on the Generative Pretrained Transformer 4 (GPT-4). Together, they demystify the concepts of generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and explore how GPT-4, a product of OpenAI, stands out from its predecessors. This episode provides a comprehensive understanding of AI's impact on various industries, specifically how these technological advancements have been transforming the insurance sector and the actuarial profession. Tune in to learn more about the potential of AI and stay tuned for the next episode where they will propose a fictional AI product for actuaries. For more in-depth coverage read Harrison Jones and Andrew McLeod's article in The Actuary.
6/20/202320 minutes, 37 seconds
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Leadership & Development Section and Joint Risk Management Section: It’s time to pick up the books!

The SOA Leadership & Development (L&D) and Joint Risk Management (JRM) Sections are excited to announce that we are jointly starting a Book Club initiative focusing on leadership development and decision making this year!    This will be a platform for all actuaries (and non-actuaries) to learn and share insights on leadership related topics. It is open to all experience levels since leadership skill development is a natural progression, starting with leading by example.   Every other month, we will host a virtual discussion on lessons-learned and key takeaways from a pre-selected book. In-person meetings will be arranged during major SOA conferences as networking events. You don’t have to attend all discussions. Each session is independent, and you can just register for the book tile or theme that you are interested in.   Each virtual session will be facilitated by two volunteers. It is intended to be an interactive session and a safe place for participants to reflect on the key concepts discussed in the book, key takeaways and practical applications. Through our selection of books, we hope to cover a wide range of hot topics, such as negotiation, handling difficult conversations, delegating effectively, making risk based strategic decisions, etc.    Book Club session line up for 2023: 1.     “Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It” by Chris Voss – discussion on August 9th 11am central. Register here: https://www.soa.org/prof-dev/webcasts/2023-never-split-difference/ 2.     “Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.” by Brené Brown – discussion to be held late September; exact date and registration details will be announced soon 3.     “The Ten Commandments of Risk Leadership: A Behavioral Guide on Strategic Risk Management” by Annette Hofmann – discussion to be held early December; exact date and registration details will be announced soon.   We have selected book titles for sessions to be hosted in 2024, and are also looking for volunteers to lead discussions. If you are interested, please reach out to Shirley Wu ([email protected])  & Emily Li ([email protected]).
6/8/20234 minutes, 39 seconds
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Entrepreneurial & Innovation Section: Everyday Entrepreneur: From Traditional Actuary to Start-up Innovator

Host Rong Rong, FSA, CPCU, talks with Victor Zhao, FSA, CERA, about his career journey from traditional actuarial roles to working at Eden Health, a tech start-up working to accelerate growth in primary health care.
6/7/202332 minutes, 42 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Longevity Risk Management by Karl Gagnon, FSA, MAAA

Longevity Risk Management was awarded first place in the 2022-23 Speculative Fiction Contest. This An audio version is part of the first place prize package. Here's what literary judge, Dr. Bob Mielke, had to say about the story, "What a great little story! We have here an engaging conflict, some action, punchy dialogue, and plausible world-building. Nice focus! The whole issue of whether one would ever get too old to want to live has a venerable pedigree in the speculative genre..."
6/7/202321 minutes, 16 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: SOA Catastrophe and Climate Risk Research

YPAC member Elizabeth Alleman, FSA, MAAA discusses the SOA’s Catastrophe and Climate Risk research efforts with a few young professionals who dedicate their time to the program: Priya Rohatgi, ASA, Matt Self, ASA, and Aadit Sheth, FSA, ACIA, CERA. 
5/29/202328 minutes, 36 seconds
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Health Section: CAS’ Bias Research

Host Jackie Lee discusses the recent CAS research papers that address potential racial bias in insurance pricing with Mallika Bender. While we may be actuaries working in different disciplines, there is still a lot that can be learned for the work of the CAS and its committees. Listen as Jackie and Mallika talk about the components of one of the research papers.
5/23/202327 minutes, 9 seconds
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Health Section: CAS’ Bias Research

Host Jackie Lee discusses the recent CAS research papers that address potential racial bias in insurance pricing with Mallika Bender. While we may be actuaries working in different disciplines, there is still a lot that can be learned for the work of the CAS and its committees. Listen as Jackie and Mallika talk about the components of one of the research papers.
5/22/20230
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Social Insurance & Public Finance Section: French Social Security Reform and Unrest

Earlier this year, millions of people in France took to the streets to protest against the raising of the retirement age from 62 to 64. We will explore the context behind the reform and protests.
5/19/202325 minutes, 43 seconds
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Social Insurance & Public Finance Section: Interview with Hank Kim: Executive Director and Counsel for the National Conference On Public Employee Retirement Systems

NCPERS is the largest trade association for public pensions, representing approximately 500 plans, which manage about $4 trillion in retirement funds and cover more than 22 million participants. Hank will discuss NCPERS and their research.
5/17/202356 minutes, 40 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Community Update

The SOA launched a new initiative, the emerging topics community, as a pilot in 2021.  In this short discussion, we explain what the emerging topics community is, how it is structured and what benefits it brings to the SOA community.  Information is also provided on how anyone can volunteer and contribute. Joe Alaimo interviews volunteer leaders in the community Kevin Durand, Laura Whitaker and Nick Miller View the SOA professional opportunities such as webcasts and topic calls: https://www.soa.org/pdopportunities If you are interested in contributing by writing an article, speaking at a conference or joining a podcast send an email to [email protected]  
5/11/202319 minutes, 53 seconds
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Health Section: IBNR with Zero Run Out

Host Jackie Lee and Robert Lynch discuss a different method for calculating IBNR when there is not run out available, called the Average Paid PMPM Method. Based on his recent HealthWatch article, Rob discusses how this method can produce more reliable results with less volatility. Learn about the method, and be sure to check out the article with step by step instructions on the method.
5/8/202320 minutes, 55 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Building Your Personal Brand

Young Professional Advisory Council’s Silver Zhou, FSA, MAAA, discusses the importance of personal brand and building your reputation with Aree Bly and Jon Forster, ASA, MAAA. Also learn more about the SOA Next Generation Leaders Summit, where Aree will be leading a session on this topic. 
4/24/202329 minutes, 19 seconds
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Health Section: GE & Long Term Care Reserves

Dave Dillon discussed with Paul Conlin, FSA, MAAA, the recently-published book “Power Failure” by William Cohan, on the 2001-2018 unraveling of General Electric.  One of the business events which led to the near-failure of GE was an under-reserving of Long Term Care reserves by 16 billion dollars, discovered in 2018 just as various other problems were emerging for the company.  There are lessons for actuaries in the series of events which led to the LTC reserve “accident”.
4/24/202325 minutes, 17 seconds
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Entrepreneurial & Innovation Section: Everyday Entrepreneur: From Actuary to Author with Aree Bly

Host Rong Rong, FSA, CPCU, talks with inspirational entrepreneur Aree Bly about Aree's entrepreneurial journey and other fun things.
4/19/202328 minutes, 46 seconds
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Health Section: 340(b) Drug Program

Host Jackie Lee discusses the 340(b) Drug Pricing Program with Tony Pistilli of Axene Health Partners. Learn about the program's history and the significant growth it has seen in recent years to now account for almost 8% of all outpatient drug sales while concerns about potential abuse and unintended consequences have also increased.
4/10/202323 minutes, 43 seconds
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Health Section: Broader Actuarial Roles in Health Finance

Dave Dillon hosts a conversation with Brian Tajlili as he discusses his role leading business planning for a health insurance organization and similarities and differences with traditional actuarial roles.
3/27/202321 minutes, 56 seconds
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Young Professionals Advisory Council: Actuarial Data Science

Data science is all the buzz! Listen in on the conversation between YPAC member Philip Wright, ASA, and his colleague Nick Laffey, FSA, as they discuss the application of a data science skillset to an actuarial role. 
3/27/202319 minutes, 53 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Factorization Machines for High Cardinality Features (Part 4 of 4)

This is the fourth in a 4-part series where Anders Larson and Shea Parkes discuss predictive analytics with high cardinality features.  In the prior episodes we focused on approaches to handling individual high cardinality features, but these methods did not explicitly address feature interactions.  Factorization Machines can responsibly estimate all pairwise interactions, even when multiple high cardinality features are included.  With a healthy selection of high cardinality features, a well tuned Factorization Machine can produce results that are more accurate than any other learning algorithm.
3/14/202318 minutes, 44 seconds
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Health Section: Stop loss Market conditions with Jon Forster

Dave Dillon welcomes guest Jon Forster, former executive for Medical Risk Managers for a discussion about current Market conditions of the stop loss industry. We’ll cover current stop loss products in the market, the pipeline of cell and gene therapy, and new underwriting uses of AI.  Jon has 20 years’ experience in actuarial leadership positions and recently moved to work full time with the Society of Actuaries to accelerate  professional development offerings.  
3/13/202331 minutes, 56 seconds
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Financial Reporting Section: Drink in the Details: Sunrise of LDTI

This podcast is the third in our series “Drink in the Details,” featuring casual discussions with experts on a variety of financial reporting topics. Join Chris Whitney, as he discusses the ‘sunrise of LDTI’ with Matthieu Bousetta, Mark Billingsley, Dieter Van de Stock and Nathan Worrell over a tequila sunrise.
3/10/202318 minutes, 57 seconds
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Young Professionals Advisory Council: Young Professionals Making Waves

Join YPAC member Harrison Smith, ASA, as he talks with Nathan Worrell, FSA, to learn about found success and growth within the actuarial profession. Hear Nate’s suggestions to define and pursue success including how to utilize your skillset, volunteering to gain access to knowledge, and finding resonance in your work. 
2/27/202322 minutes, 9 seconds
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Health Section: Underwriting Transformation in the Level Funded Market

This episode focuses on the evolution of underwriting techniques to the current use of predictive models.  Topics include what carriers might consider when launching a model, reflections on when not to use results from a model, current regulatory concerns and activity around predictive models, and other topics carriers may run into once a model is up and running.
2/27/202322 minutes, 33 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: The Hashing Trick for High Cardinality Features (Part 3 of 4)

This is the third in a 4-part series where Anders Larson and Shea Parkes discuss predictive analytics with high cardinality features.  In this episode they focus on feature engineering via the hashing trick.  The hashing trick is most applicable for extremely high cardinality, and at first glance can seem almost ridiculous.  In a lot of ways, it is the same as bucketing values at random.  But there are times that it is more valuable to include randomly engineered buckets than to exclude the original high cardinality feature entirely.
2/21/202319 minutes, 37 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Y-aware Feature Engineering with High Cardinality Features (Part 2 of 4)

This is the second in a 4-part series where Anders Larson and Shea Parkes discuss predictive analytics with high cardinality features.  In this episode they focus on y-aware feature engineering.  Y-aware feature engineering is all about carefully bleeding information from your training response back into your engineered features without grossly misrepresenting your ability to generalize to new data.
1/31/202319 minutes, 46 seconds
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Young Professional Advisory Council: Welcome to a New Series

Anthony Weatherspoon, ASA, MAAA, and Kiu Yuen, FSA, MAAA introduce the latest addition to the SOA’s podcast lineup. Discover what to expect from the Young Professional Advisory Council series, how often to tune in, and topics to be covered in upcoming episodes.
1/30/20234 minutes, 32 seconds
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Young Professionals Advisory Council: Strategic Initiatives

Join the Young Professional Advisory Council (YPAC) Board liaison Melody Prangley, FSA, MAAA, EA, FCA, as she discusses upcoming and future initiatives for YPAC, exciting engagement opportunities, ways for members to elevate their networks and skillsets and how to manage and delegate a team.
1/30/202311 minutes, 57 seconds
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Health Section: Food Intervention Impact

Host Jackie Lee discusses the impacts of food intervention with Lauren Driscoll of NourishedRx. Learn about how this important basic need impacts the health and well-being of under-served populations and how health plans and actuaries should think about this impact in health care costs. Lauren explains how these services can create a deeper connection between consumer and their health plan. The State of US Health, 1990-2016, Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Among US States  
1/23/202318 minutes, 44 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Introducing Predictive Analytics with High Cardinality Features (Part 1 of 4)

This is the first in a 4-part series where Anders Larson and Shea Parkes discuss predictive analytics with high cardinality features.  In this episode they focus on introducing what high cardinality features are, why you might want to work with them and some of the basic approaches to including them in predictive models.
1/10/202327 minutes, 45 seconds
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Health Section: Leadership Series: John Robinson

  Title: Leadership Series: John Robinson Description: Jackie Lee discussed with John Robinson about his new role as SOA President. He talks about his background and how he got to this prestigious and monumental role. They discuss his Presential Speech, which is found here. 
1/2/202328 minutes, 27 seconds
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Product Development Section: Confusing the Matrix

12/28/202238 minutes, 17 seconds
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Health Section: Ensuring Predictive Model Wellbeing

A conversation on monitoring and maintaining data science models and how that compares to actuarial models.
12/26/202223 minutes, 18 seconds
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Product Development Section: Electronic Health Records (EHR)

What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR). Digital Medical Data today and how it is used today? How does it compare to Attending Physician Statement (APS) and what’s in it for underwriters.
12/15/202230 minutes, 16 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: California Long Term Care Insurance Task Force

Parag Shah discusses his involvement with the California Long Term Care Insurance Task Force, which has been discussing potential public LTC options for the state of California.
12/12/202224 minutes, 2 seconds
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Health Section: Bias in Health Insurance Pricing?

Jackie Lee joins Lydia Tolman and Jackie Young as they discuss their SOA Research paper, “Interactions of Health Care Rating Factors with Race, Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Factors.” We discuss how health care rating factors should be considered when being used in pricing.
12/12/202231 minutes, 37 seconds
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Health Section: Current Events in Supplemental Benefits

Join us as Ashlee Borcan and Dave Dillion discuss current events and trends in the supplemental benefits world. 
12/5/202223 minutes, 52 seconds
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Building Digital Platforms: Insurtechs, Carriers, and Reinsurers

11/30/202237 minutes, 57 seconds
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Health Section: Auditor Check-in

Discussion regarding recent industry events and what your auditor will be looking for in regards to these impacts.
11/21/202226 minutes, 39 seconds
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Health Section: Navigate through Risk-Based Capital with Success

Risk-based capital (RBC) is a method of measuring the minimum amount of capital appropriate for an insurer to support its overall business operations, taking into consideration the insurer’s size and risk profile. Today’s focus is on the Health RBC which is a standardized way to aggregate risk using a capital formula applied across insurers and for the public record.
11/7/202219 minutes, 22 seconds
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Health Section: Better Care Through Understanding the Customer Not Just the Patient

Learn how healthcare actuaries are going beyond claims and enrollment data to drive clinical, financial and operational performance by leveraging new data sources and machine learning. 
10/24/202225 minutes, 40 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: The Tests Never End: An Overview of Software Testing Methods for Actuaries - Part 3 of 3

This is the third and final installment of a 3-part series where Joe Alaimo and Andy Rallis discuss the different types of software testing, what they are, how they are performed and ways that they apply to the software development that actuaries are involved in.  Full Description: Have you ever been involved with a software development project?  One thing that all software development projects have in common is testing.  You may have been involved in some of the testing of these systems or maybe you were in meetings where testing was discussed or perhaps you are interested in doing more testing in the work that you are doing.  You may have heard some terms such as unit testing, integration testing and functional testing but are not sure what the differences are. You may also not work with software development but want to understand elements of software testing so that you can apply them to your actuarial work. In this final installment of a 3-part series, Joe Alaimo and Andy Rallis cover related topics to software testing: Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD), How to write a test, Test Driven Development (TDD), and Agile’s relationship to testing. The two explain what each topic is, how each topic relates to the types of testing discussed in earlier installments and why each topic is important. They also discuss considerations and tradeoffs when thinking through implementing CI/CD, TDD or Agile testing. Links to the tools discussed in the podcast: GitHub – The most popular code repository (owned by Microsoft) https://github.com TravisCI – An early build and test running service for code https://www.travis-ci.com TestPad – A tool for test case management https://ontestpad.com
10/13/202238 minutes, 30 seconds
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Health Section: Hot Topics and Trends in Group & Worksite Supplemental Health Products

Dave Dillon interviews Kristi Hardenbergh, Actuary with Sydney Consulting Group, about group and worksite supplemental health products. Learn about the different types of products offered, as well as how the market is changing due to hybrid work, the rising “gig economy”, new product offerings, and attempts to enhance the consumer experience.
10/10/202225 minutes, 22 seconds
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Actuary of the Future Section: Speculative Spectacular: Where Fiction Meets Reality Part 3

Explore where fiction meets reality. In Part 3 of the “Speculative Spectacular” series, Nate Worrell talks with award winners from the 14th Speculative Fiction contest and contest coordinator, Gary Lange, about how fiction writing improves actuarial communication. Then we look at their visions of possible futures, discussing the real world implications related to societal issues and cultural trends.  In ‘Actuaries from Mars’, by Nate Worrell, a visitor from the red planet arrives with an important and unexpected mission.  And in ‘Farewell Valeria’ by Beverly Orth, alien observers are scoping out a future home and need to understand what makes humans act so strange. Want more? Read their stories here.  The Speculative Spectacular will launch in October of 2022.
10/6/202239 minutes, 3 seconds
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Actuary of the Future Section: Speculative Spectacular: Where Fiction Meets Reality Part 2

Explore where fiction meets reality. In Part 2 of the “Speculative Spectacular” series, Nate Worrell talks with award winners from the 14th Speculative Fiction contest about how fiction writing improves actuarial communication. Then we look at their visions of possible futures, discussing the real world implications related to Artificial Intelligence and a world run by algorithms.   In “Tea Leaves”, Bethany Coffee searches for a soul in a system that decides how risky you are.  A.I. based underwriting results motivate an actuary to develop a cure declining health in Al Klein’s “Preferred Plus”. And in “The Elixir of Life”, Angela Xu explores a calculation that determines if you die or live (possibly forever). Want more? Read their stories here.  The Speculative Spectacular will launch in October of 2022.
9/29/202226 minutes, 48 seconds
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Health Section: Disparities Between Location and Health

Jackie Lee talks with research authors, Joan Barrett and Stephanie Entzminger, about how where you live impacts your health. Listen to hear more about their research about this SDOH and how it impacts actuaries.
9/26/202217 minutes, 9 seconds
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Actuary of the Future Section: Speculative Spectacular: Where Fiction Meets Reality Part 1

Explore where fiction meets reality. In this episode of the “Speculative Spectacular” series, Nate Worrell talks with award winners from the 14th Speculative Fiction contest about how fiction writing improves actuarial communication. Then we look at their visions of possible futures, discussing the real world implications related to continuous personal health tracking. In “Just Don’t Look at It” by Chris Fievoli, a continuous insurance premium suddenly spikes, indicating immediate danger. Karl Gagnon’s “Premium Day Eve” follows the pursuit of achieving a perfect health score. And Camille Knepper explores the relationship between humans and their health AI ‘Buddy’ in “Health Watch.” Want more? Check out these authors stories.   The Speculative Spectacular will launch in October of 2022.
9/22/202238 minutes, 48 seconds
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Marketing and Distribution Section: Trends in Distribution and Marketing of Affluent Insurance Market

9/14/202239 minutes, 40 seconds
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Financial Reporting Section: Drink in the Details Part Three: IFRS 17 and Iced Tea

This podcast is the third in our series “Drink in the Details,” featuring casual discussions with experts on a variety of financial reporting topics. Join Chris Whitney, as he discusses IFRS 17 with Amal Rajwani and Doug Van Dam over a glass of iced tea.
8/30/202218 minutes, 36 seconds
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Health Section: Pet Insurance

Join Jackie Lee and Philip Wright as they talk about Pet Insurance. They discuss the similarities and differences between Pet Insurance and Health Insurance. Listen to gain a better understanding of the industry and its future.
8/15/202219 minutes, 23 seconds
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Health Section: Enrollee Choice

Jackie Lee talks with Geof Hileman about the SOA research titled “Modeling Effects of Enrollee Choice.” In this discussion, we cover simplistic markets and gradually make the markets more sophisticated to show the impacts of enrollee choice and tools that help consumers make decisions, focusing on the ACA market.
8/1/202230 minutes, 24 seconds
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The Tests Never End: An Overview of Software Testing Methods for Actuaries – Part 2 of 3

This is the second in a 3-part series where Joe Alaimo and Andy Rallis discuss the different types of testing, what they are, how they are performed and ways that they apply to the software development that actuaries are involved in.  Full Description: Have you ever been involved with a software development project?  One thing that all software development projects have in common is testing.  You may have been involved in some of the testing of these systems or maybe you were in meetings where testing was discussed or perhaps you are interested in doing more testing in the work that you are doing.  You may have heard some terms such as unit testing, integration testing and functional testing but are not sure what the differences are. You may also not work with software development but want to understand elements of software testing so that you can apply them to your actuarial work. In this second installment of a 3-part series, Joe Alaimo and Andy Rallis cover four other types of testing: Property Testing, Smoke Testing, Load or Performance Testing, and User Acceptance Testing. Similar to part one, topics include what these types of testing are, how they are performed and ways that they apply to the software development that actuaries are involved in.  Joe and Andy explain why each method is important, provide examples and discuss tools that can be used to help with testing. Links to the tools discussed in the podcast: R: hedgehog: A property based testing library that integrates with testthat and the Tidyverse. https://hedgehog.qa/article/r-property-testing Python: hypothesis: A python property testing library that integrates with pytest. https://hypothesis.works/      
7/29/202225 minutes, 35 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: Dementia Facilities and the Effects of Covid - A Case Study in Georgetown Living

In this podcast, a follow-up to our April 23, 2021 discussion, Dr. Char Hu, co-founder of Georgetown Living (link: https://www.gtownliving.com), talks about rebalancing facility goals post-pandemic and staying true to GL’s commitments to clients, families and employees. 
7/22/202223 minutes, 43 seconds
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Health Section: Deep Dive Beyond Healthcare Claims: Uses of Real-time Clinical Data

On this episode, Dave chats with Kelvin Wursten, Senior Director, Data Science at PointClickCare on all things clinical data. Listen in to hear more on how the industry leverages the direct use of clinical healthcare data, the common challenges, and the observations Kelvin has made moving from a traditional actuarial role at a health insurer to now leading the data team at PointClickCare.
7/11/202219 minutes, 33 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: The Tests Never End: An Overview of Software Testing Methods for Actuaries – Part 1 of 3

This is the first in a 3-part series where Joe Alaimo and Andy Rallis discuss the different types of testing, what they are, how they are performed and ways that they apply to the software development that actuaries are involved in.  Full Description: Have you ever been involved with a software development project?  One thing that all software development projects have in common is testing.  You may have been involved in some of the testing of these systems or maybe you were in meetings where testing was discussed or perhaps you are interested in doing more testing in the work that you are doing.  You may have heard some terms such as unit testing, integration testing and functional testing but are not sure what the differences are. You may also not work with software development but want to understand elements of software testing so that you can apply them to your actuarial work. This is the first in a 3-part series where Joe Alaimo and Andy Rallis discuss the different types of testing, what they are, how they are performed and ways that they apply to the software development that actuaries are involved in.  They explain why each method is important, provide examples and discuss tools that can be used to help with testing. Links to the tools discussed in the podcast: R: testthat: a unit testing framework from the Rstudio team who created the popular package eco system Tidyverse https://testthat.r-lib.org Python: pytest: a popular and simple unit testing framework in python and it works with other python testing frameworks https://pytest.org Excel/VBA: Rubberduck: a VBA unit testing framework that can help test VBA code for models written in VBA/Excel https://rubberduckvba.com  
6/29/202233 minutes, 16 seconds
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Health Section: A Conversation with John Bertko

Dave Dillon interviews Covered California’s John Bertko about a wide-range of health insurance and healthcare reform topics
6/27/202231 minutes, 58 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: Predictive Analytics in the LTC Industry

Ali Ahmadi of TCARE discusses his company’s efforts to use predictive analytics to support informal caregivers. Ali also discusses other ways how the LTC may change over time to utilize emerging technologies.
6/23/202224 minutes, 38 seconds
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Health Section: Telehealth Reducing Costs?

Have you ever assumed that telehealth should reduce health care costs for health plans? Listen in as Jackie Lee and Kirsten Staveland discuss how this assumption may not be accurate. They also discuss innovations in telehealth that are emerging more prominently in the healthcare space that could impact actuaries in their jobs.
6/13/202226 minutes, 32 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: A Recap of the 2022 ILTCI Conference

John discusses the recent ILTCI conference with the chair of the actuarial track, Linda Chow, and how to people can get involved with the conference in the future.
6/8/202223 minutes, 15 seconds
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Health Section: Health Actuarial Work in An Integrated Delivery System

Dave and Andrew discuss the similarities and differences in actuarial work between working for an integrated delivery system (or payer/provider combinations) vs. a traditional insurance company/health plan, including advantages, challenges and tips for new actuaries starting work at a payer/provider organizations. 
5/30/202219 minutes, 17 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Anders vs. Shea, Part 4: A Champion is Crowned

It’s time for the big reveal as we find out which of our two podcast hosts prevailed in the hotly contested 2021 Milliman Health Practice Hackathon. Was Shea able to leverage his years of machine learning and predictive analytics experience to guide his team to the victory? Or was Anders poised for a “student has become the teacher” situation after absorbing Shea’s wisdom over the last six years of recording podcasts together? In addition to discussing the much-awaited final score, the hosts talk about what key factors influenced the outcome. They wrap up the series by looking back at the competition as a whole, what they learned, and things to consider for others hosting or participating in a hackathon-style competition.
5/23/202222 minutes, 9 seconds
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Health Section: Evaluating Healthcare Innovation

Solutions in healthcare to drive better care at a reduced cost have grown significantly over the past 5 years.  Dave Dillon talks to Ed Pudlowski about the role health actuaries play to bring credibility to the claims made by these solution providers.
5/16/202220 minutes, 44 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Anders vs. Shea, Part 3: Shea's Story

Anders is back in the host chair as we hear from Shea and Tanner Boyle, who were on a competing team in the 2021 Milliman Health Practice Hackathon. Similar to the discussion in part two of the series, today’s discussion touches on high level topics like strategy, time management, and organization, but also gets into the weeds with some of the decisions Shea and Tanner’s team made regarding feature engineering, algorithms, and ensembling. Shea and Tanner talk about what went well for their team, as well as some areas where they felt they could have improved. The discussion provides an informative complement to part two, highlighting the ways that different groups actuaries and data scientists can approach the same problem.
5/9/202244 minutes, 7 seconds
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Health Section: Heavy Metal Music

For pricing actuaries working in the individual exchange market, the metallic plans created by the ACA – bronze, silver, gold, and platinum – have been anything but simple. Do new state mandates around actuarial sloping assumptions create better deals for customers, or do they make an already confusing problem even more challenging to understand?
5/2/202223 minutes, 55 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Section Elections: How to Become an SOA Section Council Member

Now is the time to become a candidate for an SOA Section Council. Current Section Council members Joe Alaimo and Kevin Duran walk you through why and how to volunteer for this important leadership position.
4/28/202212 minutes, 25 seconds
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Reinsurance Section: Reinsurance Section Spotlight: Mike Green

Mike Green, FSA, MAAA, Vice Present at Canada Life Re sharing his insights with podcast host Jing Lang, FSA, FCIA, MAAA, FLMI.
4/27/202236 minutes, 20 seconds
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Social Insurance & Public Finance Section: Leadership Series interview with Tonya Manning.

Tonya Manning, Buck’s Wealth Practice Leader & Chief Actuary, recent DOL appointee to Advisory Council and Former SOA and IAA President is interviewed. Tonya discusses her career, leadership at two major actuarial firms, public pensions, and her actuarial volunteer work.
4/26/202227 minutes, 11 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Anders vs. Shea, Part 2: Anders' Story

Shea plays the role of host today and talks shop with Anders and Nick Vander Heyden, who competed as part of a team in the 2021 Milliman Health Practice Hackathon. The gang covers a wide range of topics, including team strategy and organization, exploratory data analysis, feature engineering, and choice of algorithm. Although Anders and Nick were generally pleased with their team’s performance, they discuss what they wish they had done differently and what they would have done to refine their predictions with more time. The discussion illuminates the practical considerations involved in tackling a real-world predictive analytics project and why the human element is still a critical part of machine learning.
4/25/202235 minutes, 6 seconds
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Health Section: Changing Landscape of Medicaid Pharmacy

In this episode, Dave Dillon interviews Dustin Ryan, FSA, MAAA about the everchanging landscape of Medicaid pharmacy.  They discuss how the states pulling the levers in the pharmacy world to lower their drug expenditures.  They dive into the impact of state impacts on MCOs and the future of pharmacy.
4/18/202228 minutes, 45 seconds
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M&A and Margaritas

"Drink in the Details” is a podcast series featuring casual discussions with experts on a variety of financial reporting topics. In this episode, Chris Whitney and his guests Liz Millard and Kevin Piotrowski enjoy margaritas as they discuss financial reporting and valuation considerations associated with Mergers and Acquisitions.
4/12/202216 minutes, 55 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Anders vs. Shea, Part 1: Setting the Stage

Shea Parkes, FSA, MAAA, and Anders Larson, FSA, MAAA, are joined by the organizers of the 2021 Milliman Health Practice Hackathon: Riley Heckel, FSA, MAAA, Austin Barrington, FSA, MAAA, and Phil Ellenberg.
4/11/202234 minutes, 1 second
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Retirement Section: Applying Predictive Analytics to Pension Plans

This podcast interviews actuaries David Cantor and Kailan Shang, co-authors of the SOA research report titled Predictive Analytics: A Primer for Pension Actuaries. David and Kailan explain how pension actuaries can apply predictive analytics to forecast outcomes for defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
4/5/202225 minutes, 20 seconds
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Product Development Section: Introduction to Inforce Management

Chris Ryan and Jennie McGinnis discuss what Inforce Management means and provide an update on the Inforce Management Subgroup and its upcoming activities.
4/5/202223 minutes, 47 seconds
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Health Section: A Conversation with CCIIO: Jeff Wu

Dave Dillon interviews Jeff Wu who is the deputy director for policy of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO). Dave and Jeff discuss a wide-range of Affordable Care Act topics including Open and Special Enrollment periods, risk adjustment, induced demand factors, CSRs, and 1332 waivers.
4/4/202238 minutes, 44 seconds
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Social Insurance & Public Finance Section: The new ASOP 4 and how we got here: A Magical History Tour

We review the history of guidance on both market based disclosures and funding policy, and describe how the new ASOP 4 addresses both those topics.
3/22/202244 minutes, 23 seconds
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Reinsurance Section: Tiffany Norman, career development in reinsurance

Tiffany Norman, FSA, MAAA, Senior Vice President at Hannover Re sharing her insights with podcast host Jing Lang, FSA, FCIA, MAAA, FLMI.
3/21/202246 minutes, 42 seconds
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Health Section: Member Advocacy

Join Jackie Lee as she sits down with Mike Pacolay to discuss his article on the utilization of member advocates as a cost savings tool for employers to help lower claims costs for its employees.  With confusion at nearly every turn, consumers become some combination of scared, confused, angry and frustrated, but with improved transparency and guidance within the complex system, perhaps we can improve consumer health literacy.
3/21/202228 minutes, 58 seconds
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Emerging Topics Community: Introducing the Emerging Topics Community

Learn about the SOA's new emerging topics community.
3/18/202217 minutes, 52 seconds
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Health Section: Structured Reinsurance for Health Products

Dave Dillon interviews Dave Rowbottom on the topic of capital motivated reinsurance for health products – how it works, how it is evaluated, where it is commonly used, and what is involved in underwriting and implementing one of these reinsurance programs.
3/7/202215 minutes, 31 seconds
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Health Section: Building a Transformation Change Office with Guest Roger Bauer

Roger Bauer, Executive Director of the Transformation Change Office for the Atlanta market of Kaiser Permanente, speaks with host David Dillon, FSA, MAAA, about building a Transformation Change Office.  In this wide-ranging discussion, they discuss a TCO’s purpose and structure, and they further delve into project prioritization, example of success, approaches to reporting, and key success factors.
2/21/202229 minutes, 20 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: Long-Term Care Insurance Mortality and Lapse Study

Warren Jones discusses the efforts that went into the recent mortality and lapse study developed by the American Academy of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries Research Institute.
2/16/202216 minutes, 35 seconds
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Health Section: MC3 Clinical Programs

Continuing with the Managed Care 3.0 Strategic Initiative, Jackie Lee talked with Ian Duncan and Lara Dodo about  Newtopia and its case study. Cardiometabolic disease continues to be a growing public health challenge and a major economic burden for Americans.  This podcast discusses one behavior-change solution that has demonstrated success in a health plan randomized control trial. 
2/7/202231 minutes, 14 seconds
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Health Section: MC3 Gene Therapy

Jackie Lee and Wendy Kwan discuss gene therapy technology and some of the challenges US healthcare payers will face modeling for the larger upfront costs created by such treatments.
1/24/202224 minutes, 19 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: A Conversation on Public LTC Proposals

Join us as we discuss recent proposals of public programs that help address the long-term care needs of the population. 
1/21/202224 minutes, 47 seconds
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Health Section: Rural Health Care

Jackie Lee talks with Elaine Corrough about her research for the Health Section’s Managed Care 3.0 Case Study series on access to healthcare in rural areas. It highlights several programs local health plans have implemented in collaboration with various community partners with notable success.
1/10/202222 minutes, 18 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: NAIC - Bringing Clarity to LTC Rate Increase Notifications

Hear an update from state regulators Anna Van Fleet and Shannen Logue regarding the NAIC’s efforts to develop an LTCi Reduced Benefit Options Regulator Checklist. Why is it needed, what do they hope it will achieve, and when will it be available for states to use?
12/13/202118 minutes, 31 seconds
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Health Section: Managed Care 3.0 Case Studies

Jackie Lee & Karen Shelton discuss several case studies that are shaping the future of healthcare as part of the strategic initiative 18|11. They review the categories and history behind each of the different innovations that have generated results that will positively impact our health care costs. These include rural health care, health literacy, gene therapy funding and provider reimbursement. 
12/13/202122 minutes, 32 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Passing the Torch – a meeting with the AOF Interns Taylor and Steven

Tony Johnson speaks with Steven Gee and Taylor Geppert. Steven and Taylor were the 2021 Actuary of the Future Section Interns and share their insights on the experience.
12/7/202115 minutes, 3 seconds
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Modeling Section: All You Need to Know About Pension Risk Transfer (PRT): Modeling Challenges and Potential Solutions

In this episode, John Fowler, FSA, MAAA, interviews Tyler Keenan, ASA, CERA, MAAA, on Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) business, challenges in modeling PRT and potential solutions in Prophet.     Show Notes: 1) Tyler Keenan's email: [email protected] 2) John Fowler's email: [email protected] 3) Profiting from Prophet Fall 2021 edition spotlight PRT modeling in Prophet software: https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights.html
11/8/202114 minutes, 10 seconds
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Health Section: Startup Companies: Communication is Key

Jackie Lee interviews Steven Jones, Chief Actuary and Head of the Shared Incentives Organization, about the beginnings and growth of his startup company, Circulo Health, and how it differs from his previous actuarial experiences. Steven notes the three largest differences amongst soft skills when working with startups versus companies he’s worked with in the past. Hear about how you can bridge the gap between those you work with – e.g., bankers, consultants, beneficiaries – and actuarial work.
11/8/202122 minutes, 2 seconds
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Modeling Section: Unbox the Black Box

Historically, modeling actuaries had the option of developing their own “in-house” modeling solution or purchasing a platform and/or application from a vendor. Advancements in technology have provided for a 3rd option – open-source solution. Please enjoy this podcast where Edward Kuo FSA, FCIA, discusses open-source software and the fundamental freedoms that come with it.
11/1/202116 minutes, 52 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: What’s new at this year’s LTC Medical Symposium?

Robert Eaton and Shawna Meyer describe the speakers and topics at this year’s Virtual LTC Medical Symposium. The symposium will take place on Nov 30 and Dec 2, 2021, in a webinar format .
11/1/202112 minutes, 47 seconds
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Health Section: Pharmaceutical Patents and Abuses

As part of the ongoing pharmacy series, Jackie Lee talks with Tony Pistilli, FSA at Santa Barbara Actuaries, as he breaks down his article series on pharmaceutical patents and abuses. With pharmaceutical costs continuing to accelerate the growth of overall healthcare cost, pharmaceutical patents have come under increased scrutiny by a wide range of stakeholders, including Congress. He explains how the patent system works, the effects of historical reforms, potential modern-day abuses of the system and the path forward, and how actuaries can help.
10/25/202122 minutes, 13 seconds
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Predictive Analytics and Futurism Section: Machine Learning in the Cloud, Part 4 – Intro to Web APIs

Host Anders Larson, FSA, MAAA, is joined by Shea Parkes FSA, MAAA, to discuss deploying predictive models into production via web APIs. The use of web APIs for delivering predictive models has grown a lot over the last decade. In the fourth episode of this series, we discuss what a web API is, why they are useful, and provide some insurance related examples.
10/11/202121 minutes, 51 seconds
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Retirement Section: Retirement Planning Opportunity for Actuaries

Patrick Ring, ASA, EA, MSPA, MAAA, ACA and Cheryl Krueger, CFP and founder of Growing Fortunes Financial Partner, LLC discuss the role of actuaries as financial planners, focusing on retirement planning.  
10/11/202124 minutes, 42 seconds
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Health Section: Alignment Coaching with Aree Bly

Do you know how to navigate to sustainable success? Aree Bly, alignment coach for the analytical mind, shares the idea of the alignment landscape with Dave Dillon. With this model, you can make intentional decisions about the direction of your career. Finding your allies, and being an ally to others is a key component to that success at every stage of the actuarial path. 
10/11/202127 minutes, 20 seconds
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Joint Risk Management Section: Interview with Ryan Krisac, AVP of Model Risk Governance with Lincoln Financial Group

In this episode, we get to hear from Ryan, a rising star in the world of Model Risk Governance about his career, how he got into risk management, and where he sees the industry going.
9/28/202112 minutes, 20 seconds
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Health Section: Leadership Series: Jennifer Gillespie

Jackie Lee and Jennifer Gillespie, SOA President-Elect for the 2021-2022 term, discuss her background, goals, expected challenges, and that which excites her as she steps into her new role.  Actuaries of all backgrounds will appreciate the advice provided, including overcoming being less knowledgeable on a topic, and to be open to risk as an individual. 
9/27/202113 minutes, 3 seconds
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Social Insurance & Public Finance Section: 2021 Social Security Trustees Report

Flick Fornia discusses the 2021 Social Security Trustees Report with Steve Goss and Karen Glenn
9/14/202145 minutes, 20 seconds
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Health Section: International Healthcare

Initiative 18|11 intended to shift our focus towards healthcare efficiency. What can the US learn from other countries’ healthcare systems? How are other countries more efficient than the US? Jackie Lee talks with Traci Hughes about her recent article in which five countries among those debated as having some of the most efficient healthcare systems were selected to research further into their healthcare efficiencies. They discuss how those strategies may or may not be effective in the US.
9/13/202129 minutes, 26 seconds
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Health Section: SOA Health Section Council: What’s Now & What’s Next

Jackie Lee chats about the SOA Health Section Council (HSC) with its Vice Chair, Doug Norris, FSA at Milliman.  Together, they discuss how the HSC is relevant to your actuarial career beyond the Health Meeting, Listservs, podcasts and HealthWatch newsletter.  Topics discussed include efforts with continuing education, strategic initiatives (such as Initiative 18|11, Managed Care 3.0, Pharmacy series, and social determinants of health,) and networking.  Whether you’re still in exams or a seasoned actuary, learn about how you can use the HSC to your advantage, from research access or contribution, to volunteering, and what’s in the HSC pipeline that will also be beneficial.
8/30/202125 minutes, 5 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: Morbidity Experience Studies

Jeff Anderson of Milliman discusses his recent efforts related to LTC morbidity experience studies. Observed trends and future considerations are also discussed.
8/26/202113 minutes, 59 seconds
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Modeling Section: Cognitive Bias – “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble…”

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” – Mark Twain. This podcast, featuring Kevin Durand and Randall Stevenson, focuses on Cognitive Bias and Behavioral Economics. Randall conveys many examples of cognitive bias and discusses applicability to the insurance industry.  Show Notes Contact Information, Kevin Durand: [email protected] Contact Information, Randall Stevenson: [email protected] For further information, Randall has authored an SOA Report in April 2019 titled “Actuarial Utility and Preference Functions.” He has also written an article for Contingencies January/February 2020 called “Predictably Irrational.” If interested in learning more about behavioral economics, the University of Toronto has a free online course through EdX.
8/20/202116 minutes, 6 seconds
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Predictive Analytics and Futurism Section: Machine Learning in the Cloud, Part 3 – Cloud Security

Host Anders Larson, FSA, MAAA, is joined by Ben Wyatt, a security and compliance manager at Milliman, to discuss considerations around data security in the cloud. Ben and Anders discuss a variety of real and perceived risks related to data access and storage in the cloud, such as HIPAA compliance, performance on security audits, threats from hackers or other malicious actors, and other scenarios that could lead to data loss.
8/19/202127 minutes, 17 seconds
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Joint Risk Management Section: Interview with Tony Dardis

In this episode, we sit down with Tony Dardis to discuss the past, present, and future of the profession through the lens of his career. We want to thank Tony for his insights and his kindness in sharing his time and experience with us!
8/16/202127 minutes, 16 seconds
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Social Insurance & Public Finance Section: A Case Study Supporting Personalized Medicine

Chris Merkel interview Jane Gilbert about personalized medicine.
8/5/202121 minutes, 9 seconds
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Actuary of the Future: Passing the Torch - a meeting with Andy Rallis

Tony Johnson and Steven Gee speak with Andy Rallis. They discuss the future of the actuarial profession given impacts of COVID-19, changing regulation and emerging technologies.
7/30/202121 minutes, 56 seconds
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Marketing and Distribution Section: Linley Baker – Don’t Be Afraid To Do What You Really Want To Do

Jing Lang, FSA, FCIA, FLMI, MAAA, talks with Linley Baker, FSA, MAAA, about her unique career path and how it’s possible to achieve your life dreams and “do what you really want to do.”
7/20/202138 minutes
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Long Term Care Section: Offering Cash Buyouts as part of LTC Rate Increases

Nolan Tully of Faegre Drinker discusses cash buyouts, which have recently been offered as part of LTC rate increases.
7/20/202118 minutes, 23 seconds
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Health Section: Level-Funding

Dave Dillon interviews Jeremy Benson and Wendy Broadrick on the topic of Level-Funding. Topics included an overview of Level-Funding, how Level-Funding has evolved over time, how it compares to Fully-Insured and Traditional Stop-Loss and considerations for success in the Level-Funded market.
7/19/202127 minutes, 40 seconds
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Financial Reporting Section: Drink in the Details, Part One— PBR and a Beer

This podcast is the first in our series “Drink in the Details,” featuring casual discussions with experts on a variety of financial reporting topics. Join Chris Whitney, as he shares a beer and discusses Life Principles-Based Reserving (PBR) with Ben Slutsker and Dylan Strother.
7/9/202126 minutes, 19 seconds
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Health Section: YPAC: Emerging Leaders

Join Jackie Lee and the SOA’s Young Professional Advisory Council (YPAC) Chairperson, Kristen Long, ASA at Unum, to learn more about YPAC and the opportunities it offers for the next generation of actuaries.  Topics discussed include the recent Emerging Leaders Summit, networking, and the YPAC’s goals.  Learn how volunteering or becoming a member of YPAC can further your own actuarial career ambitions, whether you provide an additional inspirational voice, or are an aspiring actuarial professional.
7/5/202125 minutes, 44 seconds
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Product Development Section: Underwriting Issues and Innovation Seminar

Listen now as Chris Ryan, FSA, MAAA, Al Klein, FSA, MAAA, and Tami Britton, FALU, FLMI, FLHC, AIRC, ACS, ARA, LTCP, discuss the upcoming SOA Underwriting Issues and Innovation Seminar. This podcast briefly describes the history of the seminar, what happens “behind the scenes” to create the seminar, why the seminar is important to both underwriters and actuaries, and provides a “sneak peek” at some of the sessions that will be in the 2021 seminar.
6/21/202119 minutes, 53 seconds
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Marketing and Distribution Section: Lisa Bull – Understand Your True Impact and Unlock Stretch Opportunities

Jing Lang, FSA, FCIA, FLMI, MAAA, talks with Lisa Bull, President of Lechner & Associates, on discovering your true impact and unlocking stretch opportunities tailored to your professional and personal goals.
6/16/202146 minutes, 40 seconds
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Long Term Care Section: Multi-State Actuarial LTC Rate Reviews

Fred Andersen, the Chief Life Actuary of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, discusses efforts to create a more uniform review process related to LTC rate increases. Fred also provides details about what this review process will entail in the future
6/14/202116 minutes, 57 seconds
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Health Section: Precision Medicine Perspectives

Diving deeper into the pharmacy medicine series for pharmacy development and its process, Jackie Lee chats with Jonathan Gray and returning guest Kerri Miller about precision medicine.  Learn how manufacturers are beginning to get actuarial and health plan perspectives to enhance their budget-impact models, and how health plans can project new drug costs to enhance their pricing forecasts and negotiations with manufacturers.  Actuaries who work with health plans of all sizes can hear about specific resources in identifying populations for a drug, making appropriate assumptions, improving projections, and how to contribute earlier on in the drug development process.
5/24/202124 minutes, 14 seconds