SCOPE  I have examined the list of 5 fun things to do in Atlanta as of March 12, 2024.  In forming my opinion on the list of 5 fun things to do in Atlanta, I relied upon data prepared by Google, Reddit and my own personal experiences. I evaluated the data for reasonableness and consistency. In other respects, my list included such review of different life stages folks might be in, proximity to the CAS Spring Meeting site, traffic in Atlanta and more directly the amount of time available in my schedule to write this very strange opinion-themed list.   OPINION  In my opi ..read more

How did being an actuary help me with starting my own company?  I founded my own actuarial consulting company, Actuarial Factor LLC, in 2014 and we are now going for our 10th year anniversary.  The discipline, the focus, and the determination required during the actuarial exam process were keys in tackling each aspect of my business as a problem that needs a solution.  Since actuaries are problem solvers that made my life a little easier.  At the beginning, there were two main challenging aspects of my business, how to get new clients, and how not to run out of money.   Bui ..read more

2023 marks 50 years since passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a major milestone in rights for people with disabilities in the United States. This milestone is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on how we ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities at work and in our professional environment. The CAS is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community and enabling our members and candidates to fully participate and contribute to the advancement of the profession. This includes ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to development opportunities li ..read more

CAS Interviews Janet Lindstrom, FCAS, Volunteer Chair of the Member Advisory Panel Task Force to discuss the CAS Quinquennial Survey, currently open to all CAS members until Friday, November 3rd. Q: Tell us about your role and history with the Member Advisory Panel (MAP) Task Force. A: In 2017 I became Volunteer Chair of the CAS Member Advisory Panel Task Force, which serves as a resource to volunteer groups as they develop surveys. We review and test the surveys before circulation to members. Our workload varies throughout the year, however every five years we are responsible for the developm ..read more

CAS surpassed the 10,000 member mark this year! This is truly a milestone to be celebrated, as it is a testament to the value that the CAS members provide to our employers, our clients, the users of our services and ultimately to the public. As we celebrate this milestone, I also look to the future with excitement. I truly believe that as we progress toward our vision of the actuary of the future, the value CAS members bring will continue to evolve and ensure we are sought after for our abilities to solve problems in new and innovative ways. The growth of the actuarial profession has been rem ..read more

  Congratulations to the CAS on achieving the 10,000 member milestone!  This event caused me to reminisce a bit on how our Society has evolved since I joined the ranks as a new Fellow in 1979 (Associate in 1975).  We were a much smaller Society back then; my fellowship class was 23 individuals (compared to today’s classes of 250+)!  We were also a predominately male Society (I was one of three females in that class). And we were predominately a US Society, though there were a few Canadian members, the most notable of whom for me was Dave Oakden and Jim Christie, a CAS Past ..read more

CAS members are required to obtain a certain number of continuing education (CE) hours each year, which varies based on the regulatory jurisdiction of your practice. This summer we are encouraging members to work towards their CE compliance with our Summer of CE campaign. Many members think that CE must come from things like webinars or in-person meetings; however, within the U.S., only 6 of our 30 required annual hours need to come from organized events. The other 24 can come from independent learning such as reading research papers or other material. With that in mind, here are five papers ..read more

Pride month, held annually in June, will come and go every year, but the LGBTQIA+* people in your life need your support year-round. As a transgender woman actuary, I’d like to discuss several things actuarial colleagues can do all year long to promote a safe environment for their transgender coworkers. Use the Correct Pronouns In everyday situations, support really comes down to respecting the individual and who they are. Use of the person’s name and pronouns is vital to do that, even when the transgender person isn’t in the conversation. If someone uses incorrect pronouns when addressing a t ..read more

Are you attending the CAS Annual Meeting in Minneapolis in a few weeks? I’m excited for you to visit my town and to share with you a few of my favorite things to do in the Twin Cities and beyond. If you haven’t decided on attending yet, I’m here to convince you! Here are 5 activities I suggest to anyone attending. Visit the Mall of America Located just 15 mins from Minneapolis, the mall of America offers over 500 stores to shop from, 60 restaurants, an indoor aquarium, indoor amusement park (Nickelodeon universe), Flyover America/Hawaii and much more! To top it all off, there is no sales tax ..read more

5. Network With Your Peers This one might seem obvious to CAS members: Annual Meeting is the perfect time to catch up with colleagues you only get to see a few times a year, whether that be in person or virtually. “Our in-person meetings have long been an opportunity for our members to see each other and foster the sense of community that the CAS is famous for,” CAS CEO Victor Carter-Bey recently said. “We are delighted to be able to offer options for those that want to attend in person or from their own home or office.” 4. Experience the Energy of a Live Event This year’s meeting will featur ..read more