Several years ago, when the word “meta” first appeared on the scene, I will admit that I had some difficulty understanding what it meant, other than something cool to say as in “that’s so meta.” Of course, I understood it in a specific application such as “metadata” being data about the data, but the typical application escaped me. Cue up Merriam-Webster:
The word meta is Greek and means “among, with, after,” but we can thank New Latin, the language of scientific nomenclature, for its use prefixing the names of certain disciplines. In its most basic use, meta- describes a subject in a way that transcends its original limits, considering the subject itself as an object of reflection.[1] (emphasis added)
As I write this, I am in my first year on the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline and this is my first Up to Code article. In preparing to draft the article, I wanted to tackle some new item or issue, which necessarily meant that I needed to look at what had been written before. And then it occurred to me—an Up to Code article about Up to Code articles. That’s so meta!
There are a couple of reasons I decided to pursue this idea and provide a compendium of prior Up to Code articles:
- We are actuaries, after all, and historical data is a routine place to look to inform future decisions and actions (appropriately updated for future expected conditions, of course).
- Thousands of new actuaries have been credentialed since the first Up to Code column. While one may not wish to read the entire body of work, there are undoubtedly relevant articles of interest. Stated differently, those seeking insights on a particular question on professionalism or a well-reasoned perspective on a situation may well find that it is already available … if they know where to look.
The first Up to Code column appeared in the January/February 2006 edition of Contingencies magazine. Since that time, the Qualification Standards for Actuaries Issuing Statements of Actuarial Opinion in the United States (USQS) have changed twice. The first revision took effect January 1, 2008.[2] The second revision took effect January 1, 2022.[3] Additionally, since early 2006 the Actuarial Standards Board has adopted 14 new actuarial standards of practice (ASOPs) and there have been numerous revisions to existing ASOPs. However, the Code of Professional Conduct, which was adopted by the five U.S.-based actuarial organizations in 1992 and last revised as of January 1, 2001, has not changed. Thus, while most of the historic Up to Code articles remain up to date, care should be taken when referencing older articles about the USQS or specific ASOPs.
The table below provides a brief description of the 103 articles that have appeared in the Up to Code column from 2006 to present. Most of the articles are available on the resources page for the ABCD.[4] While the articles are typically written by a member of the ABCD, guest columnists have occasionally been featured.
I enjoyed reading these past articles. Most of them were familiar, whether I remembered reading them before, or they reminded me of similar professionalism situations I had faced or heard about. One thing you will notice as you read the articles is that they often discuss real-world occurrences and professionalism issues, anonymized as needed. So, you, too, may find them familiar.
After reading every Up to Code article from the past 16 years, I have a deeper appreciation of all the professionalism material that is available to us: the Code of Professional Conduct, the ASOPs, the USQS, practice notes, applicability guidelines, and so on—all of which are just a click away![5] The amount of material written by numerous dedicated volunteers is almost overwhelming. Not surprisingly, the themes remain consistent and evergreen, as does the Code.
I hope this summary of Up to Code articles will be a useful resource to you. It will live online, in a clickable format, at contingencies.org/up-to-code-meta. And, as you read the articles, should you find a topic of particular interest or an area—new or old—that you would like to be explored, please let us know.
Up to Code Index of Previous Articles
| Date | Title | Author | Topic |
| Jan/Feb 2006 | Basics of the ABCD – Who, What, Why, When, Where, How and Why | Julia J. Philips | Inaugural article describing ABCD structure and process |
| Mar/Apr 2006 | Living with Precept 10 | Edward E. Burrows | Considerations when transitioning work using a defined benefit pension plan as an example |
| May/June 2006 | ABCD Advice for New Actuaries: Top 10 Ways to Immunize Your Professionalism | Julia J. Philips | Ideas for providing preventative care to your professionalism |
| July/Aug 2006 | International Actuarial Standards of Practice – Suggestions or Requirements? | Lauren Bloom | The interaction of Precepts 1 and 3 and US and International Standards of Practice |
| Sept/Oct 2006 | The Look-in-the-Mirror Test | Carol R. Sears | Precept 2 and the importance of carefully considering whether you are qualified using two case study examples |
| Nov/Dec 2006 | Qualified…or Not | William J. Falk | Precept 2 and some specific questions to ask in determining whether you are qualified or not |
| Jan/Feb 2007 | An Ounce of Prevention – The First Step | Jack Turnquist | Considerations in evaluating and selecting potential assignments |
| Mar/Apr 2007 | The Case of the Careless Subordinates – Is an actuary responsible for the work performed by others under his control? | Michael Toothman | A cautionary tale of undue reliance on subordinates, overconfidence and a lack of quality control |
| May/June 2007 | Mercy or Justice | Lawrence A. Johansen | A review of the investigative process and the first 15 years of the ABCD |
| July/Aug 2007 | Precept 13 – A Snitch in Time | Edward E. Burrows | The importance of Precept 13 in preserving the status of the actuarial profession as a self-regulating body |
| Sept/Oct 2007 | We Need to Do Better | Richard Robertson | A discussion of common causes leading to an inadequate work product |
| Nov/Dec 2007 | Affordable Virtue – Ethics for Pension Professionals | Kurt F. Piper | Instilling and increasing ethical behavior – applicable to all – despite the title |
| Jan/Feb 2008 | The Rules are Your Friend | Linda Bell | Attention golfers! This article discusses the “rules” of the actuarial profession with analogies to golfing |
| Mar/Apr 2008 | Paul’s Puzzle: A Fable for Actuaries | Julia Philips | A fable of inadequate reserves, internal pressures and professionalism with numerous possible outcomes |
| May/June 2008 | An Actuary Defends Herself | Julia Philips | An illustrative story on the power of documented compliance with professional standards |
| July/Aug 2008 | Requesting Guidance from the ABCD | Tom Griffin | A description of the RFG process |
| Sept/Oct 2008 | Broaching the Subject of Professional Behavior | Julia Philips | A story of handling a sensitive topic with a coworker |
| Nov/Dec 2008 | Actuaries, Hill Street Blues and Data Security | Robert J. Reitz and Beth R. Sanders | Tips for proactively protecting data |
| Jan/Feb 2009 | When is a Violation Resolved? | William J. Falk | An example RFG exploring if an apparent material violation is resolved |
| Mar/Apr 2009 | I’m an International Actuary? | Curtis Huntington | A reminder that the Code’s scope is not limited to US practice |
| May/June 2009 | Student of Change | A Conversation with Carol Sears | Getting the message of professionalism out early and often |
| July/Aug 2009 | Interviewing with Integrity | Margaret Resce Milkint and Mary Kilkenny | Demonstrating integrity in and out of the interview rooms – for candidates and employers |
| Sept/Oct 2009 | Don’t Regret Having Filed a Complaint | Julia T. Philips | Ways to comply with Precept 13 |
| Nov/Dec 2009 | The Carol of the Bells | Robert J. Reitz | Three warning bells – situations that can lead to problems |
| Jan/Feb 2010 | Moving from Discipline to Guidance | Paul Fleischacker | Insights from an actuary who moved from investigator to ABCD member |
| Mar/Apr 2010 | In Answer to Your Many Questions | Mike Toothman | Answers to questions regarding the Code collected from recent presentations |
| May/June 2010 | Your Comments Please: Changing the Disciplinary Process | Roger Hayne and Robert J. Reitz | A request for comments on changes to the disciplinary process – see summary of answers Jan/Feb 2011 |
| July/Aug 2010 | Regulator as Resource | John Purple | The benefits of developing a professional working relationship with regulators |
| Sept/Oct 2010 | Are You a Rule Follower? | Julia T. Philips | Five questions to ask in assessing rules |
| Nov/Dec 2010 | Materiality | Richard Robertson | An exploration of what may be a material violation of the Code |
| Jan/Feb 2011 | Comments on Changing the Disciplinary Process | Robert J. Reitz | A summary of comments on proposed changes to the disciplinary process |
| Mar/Apr 2011 | Non-Actuarial Services Under the Code | Kurt F. Piper | Applying Precept 1 to non-actuarial services |
| May/June 2011 | Question Time | James Gutterman | Impressions from a first-year ABCD member |
| July/Aug 2011 | International Compliance | Curtis Huntington | Establishing international standards – see more current discussion in the Nov/Dec 2021 issue |
| Sept/Oct 2011 | Are You an Expert? | Paul R. Fleischacker | Navigating your Precept 13 obligations in expert witness cases |
| Nov/Dec 2011 | A Look at Transparency | Robert J. Reitz | Balancing confidentiality and transparency |
| Jan/Feb 2012 | Types of Discipline | Nancy Behrens | An overview of the types of dismissals and discipline levels |
| May/June 2012 | Peer Review | Janet Fagan | A critical look at the peer review process and what it can and cannot provide |
| July/Aug 2012 | Keeping the Code | Kathy Riley | Precept 13 and assessing a potential violation |
| Sept/Oct 2012 | Let’s Be Perfectly Clear | James Gutterman | A discussion of ASOP No. 41, Actuarial Communications with a focus on responsibility, reliance, disclosure and defending deviation |
| Nov/Dec 2012 | Modeling to Code | John Purple | Identifies ASOPs to consider for Predictive Modeling (note: predates ASOP No. 56, Modeling) |
| Jan/Feb 2013 | New Year’s Resolutions | Nancy Behrens | Tips for making a professional development plan and sticking with it |
| Mar/Apr 2013 | Moral Turpitude | Curtis Huntington | A look at Precept 1-4 |
| May/June 2013 | There’s an App for That | Janet Fagan | The Code of Conduct, ASOPs and the USQS are only a click away |
| July/Aug 2013 | How to Evade the Code | Robert J. Reitz | Several examples of missteps to avoid |
| Sept/Oct 2013 | Phone a Friend | Kathleen A. Riley | How the RFG process can work as your professional lifeline |
| Nov/Dec 2013 | New Kid on the Block | Rick Block | Insights into the ABCD process by a new Board member |
| Jan/Feb 2014 | When Harry Met Sally | Janet Carstens | An overview of the target timeline for an ABCD complaint. Spoiler alert – this is not a comedy |
| Mar/Apr 2014 | A Show of Hands | Nancy Behrens | Encouragement to put the Code on your annual reading list |
| May/June 2014 | Owning Precept 13 | John Purple | Precept 13 is the cornerstone of our profession. Be aware of the requirements. |
| July/Aug 2014 | CE Checklist for Enrolled Actuaries | Rick Block | Considerations in meeting continuing education requirements |
| Sept/Oct 2014 | You Sign It, You Own It | Janet Fagan | Reliance on the work of others is both common and acceptable with appropriate disclosures |
| Nov/Dec 2014 | Must or Should? Read ASOP No. 1 | Kathy Riley | Read ASOP No. 1 |
| Jan/Feb 2015 | Six Years Before the Mast | Robert J. Reitz | Reflections on the cases seen during six years of service on the ABCD |
| Mar/Apr 2015 | A Case Study | Dave Ogden | An outline of a hypothetical complaint and how it is processed by the ABCD |
| May/June 2015 | Why an Actuary Must/Should Read ASOP No. 1 | Allan W. Ryan | An overview of ASOP No. 1 effective June 1, 2013 |
| July/Aug 2015 | What is a Profession? | Nancy Behrens | Defining a profession with a focus on the Code and how we self-regulate the profession |
| Sept/Oct 2015 | Don’t Be ‘That Actuary’ | John Stokesbury | Examples of potential Code violations |
| Nov/Dec 2015 | The ABCD Process from the Inside | Anonymous | Perspectives from an actuary who was the subject of a disciplinary hearing and what they learned and changed |
| Jan/Feb 2016 | Doing the Right Thing | John M. Purple | A reflection on the Academy’s 50th anniversary and building the professionalism infrastructure on a foundation of doing the right thing |
| Mar/Apr 2016 | Because I Said So | Jan Cartsens | The need to document what you did and why in selecting data, methods and assumptions |
| May/June 2016 | No Fee, No Foul? | Rick Block | Three examples of no fee advice – all could be considered Statements of Actuarial Opinion |
| July/Aug 2016 | Whose Assumptions are They? | David F. Ogden | The importance of scrutinizing the work of others and requirements for disclosing reliance on others |
| Sept/Oct 2016 | Test Your Professionalism IQ | Allan Ryan | The title says it all – an online 10-question test. A follow-up exam is given in the Nov/Dec 2020 issue. |
| Nov/Dec 2016 | The Dog Ate my Homework, and Other Justifications | Janet Fagan | Exploring some commonly heard excuses and why they do not hold up |
| Jan/Feb 2017 | Peer Review – Small Investment, Big Return | Debbie Rosenberg | Uses and benefits of a peer review |
| Mar/Apr 2017 | A ‘Checklist Manifesto’ for Professionalism | David Driscoll | An encouragement for creating checklists to facilitate compliance with aspects of professionalism with two examples |
| May/June 2017 | Controlling Communications | John T. Stokesbury | Examples of situations where a reader might be misled by an actuarial communication and how to mitigate that risk |
| July/Aug 2017 | Lessons Learned | John P. Tierney | Four common-sense guidelines to good actuarial practice gleaned from a career spanning more than 40 years |
| Sept/Oct 2017 | Control of Work Product – Be Upfront with Clients | Godfrey Perrott | Steps that can be considered to protect and control the work product, before and after accepting an assignment |
| Nov/Dec 2017 | Precept 1 and ‘Bad Conduct’ | Jan Cartsens | Examples of bad conduct that have resulted in disciplinary actions from the US-based actuarial organizations |
| Jan/Feb 2018 | To Tell or Not to Tell? Unpacking Precept 13 | Rick Block | Examples to help us decide what to do in certain circumstances including asking the ABCD for an RFG |
| Mar/Apr 2018 | Precept 10 – Actuarial Disagreements | David Ogden | A story of disagreeing respectfully and disclosing reliance using a state rate filing example |
| May/June 2018 | Know Your ASOPs | Allan W. Ryan | An overview of then-recently revised ASOPs 21, 23, 24 and 52 |
| July/Aug 2018 | Communicating Uncertainty: The Importance of Acknowledging Limitations | David Driscoll | Straightforward statements about the limitations of our work are increasingly important to actuarial practice |
| Sept/Oct 2018 | A(E)SOP’s Fables | Deborah Rosenberg | The ASOPs function to pass along certain core values to the actuary. |
| Nov/Dec 2018 | If You Want to Grow Big and Strong, Eat Your Spinach | John Stokesbury | A close look at Precept 3 and staying compliant and current with ASOPs – even if you do not like change |
| Jan/Feb 2019 | Hidden in Plain View – The Treasure Trove that is the Academy’s Practice Notes | John Tierney | An article featuring the Academy’s practice note – Statement of Actuarial Opinion on Property and Casualty Loss Reserves ending with encouragement to be aware of the Practice Notes in your area of practice |
| Mar/Apr 2019 | Feeling Conflicted? The Code Can Help | Godfrey Perrott | Exploring conflicts of interest – the requirements and considerations of Precepts 6 and 7 |
| May/June 2019 | Communicating Clearly with ASOP No. 41 | David Ogden | A look at ASOP No. 41 and some of the pitfalls to avoid in our rapid-fire electronic world of communication. |
| July/Aug 2019 | Exercising Judgement in a Self-Regulated Profession | Allan W. Ryan | Maintaining our clients’ and the public’s trust with high standards of service and self-regulation |
| Sept/Oct 2019 | The ABCD Goes to the Movies | David Driscoll | An exploration of the ABCD process featuring a 1948 musical comedy, Are You with It? (which is about an actuary!) |
| Nov/Dec 2019 | Getting Political – Can an Actuary Weigh in on Thorny Issues? | Alice Rosenblatt | Considerations when expressing a public opinion, whether actuarial in nature or not |
| Jan/Feb 2020 | Precept 11 – Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth | Kenneth A. Kent | A discussion of the infrequently highlighted Precept 11, Advertising |
| Mar/Apr 2020 | Actuarial Assumptions | Deborah Rosenberg | Identifying, disclosing, and assessing the reasonableness of assumptions with a focus on ASOPs 41 and 43 |
| May/June 2020 | Looking for Truth in Shades of Gray | John T. Stokesbury | Three example cases of complaints before the ABCD |
| July/Aug 2020 | Communicating the Unknown | David Ogden | The importance of communicating and disclosing assumptions, reliance and limitations using a novel rate setting example |
| Sept/Oct 2020 | The Gifts and Responsibilities of Age | Godfrey Perrott | Wisdom is valuable; compliance with continuing education is necessary to maintain technical competence and avoiding a visit to the ABCD |
| Nov/Dec 2020 | Follow-Up Exam | Allan W. Ryan | An exam to test your professionalism IQ in 12 questions – also see the original test Sept/Oct 2016 |
| Jan/Feb 2021 | A Little Help From My Friends | Albert J. Beer | How the RFG process adds value by providing confidential professional advice and counsel |
| Mar/Apr 2021 | The Art of the Possible | David L. Driscoll | The value of the Code of Conduct and the ASOPs in delineating an actuary’s professional responsibilities |
| May/June 2021 | Follow the ASOPs, Inside and Out | Alice Rosenblatt | Should there be a difference in the actuarial services provided to an internal or external client? The author details why her answer is “no” |
| July/Aug 2021 | The Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics | Ken Kent | An exploration of the Code of Conduct, ethics and the decisions we make with examples of determining qualification and disclosing errors |
| Sept/Oct 2021 | Who Knows 14? | Debra Rosenberg | A tour of the Code of Conduct |
| Nov/Dec 2021 | Where Do You Practice? | William Hines | Applicability of the Code of Conduct and ASOPs to international work |
| Jan/Feb 2022 | A Million Little Things | John Schubert | The importance of the Code and the role of the ABCD using a popular show (with an actuary in a leading role) as an example |
| Mar/Apr 2022 | Risk to the Actuary | Richard Kutikoff | Identifies numerous risks that actuaries face in performing services and ways to mitigate those risks. |
| May/June 2022 | Mythology and Actuarial Professionalism | Albert J. Beer | Three common myths debunked |
| July/Aug 2022 | Conflicts of Interest and Codes of Conduct | Godfrey Perrott | A look a Precept 7 |
| Sept/Oct 2022 | Our Resilience | David Driscoll | A tribute to a recently deceased dear friend, and lessons from his life story pertaining to personal and professional resilience |
| Nov/Dec 2022 | A Fine Mess | April Choi | Ripped from the headlines: CPA continuing ed exam cheating, and how the situation might have been handled if it had involved actuaries instead |
| Jan/Feb 2023 | Tattoos and Ponytails | Tammy Dixon | A look at precepts 1 and 2 as they pertain to how an actuary presents to the public |
| Mar/Apr 2023 | That’s So Meta | Shawna Ackerman | A roundup of every Up to Code article that’s been written |
SHAWNA ACKERMAN, MAAA, FCAS, is a member of the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline.
References
[1] “That’s So Meta: From Prefix to Adjective” | Merriam-Webster
[2] Qualification Standards for Actuaries (American Academy of Actuaries) (actuary.org)
[3] USQS_2021.pdf (actuary.org)
[4] Resources | Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (abcdboard.org). The newest articles are available directly from Contingencies magazine.
[5] See May/June 2013, “There’s an App for That.”