Up to Code

Editor’s Note: The article was originally published in the September/October 2008 issue of Contingencies. These articles possess a timeless quality, with content that stays pertinent and insightful through time, though some references may be outdated.   Broaching the Subject of Professional Behavior AS I WAS WALKING DOWN THE ROW OF CUBICLES LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, thinking about the glorious weekend ahead, I … Read More

  “Our lives are not defined by any one action. Our lives are the sum of our choices.”—Mission: Impossible–The Final Reckoning By the date this column is published, the release of Mission: Impossible–The Final Reckoning will be just weeks away. If you regularly go to the movies you will have already seen the trailer, perhaps many times. The opening lines to the … Read More

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE COMFORT FOODS. But even with a child’s disdain for vegetables, there was something appealing about Campbell’s vegetable alphabet soup. Perhaps there’s an unexplainable urge to turn individual letters into words. Somewhere along the road, the urge seems to morph as we turn words into letters. There is the dreaded ASAP … Read More

ReferenceFor more on the new membership requirements, see the September Actuarial Update. THE HOLIDAYS WILL ARRIVE BEFORE WE KNOW IT, and I’m reminded of some professional advice I received about 25 years ago. I was chatting at a holiday party with the general counsel of an actuarial consulting firm, trying to find a common topic between an actuary and an attorney. … Read More

“THESE RATES ARE UNCOMPETITIVE—WE NEED 30% LOWER RATES!” “These reserves don’t make sense, how can they shoot up like that? You need to sharpen your pencil.” Do these sound familiar to you? As practicing actuaries, we inevitably encounter situations when we must deal with unreasonable requests from our companies’ management or clients. But what happens when we are pressured to … Read More

JOHN WAS FINISHING ATTENDANCE AT A CONTINUING EDUCATION SESSION. It had been a long session covering complex new material. John knew he needed credit for the session to stay current with qualification requirements. More important, he knew that if he mastered the material being presented he would increase his competence as a practicing actuary. Nevertheless, maintaining concentration for the entire … Read More

“NO MORE EXAMS!” AISHA EXCLAIMED. Aisha was celebrating her success with a credentialled actuarial coworker, Bailey, over lunch. Aisha was especially glad that she no longer had to tell friends and family that she was still taking actuarial exams. “Finally! I finished my actuarial exams and now my credential is right around the corner! I’m done, right?” “Congratulations, Aisha!” said … Read More

  Editor’s Note: Beginning with this issue, Contingencies will be occasionally reprinting Up to Code articles from days gone by. Have no fear; the content is still germane and applicable to your daily practice. This article originally appeared in the January/February 2008 issue of the magazine. When I was learning to golf, I first heard “the rules are your friend” when I … Read More

The long weekend was coming up, and Matt was looking forward to getting together with his old college buddies, Susan and Jim. It had been 10 years since they had seen each other, as math majors at State University. After graduation, they had all moved to different parts of the country but coincidentally ended up following an actuarial career and … Read More

“Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood!” While young readers might not recognize the musical reference, I believe all readers can relate to the disappointment of having an intended audience not understand a particular role you play. Having served a number of years on the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (ABCD), I want to share my perception that … Read More