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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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!

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).

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.

Roger Loomis and Erik Wenzel discuss Assured Allies wellness program which reports it can reduce LTC claim costs by 18%.

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  

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.

Industry experts discuss the latest trends and developments relating to assumption governance, especially as it relates to financial reporting and valuation work.

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. 

Host Rong Rong, FSA, CPCU, learns about uncommon actuarial and entrepreneurship experiences with generalist actuary Sam Wehner, ASA, MAAA.

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. 

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.

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.

Roger Loomis discuss the past and future of the LTC insurance industry with an LTC sales veteran.

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. 

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.

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 (Shirley.Wu@milliman.com)  & Emily Li (mengrli@deloitte.com).

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.

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..."

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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 communities@soa.org  

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.

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. 

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”.

Host Rong Rong, FSA, CPCU, talks with inspirational entrepreneur Aree Bly about Aree's entrepreneurial journey and other fun things.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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  

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.

  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. 

A conversation on monitoring and maintaining data science models and how that compares to actuarial models.

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.

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.

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.

Join us as Ashlee Borcan and Dave Dillion discuss current events and trends in the supplemental benefits world. 

Discussion regarding recent industry events and what your auditor will be looking for in regards to these impacts.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/      

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. 

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.

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  

Dave Dillon interviews Covered California’s John Bertko about a wide-range of health insurance and healthcare reform topics

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Mike Green, FSA, MAAA, Vice Present at Canada Life Re sharing his insights with podcast host Jing Lang, FSA, FCIA, MAAA, FLMI.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

Chris Ryan and Jennie McGinnis discuss what Inforce Management means and provide an update on the Inforce Management Subgroup and its upcoming activities.

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.

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.

Tiffany Norman, FSA, MAAA, Senior Vice President at Hannover Re sharing her insights with podcast host Jing Lang, FSA, FCIA, MAAA, FLMI.

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.

Learn about the SOA's new emerging topics community.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Join us as we discuss recent proposals of public programs that help address the long-term care needs of the population. 

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.

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?

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. 

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.

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: tyler.keenan@oliverwyman.com 2) John Fowler's email: John.Fowler@rgare.com 3) Profiting from Prophet Fall 2021 edition spotlight PRT modeling in Prophet software: https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights.html

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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.