Mission
The Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (“ABCD”) was established in the bylaws of the American Academy of Actuaries to strengthen the adherence by members of the five U.S.-based actuarial organizations to the recognized standards of ethical and professional conduct.
Primary Functions
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- Respond to requests from members of the five participating U.S.-based organizations for guidance regarding professionalism.
- Consider complaints about possible violations of the Code of Professional Conduct (“Code”).
- Investigate apparent violations of the Code and conduct fact-finding hearings, when appropriate.
- Counsel actuaries when appropriate.
- Recommend discipline, when appropriate, to membership organizations. (Membership organizations determine whether to impose discipline, using their own procedures.)
- Conduct educational outreach efforts, which include making oral presentations and writing magazine articles.
Structure
The ABCD consists of a Chairperson, two Vice Chairpersons, and six other members. They are appointed to three-year terms by a Selection Committee, established in the Academy bylaws and chaired by the Academy President. The Selection Committee appoints ABCD members in such a way as to ensure that all practice areas are adequately represented. Read the Selection Criteria for choosing members of the ABCD.
Jurisdiction
The ABCD’s jurisdiction to investigate alleged violations extends to the actuarial practice of the five U.S.-based organizations’ members in every country. By virtue of agreement between the five U.S.-based organizations and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA), the CIA has jurisdiction to investigate actuarial practice of the participating organizations’ members in Canada; similarly, CIA members’ actuarial practice in the United States can be investigated by the ABCD.
Up to Code
This regular column in Contingencies highlights the ABCD’s work and important professionalism issues.
Precept 13—A Snitch in Time
July/August 2024
by Edward E. Burrows
Beyond the Credential
May/June 2024
by David Kausch
The Rules Are Your Friend
March/April 2024
by Linda Bell
The College Reunion: The Value of Sharing Success Stories
January/February 2024
by Cande Olsen
Clearing Up Some Misunderstandings
November/December 2023
by Albert J. Beer
A Lifetime of Professionalism
September/October 2023
by Richard Kutikoff
HAL the Actuary?
July/August 2023
by David Driscoll
When to Say ‘No’
May/June 2023
by William Hines
That’s So Meta
March/April 2023
by Shawna Ackerman
Tattoos and Ponytails
January/February 2023
by Tammy Dixon
A Fine Mess
November/December 2022
by April Choi
Our Resilience
September/October 2022
by David Driscoll
Conflicts of Interest and Codes of Conduct
July/August 2022
by Godfrey Perrott
Mythology and Actuarial Professionalism
May/June 2022
by Albert J. Beer
Risk to the Actuary
March/April 2022
by Richard Kutikoff
A Million Little Things
January/February 2022
by John Schubert
Where Do You Practice?
November/December 2021
by William Hines
Who Knows 14?
September/October 2021
by Deborah Rosenberg
How can we help you?
Ask for guidance.
Did you know when actuaries need help with thorny professional problems, they can ask an ABCD member for informal advice?
Ask UsLearn about the complaint process.
How do you complain to the ABCD about an actuary's conduct? What happens once a complaint has been made?
Learn MoreRequest a speaker.
ABCD members make educational presentations at actuarial seminars and clubs, regulators' meetings, and elsewhere.
Contact Us