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What happens when math becomes more than a subject and starts shaping futures?

Michael Marion, Director of The Actuarial Foundation and Steve Alpert, FSA, MAAA, former President of the American Academy of Actuaries, share how a bold campaign is expanding opportunity, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Michael and Steve discuss:

• The importance of non-profits for the actuarial profession

• The relevance of STEM education in society

• The All for Math Campaign

• The value of volunteering in the actuarial profession

• The Math Motivators Tutoring Program

• The Modeling the Future Challenge

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

5:48:99 Three benefits of non-profits for the actuarial profession

9:55:67 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected number of unfilled STEM jobs

10:40:34 The relevance of STEM education

12:46:22 The importance of numeracy in society

15:06:64 The All for Math Campaign

17:45:57 The Actuarial Foundation’s core programs 

18:18:04 Programs with the greatest need for volunteers

22:14:76 Three benefits of volunteering as an actuary

25:11:47 Volunteering as a mutually beneficial exercise

27:22:70 Math Motivators Tutoring Program volunteer experience

29:25:15 Modeling the Future Challenge volunteer experience

34:40:66 High-level episode recap 

35:41:69 How to sign up to donate/volunteer for the campaign

Donate/volunteer for the All For Math Campaign:

https://actuarialfoundation.org/all-for-math/

Follow The Actuarial Foundation:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-actuarial-foundation/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/actuarialfoundation?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Twitter - https://x.com/actuarialfound?s=21&t=ktbGj8B4LuIhcfbBPSeJGQ

Follow Dominic: 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-lee-acas

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dlee2100?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Twitter - https://x.com/maverickactuary?s=21&t=ktbGj8B4LuIhcfbBPSeJGQ

My guest for Episode 105 is Barry Swartzberg, ASA, B.Sc., CFP, FASSA, FFA, Executive Director and Co-Founder at Discovery Limited.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.

Barry and I covered the following topics:⁣

✅ Barry’s motivation for becoming an entrepreneur 
✅ The vision behind Discovery Limited 
✅ Starting a business during the fall of Apartheid 
✅ The shared-value insurance model 
✅ Shaping South Africa’s insurance and financial services landscape
✅ Barry’s biggest entrepreneurial challenges 
✅ What it takes to be a successful entrepreneur 
✅ Transitioning from entrepreneur to intrapreneur 
✅ Areas where actuaries can add value beyond insurance 
✅ Tips for the next generation of entrepreneurs 

Time Markers

3:50: Risk-seeking culture in South African actuarial community.

5:42: First actuarial role as product development actuary.

13:00: Motivation for becoming an entrepreneur and co-founding Discovery Limited. 

18:20: Addressing unaddressed gaps in the South African insurance market (demand-focused approach).

21:14: Value creation during political turmoil (post-Apartheid era).

24:59: Discovery Limited’s shared-value insurance model (medical savings accounts, incentivized wellness programs and risk savings).

33:14: Developing a system to track diet and exercise before the era of big data.

37:39: Adapting behavioral mindset in managing health, motor, banking, and retirement risks.

47:20: How Barry contributed to Discovery’s success as an executive.

51:44: Notable challenges for Discovery Limited (entering the US market).

55:05: Getting companies to scale, risk-taking, ideation, sales, pricing, marketing, and implementing marketplace feedback.

1:01:02: Non-traditional opportunities for actuaries (managing supply and demand of electricity).

1:04:30: Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs.

If you are seeking to explore entrepreneurship, you want to watch this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 104 is Dave Dillon, FSA, FCA, MAAA, Senior Vice President & Principal at Lewis & Ellis and President-Elect of the Society of Actuaries.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟵.

Dave and I covered the following topics:⁣

✅ What inspired Dave to run for SOA President
✅ Duties of the SOA President-Elect
✅ SOA sections/communities and committees 
✅ How Dave has benefited from posting actively on LinkedIn
✅ How actuaries might be impacted by a change in administration 
✅ Dave’s vision for the actuarial profession

Time Markers
2:00: Dave’s SOA Presidential run. 

3:47: Previous downward trend in exam takers, data science as an alternative for actuaries, and modernizing the education path.

8:49: Dave’s long term vision for presidential term and beyond (tracking exam takers, positioning actuaries in wider fields). 

10:48: Duties of the SOA President-Elect (executive committee, liaison to sections/communities, ambassadorship, and building relationships).

15:50: SOA sections/communities and focus on professional development. 

23:19: Improving SOA’s engagement with the international community (regional targeted committees). 

24:37: Engaging with actuarial community on LinkedIn (sharing insights, building knowledge base, and starting conversations).

29:07: How change in administrations impact actuarial work (Affordable Care Act extended premium subsidies, short-term health and hospital indemnity insurance). 

33:20: Healthcare cost trends (services utilization, medical inflation exceeding general inflation).

35:11: Connection between legislative changes and actuarial work (state-level silver loading, premium impacts, and repricing).

39:04: Expanding the scope of the actuarial profession (HOA homeowners agreements illustration).

44:28: Balancing work and life. 

If you are seeking to learn about the most relevant themes for the profession today, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 103 is Ronald Richman, FIA, FASSA, FeASK, CPCU, insurtech founder and thought leader in the actuarial data science movement.

The theme for the episode is 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Ron and I covered the following topics:⁣

✅ Statistics, machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI 
✅ Whether GLMs are statistical or machine learning models 
✅ Neural nets and their applicability to insurance 
✅ Reducing the risk of overparameterization for neural nets 
✅ Balancing accuracy, complexity, and explainability for deep learning models
✅ Smoothness and monotonicity considerations for deep learning models 
✅ Applying classical actuarial concepts to deep learning 
✅ Credibility transformers and how they enhance deep learning models 
✅ An AI vision for the actuarial profession 

Time Markers

1:52: Ron’s new insurtech venture and the union between actuarial science and modern technologies.

4:49: Technological shift, commoditization of large language models, and uncertainty quantification.

7:35: Distinguishing between statistics, machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI.

14:00: Are GLMs considered statistical or machine learning models?

17:04: Adoption and deployment trends for machine learning and deep learning models in insurance.

22:14: Neural networks, overparameterization, and regularization techniques. 

28:22: Balancing accuracy, complexity, and explainability for deep learning models. 

35:00: Addressing smoothness and monotonicity constraints for neural networks, post-job explanations of black box models (ICE). 

40:25: Actuarial deep learning and enhancing deep learning models using credibility transformers.

46:54: What the actuarial profession can do to capitalize on the era of neural nets and generative AI.

50:18: Leveraging AI to enhance productivity and improve granularity of reserving analysis.

If you are seeking to explore deep learning and apply it in practice, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 102 is Monica Shokrai, FCAS, MAAA, Head of Business Risk and Insurance for Google Cloud.

The theme for the episode is 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟯.

Monica and I covered the following topics:⁣

✅ The risk management landscape for individuals and businesses
✅ Working in various risk management roles at Google
✅ Specific examples of risk management projects 
✅ The cloud and its relevance for business 
✅ Security tradeoffs between on-premises and cloud 
✅ How actuaries are involved with cyber risk quantification 
✅ InsideOUT data services and its connection to the cloud 
✅ How technology is being used to add value in risk management 
✅ How actuaries are helping tech companies innovate 
✅ Keys to effective cross-functional collaboration for actuaries in tech 

Time Markers

2:06: Risk management in simple terms, downside and upside considerations, and holistic frameworks. 

4:57: The risk landscape today (cyber, AI, climate and emerging risks) and the heightened rate of change.

7:39: Insuring and transferring Alphabet’s risks, shaping contract terms and product development, and leading actuarial team.

12:42: Insurance purchasing decisions, getting business units to implement risk controls, and developing competitive intelligence.

17:02: Applying actuarial principles to improve modeling that drives business decisions beyond insurance purchasing.

22:12: The cloud, cloud-based applications (Google Cloud, Workspace, Chrome) and security implications.

25:17: Security trends that drive cloud adoption (implementing high-end security features and developing a stronger digital immune system).

28:55: Risks that companies encounter when adopting cloud solutions (reliability, third-party risks, and data residency).

31:18: Cyber risk quantification (frequency, severity, Monte Carlo simulation, and score framework). 

34:40: InsideOUT data services (using metrics from a company’s cloud environment to rate and underwrite cyber insurance). 

39:01: Using technology to help with underwriting (AI-powered security cameras for casualty insurance). 

41:15: Helping businesses improve quantification, using analytics to support sales, and putting numbers behind cloud vendor security. 

43:51: The importance of risk models in measuring effectiveness of technology. 

47:23: Working with legal and finance and the importance of shifting perspectives. 

If you are seeking to understand the intersection between risk management and technology, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 101 is Marcela Granados Lavoie, FCAS, CSPA, Principal - Global Head of Insurance at Databricks.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲.

Marcela and I covered the following topics:⁣

✅ Marcela’s motivation for pivoting to tech/software
✅ Why a software company would need an actuary 
✅ The cloud and how it enables insurance modernization 
✅ How generative AI can help yield value for insurance companies 
✅ Using unstructured data for underwriting, claim, marketing, and distribution 
✅ Marcela’s experience learning R and Python 
✅ Programming and coding proficiency actuaries need today
✅ Tips for actuaries, data scientists, and data engineers to work collaboratively
✅ Origins and motivations for the Organization of Latino Actuaries

Time Markers

1:30: Transition from consulting to tech/software (impact of legacy systems on consumer sentiment, shifting policyholder expectations, and personalized experiences). 

5:21: Where actuaries add value in tech/software (strategic conversations, becoming trusted advisors, speaking language of insurance, and understanding customer pain points).

7:10: Connecting horizontal product features to vertical insurance functions, understanding and quantification of customer use cases.

12:10: Databricks as a data and AI platform for ingestion, transformation, curation, servicing, and consumption into downstream applications.

14:40: Databricks’ compute capabilities (moving beyond batch to streaming), separating compute from storage, and evolving from ETL to business outcomes.

16:11: Global Head of Insurance role (qualifying opportunities, briefing executives, influencing product direction, building solution accelerators, and demonstrating platform capabilities).

24:01: Databricks’ customer profile, the rise of semi-structured data, and integration with other technologies.

30:25: The cloud, the rise of big data (volume, variety, and velocity), modernization, and cloud migration trends.

37:18: Generative AI explanation and homeowner’s premium modeling illustration (GLMs vs. neural networks).

44:10: Generative AI use cases (accident descriptions, product recommendations, coverage verification, underwriting appetite, claim reporting, measuring intent, and customer triaging).

49:36: The importance of programming and coding, open-source (R and Python), and combining programming languages with generative AI (ex. CoPilot).

54:56: Collaborative illustration with actuaries (business hypothesis and analysis), data scientists (model fine tuning and algo testing), and data engineers (building data pipelines).

1:01:18: The Organization of Latino actuaries, origins, and motivations.

If you are an actuary seeking to work in technology/software, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 100 is David Wilkie, CBE, FFA, FIA, FSS, FIMA, Hon D Sc, Hon D Math, Chairman at InQA Limited.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.

David and I covered the following topics in 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮 of this historic episode:⁣

✅ Modeling uncertainty within insurance, finance, and risk mgmt
✅ Shortcomings of the Black-Scholes option pricing model
✅ The origins and evolution of the Wilkie Model for economic variables
✅ Realistic disaster scenarios for marine insurance 
✅ The financial crisis, agency risk, and model hazard 
✅ Helping to shape actuarial standards and practice globally 
✅ David’s new unreleased research paper 

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮 Time Markers

1:25: Random walk hypothesis and modern financial economics. 

2:49: Unit-linked life insurance policies and connection to share price uncertainty. 

6:30: Foundations of the first Wilkie Model (retail prices, dividends, dividend yields, and long-term interest rates). 

8:40: Limitations of Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions (share price, transactions costs, and hedging constraints).

13:25: The key innovation for the first Wilkie Model (incorporating stochastic framework, variability, variable interrelations, and autoregressive methods).

16:30: The second Wilkie Model (short-term interest rates, property, property yields, and foreign exchange rates).

19:05: Index-linked yields and modifying long-term interest rate assumptions.

22:02: Incorporating company earnings and payout ratios (dividend payout and price/earnings) into Wilkie Model.

23:56: Realistic disaster scenarios, evaluating extreme losses for oil industry, and Lloyd’s syndicate as-if reserves.

30:16: Incorporating parameter uncertainty into Wilkie Model (hyper model approach).

32:51: Using fatter tail distributions (Normal, hyperbolic, and Laplace) for variables with extreme values and high kurtosis.

38:06: Transparency challenges around economic scenario generation. 

39:03: Packaging of mortgages leading up to 2008 financial crisis and resulting implications. 


42:32: Misaligned incentives in corporate taxation (interest 
payment deductions).   

46:33: Involvement with actuarial and scientific organizations. 

50:30: Approved directive for life insurance valuation principles to address country-level disconnects.

52:26: Research that David hasn’t done yet but intends to do. 

If you are an actuary interested in research, modeling, and programming, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 100 is David Wilkie, CBE, FFA, FIA, FSS, FIMA, Hon D Sc, Hon D Math, Chairman at InQA Limited.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.

David and I covered the following topics in 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭 of this historic episode:⁣

✅ David’s early childhood and formative years
✅ What motivated David to become an actuary
✅ Building a strong foundation for academic research
✅ Mortality forecasting for the Committee of Mortality Investigation
✅ Early development of life and annuity tables
✅ The Financial Times Actuaries British Government Securities Indices
✅ Multi-state modeling for income protection insurance
✅ Mortality modeling for the COVID-19 Working Party
✅ Promoting the power of programming as an early adopter
✅ The evolution of programming in insurance and risk management
✅ The most significant development in the actuarial profession

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭 Time Markers

2:34: Early years in Glasgow, education in Lancaster and Cambridge, and national service.

8:24: First actuarial role at Allianz Life in Stuttgart, actuarial exams, and qualification journey.

10:15: First programming experience with Ferranti Pegasus computer at Standard Life. 

20:03: Early involvement with the Committee of Mortality Investigation (CMI). 

22:23: Writing Fortran programs to produce graduated mortality tables. 

24:58: Gompertz-Makeham model for force of mortality. 

27:31: Developing share indices for the Joint Investment Committee. 

32:35: Multi-state modeling for income protection insurance and epidemics. 

43:04: Using historical mortality rates in Sweden, Spain, and Switzerland for COVID-19 modeling. 

45:17: Fitting Lee-Carter model to population data and using time series to analyze time coefficient.

48:10: Using mixture models to account for kurtosis in COVID-19 data. 

51:44: Using stochastic methods for modeling small pension funds. 

54:02: Programming and coding today.

56:06: The impact of computers on the actuarial profession. 

If you are an actuary interested in research, modeling, and programming, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 99 is Julia Lessing, FIAA, Director at Guardian Actuarial.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.

Julia and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The actuarial profession in Australia
✅ The market for new graduates and qualified actuaries in Australia
✅ Opportunities for actuaries in data science and non-traditional roles
✅ The impact of generational dynamics for future actuaries
✅ Transitioning from individual contributor to manager
✅ Tips for actuaries leading a team for the first time
✅ Tips for actuaries presenting results to stakeholders 
✅ Tips for actuaries managing high-quality technical work
✅ Communication and leadership traits to be an effective actuary
✅ Retraining, upskilling, and future-proofing actuarial careers

If you are an actuary interested in building a dynamic and resilient career, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 98 is Cathy Lyn, FIA, FSA, IFoA Council Member and Retired Actuary.

The theme for the episode is 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀.

Cathy and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Running for IFoA Council and what she seeks to contribute
✅ Nurturing a competitive quantitative workforce
✅ The importance of mathematical rigor in society
✅ Why quantitative professionals need to have a seat at the table
✅ How quantitative professionals make countries more competitive 
✅ How actuaries and engineers can work together to develop systems
✅ Quantitative opportunities in housing, transportation, and agriculture
✅ Changing societal attitudes towards paying for competency
✅ Closing educational gaps in developing a quantitative workforce 
✅ The importance of industry-academia collaboration for quants
✅ The importance of mentorship and professional networks for quants

If you want to understand how quantitative professionals make a difference in society, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 97 is Lewis Kemp, CEO at Lightbulb Media.

The theme for the episode is 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Lewis and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Content marketing and its relevance in the modern era
✅ Content creation and its importance for professionals 
✅ The three stages of the conversion funnel
✅ How individuals can apply the conversion funnel to their own careers
✅ How individuals can find their target audience
✅ Developing success criteria around content creation
✅ Keys to cultivating a relationship with a target audience 
✅ Keys to finding your authentic voice when creating content
✅ Fundamentals for individuals getting started with content 
✅ Overcoming nerves and limiting beliefs around content creation

If you are curious about creating content and not sure where to start, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 96 is Don Grimm, FCAS, Principal and Consulting Actuary at Archer Actuarial Consulting.

The theme for the episode is 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆.

Don and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The connection between excess casualty and primary lines
✅ Target classes of business and coverage scope for excess casualty
✅ Capacity, rate dynamics, and trends in the excess casualty market
✅ Key differences between excess casualty and umbrella insurance
✅ Tradeoffs between excess casualty and reinsurance
✅ Evaluating attachment points and limits for excess layers
✅ Unique risk dynamics and exposure attributes for excess casualty
✅ Risk loads for casualty lines of business 
✅ The life cycle of an excess casualty program
✅ Actuarial reserving considerations for excess casualty

If you work in property and casualty insurance, especially on the liability side, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 95 is Hasham Piperdy, FIA, General Manager, Saudi Arabia and Director, Actuarial at Badri Management Consultancy.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁.

Hash and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The Middle East region and its relevance for actuaries
✅ Insurance penetration, regulation, and market in the Middle East
✅ United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and mature market dynamics
✅ Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and emerging market dynamics
✅ Takaful insurance and other unique market attributes
✅ The impact of oil prices on insurance markets 
✅ Sustainability initiatives, oil dependency, and economic diversification 
✅ Vision 2030 and other transformation initiatives in the region 
✅ The actuarial profession in the Middle East
✅ The supply/demand imbalance in actuarial science
✅ Opportunities for actuaries to add value in the region
✅ The impact of geopolitical risk on insurance 

If you are interested in learning about the Middle East actuarial market, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 94 is Dorothy Andrews, ASA, MAAA, PhD, Senior Behavioral Data Scientist and Actuary at NAIC.

The theme for the episode is 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆.

Dorothy and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The link between media, data, and algorithms
✅ Pitfalls in using big data to gain cognitive insights
✅ The relevance of psychology for building models
✅ The link between correlation and causation
✅ Rational explanations for variable relationships
✅ Natural experiments and randomized controlled trials 
✅ The link between cognitive bias and cognitive dissonance
✅ Bias in traffic ticketing, health diagnoses, and loss ratio modeling 
✅ Potential downstream societal implications of bias 
✅ How the insurance industry is addressing negative bias

If you are interested in learning about media psychology, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 93 is Annie Tay, FIAA, FIA, CERA, Senior Advisor at Meanwhile.

The theme for the episode is 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Annie and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Manufacturing and reviewing global insurance products
✅ Developing financial strength methodologies for life insurance
✅ The underlying drivers of strategic restructuring 
✅ The pathway to Merger & Acquisition (M&A) transactions
✅ The role actuaries play in M&A transactions
✅ Lessons learned from a 56-jurisdiction acquisition 
✅ Working in quantitative risk management as an actuary
✅ Digital transformation and its relevance for actuaries
✅ Recent market developments involving digital transformation
✅ Business problems being solved by actuaries in Fintech
✅ Developing a life insurance product on the blockchain 
✅ Digital transformation opportunities for actuaries beyond insurance 

If you are interested in learning about digital transformation, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 92 is Larry McClure, FCAS, Chief Reserving Actuary, Americas P&C at SCOR.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Larry and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The business imperative for actuarial reserving
✅ Schedule P, Statement of Actuarial Opinion, and actuarial reports
✅ Key decision points impacted by reserving actuaries 
✅ Reserving actuary interactions with finance, claim, and pricing actuaries 
✅ Fundamentals of a reserving analysis 
✅ The impact of limits, attachment points, and policy changes on reserving
✅ Key reserving differences between insurance and reinsurance 
✅ Key reserving differences between US and international jurisdictions 
✅ Fair value accounting under IFRS 17
✅ Regulatory regimes in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and France
✅ The impact of social inflation and COVID on reserving 

If you are interested in learning about actuarial reserving, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 91 is Esperanza Borja Mead, FCAS, FSA, MAAA, Principal at Actuarial Factor.

The theme for the episode is 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Esperanza and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The inspiration behind starting her own business
✅ Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship 
✅ Bridging the entrepreneurial knowledge gap 
✅ Marketing, sales, and pricing for new business owners
✅ Boutique consulting firms and the clients they serve 
✅ Providing actuarial services for multinational clients
✅ Regional risk dynamics in the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean
✅ Delivering value for clients consistently 

If you are interested in small business consulting and working internationally, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 90 is Donna Glenn, FCAS, MAAA, Chief Actuary at NCCI.

The theme for the episode is 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Donna and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Working in underwriting and product management as an actuary
✅ Origins of workers compensation in the United States
✅ Private markets, state funds, and residual markets
✅ Indemnity and medical claims transactions
✅ The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI)
✅ NCCI loss cost and rate analysis 
✅ LCMs, e-mods, schedule mods, and company deviations
✅ Class-level rating and individual risk rating 
✅ Aggregate loss factors on demand 
✅ Legislative pricing, industry-level analytics, and data validation 
✅ Impact of extreme temperatures on workers compensation

If you are interested in learning about workers compensation, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 89 is Ron Kozlowski, FCAS, Lead Consultant at RTK Actuarial and Professional Services.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Ron and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Deciding whether to be a generalist or a specialist
✅ Solving business problems and selling business as a consultant 
✅ Specializing in construction defect reserving 
✅ The importance of taking risk as an actuary 
✅ Working with meteorologists, seismologists, and engineers to develop catastrophe models 
✅ Evaluating class action damages for a building supply manufacturer 
✅ Developed and developing actuarial markets in Asia
✅ Software and bancassurance work in Asia
✅ Motor detarrification in China, India, and Malaysia
✅ Promoting general insurance actuarial practice in Vietnam
✅ The offshoring of actuarial work in Asia
✅ What actuarial judgment is, when to use it, and how to develop it 

If you are interested in learning about what it takes to be an effective actuarial consultant, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 88 is Lloyd Richards, FIA, CERA, CStat, Director and Head of Actuarial at Crowe UK and Teaching Fellow at the Queen Mary University of London School of Mathematical Sciences.

The theme for the episode is 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀.

Lloyd and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Sustainability and its relevance for risk management
✅ The current sustainability landscape 
✅ Bank of England’s CBES directive 
✅ Physical, transition, and legal risks
✅ Climate scenario analysis and stress testing
✅ How actuaries get involved with climate scenario analysis
✅ Addressing key gaps in climate scenario analysis
✅ Data visualization and its connection to climate scenario analysis

If you are interested in learning about how actuaries are getting involved in Climate and ESG initiatives, you want to watch this.

Thank you for being on the show, Lloyd.

If you are interested in learning about how actuaries are getting involved in Climate and ESG initiatives, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 87 is Wesley Montgomery, FIA, FASSA, CEA, CEEM, Senior Actuary at Pillar Capital Management Limited.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗱𝗮.

Wesley and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The insurance and risk management landscape in Bermuda 
✅ The Bermuda Monetary Authority
✅ How insurance is regulated in Bermuda 
✅ Accounting/reporting standards and tax advantages 
✅ Global minimum tax for multinational entities
✅ How actuaries add value in insurance and risk management 
✅ Unique challenges and opportunities for actuaries in Bermuda
✅ Traditional reinsurance, retros, and risk transfer
✅ Catastrophe bonds, industry loss warrants and parametric covers
✅ The culture outside of work in Bermuda 

If you are curious about the actuarial landscape in Bermuda, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 86 is Ann Chai, FCAS, Chief Risk Officer at Zurich North America.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Ann and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Solving business problems in non-traditional roles
✅ How non-traditional roles have helped to shape her career 
✅ Leveraging an actuarial background in a risk management role 
✅ ERM and other responsibilities as Chief Risk Officer
✅ Purchasing insurance for a large corporation 
✅ Her current views on the actuarial profession
✅ Important considerations for actuaries in navigating their careers 
✅ Higher value skills to position actuaries for success
✅ Individual contributor, manager, and leadership roles 
✅ The ideal mindset for actuaries who break into senior-level positions

If you are seeking guidance in navigating your actuarial career, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 85 is Kellen Booher, Executive Vice President and Global Insurance Executive.

The theme for the episode is 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.

Kellen and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ How to think about your career at the macro level
✅ M-shaped vs. T-shaped careers
✅ Four types of career experiences that are valuable to have
✅ Differences between mentorship and sponsorship
✅ Tips on finding a sponsor in a corporate environment
✅ Guidance for employees who aspire to be promoted 
✅ Individual contributor, influence, and execution competencies 
✅ Personal development habits that are beneficial for careers 

If you are interested in advancing in your career, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 84 is Zorast Wadia, FSA, MAAA, EA, FCA, CFA, Principal and Consulting Actuary at Milliman.

The theme for the episode is 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Zorast and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Defined benefit (DB) plans and defined contribution (DC) plans
✅ Plan sponsors, valuation actuaries, and retirement plan operations
✅ Cash valuation and financial accounting valuation
✅ Differences between corporate and public pension plans
✅ Milliman’s Corporate Pension Funding Study
✅ Environmental changes that recently shined a light on DB plans
✅ The unfreezing of IBM’s DB plan and its implications for the market
✅ The American Rescue Plan Act
✅ Risk retention, risk management, and risk transfer for DB plans
✅ Annuity purchase activity for frozen DB plans 

If you are interested in learning about the retirement space, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 83 is Andrew Ngai, FIAA, CERA, Director at Taylor Fry.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀.

Andrew and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Participating in Esports as an actuary
✅ Applicability of the actuarial skillset in Esports 
✅ Developing a passion for Excel beyond everyday actuarial work 
✅ Excel World Championships: qualification, training, and competition 
✅ Lessons from his competition experience 
✅ LAMBDA, LET, and TOCOL functions
✅ The benefits of using dynamic arrays
✅ VLOOKUP, INDEX MATCH, and XLOOKUP tradeoffs
✅ Assessing when a task is better handled outside of Excel
✅ Tips for early career actuaries to improve Excel skills 

If you are interested in learning how to get the most out of Excel to add value in your work, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 82 is Paul Sweeting, Ph.D, FIA, CERA, CFA, FCSI, FRSA, Senior Advisor at Hassana Investment Company.

The theme for the episode is 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Paul and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Enterprise risk management and its strategic role in organizations
✅ How actuaries add value in ERM
✅ Capital modeling, quantitative risk evaluation, and risk measures
✅ Using multivariate distributions for risk modeling
✅ What copulas are and why they are used for ERM
✅ How to build risk models using copulas
✅ Specific risk modeling applications of copulas
✅ Gaussian, T, and Archimedean copulas
✅ The role of copulas in the 2008 financial crisis
✅ Corporate governance and its significance in ERM

If you are interested in learning from one of the premiere global voices in the actuarial profession, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 81 is Gabriel Ware, FCAS, Transaction Actuary | Consultant.

The theme for the episode is 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀.

Gabriel and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ What legacy risks are and why risks become legacy risks
✅ Legacy acquisitions in the insurance space
✅ Loss portfolio transfers and adverse development covers 
✅ Key considerations for buyers and sellers in legacy transactions 
✅ Arriving at an ambivalence point when differences of opinion exist 
✅ The role of a transaction actuary compared to that of a traditional actuary
✅ War stories from the most complex legacy transactions 

If you are interested in learning about acquisitions in the insurance market and the role of a transaction actuary, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 80 is Simon Rees, FIA, Chief Actuary, Americas at AXA XL.


The theme for the episode is 𝗘𝘅𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀.

Simon and I explore the following topics:⁣


✅ Satellite launches, aerospace, and cyber risks
✅ CAT bonds, insurance-linked securities, and alternative capital
✅ Political risk and credit bonds
✅ Professional liability for emerging technologies
✅ Excess and surplus lines of business
✅ Nature, coverage, and unique considerations for non-standard risks
✅ Lloyd’s of London specialty insurance market
✅ Non-admitted US insurance market
✅ Projects actuaries get involved with for non-standard risks
✅ Key considerations for actuaries analyzing non-standard risks
✅ Risk tranches, risk layers, and reinsurance for non-standard risks
✅ Recent high-profile events involving non-standard risks

If you are interested in learning about the Wild West of insurance that you likely won’t see in your day-to-day experience, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 79 is Kalpana Shah, FIA, President of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟴.

Kalpana and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The importance of resilience for people in leadership positions
✅ Her inspiration behind running for IFoA President
✅ IFoA key strategic initiatives
✅ Her views on the actuarial profession
✅ The role of actuaries in the decision-making process
✅ Skills actuaries need to become effective decision-makers
✅ What actuaries can do to improve their presentation skills
✅ Areas of opportunity for the actuarial profession

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who is leading one of the three global actuarial societies, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 78 is William Mahfood, Chairman at Wisynco Group Ltd.

The theme for the episode is 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.

William and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Wisynco’s distribution and manufacturing operations
✅ The importance of having a sound risk management culture
✅ Key risk management considerations in a diverse business
✅ Sourcing talent, retaining employees, and maintaining personal touch
✅ Cash management and security risk mitigation
✅ Ensuring production meets customer needs
✅ The impact of government policies on operations
✅ Water harvesting from rain to address water availability issues
✅ Managing supply chain disruption and production downtime
✅ Risk management gaps and risk innovation in distribution and manufacturing

If you are interested in learning from an executive who oversees a diverse business with multifaceted risks, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 77 is Steve Prince, FCIA, Partner at RSM Canada and President of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA).

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟳.

Steve and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ CIA purpose, credentials, and strategic initiatives
✅ How actuaries in Canada participated in the pandemic response
✅ His roles in marketing, product development, and consulting
✅ The importance of presentation skills
✅ The most important leadership qualities
✅ Providing actuarial expertise in expert testimony
✅ Canada’s criminal rate of interest
✅ Demutualization and its implication for policyholders
✅ Livestock insurance option pricing models
✅ Areas of opportunity for the actuarial profession in Canada

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who has had a dynamic career path including several non-traditional leadership experiences, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 76 is Eric Siegel, Ph. D., Founder of Machine Learning Week and author of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙄 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠: 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

The theme for the episode is 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.

Eric and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The inspiration behind his new book
✅ The missing link between technology and business
✅ The automation paradox and its relevance to predictive analytics
✅ The reason few models get deployed into production
✅ The six steps to machine learning deployment
✅ Decision trees, logistic regression, Naive Bayes, ensembles, and deep learning
✅ Business use cases in successful deployment

If you are interested in learning from a global thought leader in predictive analytics, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 75 is Tim Rozar, FSA, MAAA, CERA, Senior Vice President at Reinsurance Group of America and President and Chair of the Society of Actuaries.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟲.

Tim and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The keys to building a rewarding career
✅ Being strategic in developing skills
✅ His inspiration behind running for SOA President
✅ Manufacturing serendipity and how it aligns with SOA strategy
✅ Global relevance for the actuarial profession
✅ Growth and diversity of the candidate pipeline
✅ Volunteerism and networking opportunities for actuaries

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who has a passion for innovation who is currently leading one of the global actuarial societies, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com⁣

My guest for Episode 74 is Charles Cowling, FIA, Chief Actuary at Mercer and President of the International Actuarial Association.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟱.

Charles and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The purpose of the International Actuarial Association
✅ Sharing knowledge and expertise globally
✅ Sharing support in education and professionalism
✅ Engaging with supernational organizations and governments
✅ United Nations sustainable development goals
✅ How the profession is addressing climate, pandemics, water security, and retirement
✅ Balancing priorities of members across geographies
✅ The impact of AI on the global actuarial profession
✅ What the IAA is doing around diversity

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who has a direct line of sight into how the actuarial profession functions globally, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 73 is Stephen Mildenhall, FCAS, CERA, CSPA, CCRMP, Author and Retired Actuary.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.

Stephen and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Working in advanced analytics and publishing research
✅ The relationship between minimum bias and generalized linear models
✅ Pricing and risk management use cases for actuaries
✅ Allocating risk margin vs. allocating capital
✅ The relevance of aggregate distributions in actuarial work
✅ The Python - Aggregate package and how actuaries can use it
✅ The downsides of spreadsheet dependence
✅ Relevant programming competencies for actuaries
✅ Reinsurance analysis for the California Earthquake Authority

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who has completed 25 years of actuarial research including multiple publications, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 72 is Dan Carroll, FIA, Owner and Chief Technology Officer at Xcentuate Management Solutions.

The theme for the episode is 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Dan and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The role of a Chief Technology Officer
✅ Using technology to transform customer experience
✅ Transitioning from actuarial to the operational side of business
✅ Essential elements of productivity for analytical thinkers
✅ Opportunities to improve productivity in insurance and risk management
✅ How productivity impacts the quality of decision making
✅ Balancing large data sets with simplification and clear communication
✅ Leveraging an actuarial background to add value in a non-traditional space

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who is using technology to transform customer experience across several domains, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com⁣

My guest for Episode 71 is Sherry Huang, ACAS, Chief Actuary at New Energy Risk.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆.

Sherry and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ How her company interfaces with the energy sector as a Managing General Agent (MGA)
✅ Technologies, challenges, and solutions in the energy sector
✅ Techno-economic modeling, risk modeling, and pricing analysis
✅ How actuaries transform risk into opportunity in the energy sector
✅ Opportunities for actuaries to add value in the energy sector
✅ Unique aspects of a non-traditional actuarial role
✅ Differences b/w a small company and large company actuary role

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who is leveraging an actuarial background in a non-traditional way to add value in the energy space, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 70 is The Honourable Daisy McFarlane-Coke, OJ, CD, BA, MA, FIA, ASA, Founder of Coke & Associates.

The theme for the episode is 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆.

Daisy and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Her motivation behind pursuing actuarial science
✅ Her journey to becoming a qualified actuary
✅ Her time at UK Govt Actuary Dept and Norwich Union
✅ Keeping current on actuarial science before the Information Age
✅ Blazing a trail for actuaries in the Caribbean
✅ Her Appointed Govt Actuary role at Ministry of Finance
✅ Leadership roles at STATIN and other local institutions
✅ Starting and leading her actuarial firm, Coke & Associates
✅ Words of wisdom for the next generation of actuaries

If you are interested in learning from a historical figure in the global actuarial community, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com⁣

My guest for Episode 69 is Janet Sharp, FSA, MAAA, CERA, Appointed Actuary at Sagicor Life Jamaica.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗻.

Janet and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Her international student experience at Wharton and Georgia State University
✅ Pursuing actuarial fellowship in a developing nation
✅ The insurance and risk management landscape in the Caribbean
✅ How actuaries add value in the region
✅ Appointed Actuary duties in Jamaica and Cayman
✅ Integrating work and life as an actuary
✅ The Caribbean Actuarial Association

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who has navigated the actuarial qualification journey in a developing nation and risen through the ranks as a respected industry leader, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 68 is Arthur Randolph II, FCAS, MAAA, CPCU, ARM, ARe., Principal and Consulting Actuary at Pinnacle Actuarial Resources.

The theme for the episode is 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Art and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The recent wave of US insurer insolvencies
✅ The impact of underwriting performance on capacity
✅ Florida and California homeowners insurance markets
✅ The impact of the plaintiff’s bar and media on insurance
✅ Fraud and litigation abuse in Florida homeowners insurance
✅ Wildfires and Coverage A in California homeowners insurance
✅ The challenge of modeling emerging exposures
✅ Approaches for restoring capacity to acceptable levels
✅ How actuaries can leverage creativity to help restore capacity
✅ The impact of capacity challenges on residual markets

If you are interested in learning from an actuary with a wide range of property & casualty insurance experience in both the private and public sector, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com⁣

My guest for Episode 67 is Stephanie Espy, Executive Director of STEM Gems, CEO of Math SP Coaching, and Appointed Director on the CAS Board of Directors.

She is the No. 1 LinkedIn Top Voice in Education.

The theme for the episode is 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠.

Steph and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Her inspiration behind pursuing a STEM career
✅ Enabling factors for a STEM career journey
✅ The keys to navigating college admission
✅ Her experience as an engineering student at MIT
✅ Her experience as a chemical engineer
✅ Addressing the key challenges that girls face in STEM
✅ Her motivation for serving on the CAS Board of Directors
✅ Bridging the representation gap for women in actuarial science

If you are interested in learning from a dynamic leader who is passionate about helping girls and young women see their future selves as scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians, and to show them the many diverse options that exist in STEM, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 66 is Jeremy Keating, FIA, Director at PriceWriter.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.

Jeremy and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Transitioning from underwriting to actuarial
✅ The most pressing challenges for clients doing pricing work
✅ The nine-step method for successful general insurance pricing
✅ How to structure a modern pricing organization
✅ Key strategic considerations for pricing leaders today
✅ Bridging the gap between quantitative and qualitative objectives

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who has several years of experience setting general insurance prices in the United Kingdom and worldwide, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 65 is Bob Miccolis, FCAS, MAAA, FCA, Managing Principal at Miccolis Consulting and Past President at the Casualty Actuarial Society.

The theme for the episode is 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀.

Bob and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Captives and their role as an alternative risk transfer mechanism
✅ Differences between captives, self-insurance, and traditional insurance
✅ When to utilize captives instead of traditional insurance
✅ Single owner, group, micro, and onshore/offshore captives
✅ Key market developments and challenges regarding captives
✅ How actuaries add value in the captive solutions space
✅ Providing expert testimony for captives as an actuary
✅ Lessons learned from his CAS Presidency

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who has expertise in a niche area of insurance that few actuaries have exposure to, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 64 is Alejandro Ortega, FCAS, MAAA, former Chief Actuary and Exam Seminar Instructor.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮.

Alejandro and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ FIDES, the largest insurance conference in Latin America
✅ The insurance market in Latin America
✅ Living and working in Latin America
✅ Actuarial practice in Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia
✅ Key reserving differences between the US and Latin America
✅ Stochastic reserving methods and where they add value
✅ Transitioning from analyst to delegator in his Chief Actuary role
✅ The Organization of Latino Actuaries and its origins

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who has an intimate knowledge of the Latin American insurance and risk management landscape, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 63 is Jennifer Middough, FCAS, MAAA, Chief Pricing Actuary - Liberty Mutual Re - U.S. at Liberty Specialty Markets.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.

Jennifer and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Key stakeholders for reinsurance actuaries
✅ Key messaging to be an effective reinsurance actuary
✅ Analysis, interpretation, and communication with thin data
✅ Explaining the gap between reinsurance loss experience and pricing
✅ Concepts reinsurance actuaries use for stakeholder management

If you are interested in learning from an insurance executive with deep reinsurance expertise, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com⁣

My guest for Episode 62 is Jared Strock, FSA, MAAA, CERA, Principal and Consulting Actuary at Telos Actuarial.

The theme for the episode is 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲.

Jared and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ Medicare Parts A, B, C and D structure and benefits
✅ Medicare origins, projected growth, initiatives and reforms
✅ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
✅ Medicare Supplement (Medigap) private plans
✅ Value-based care and its impact on healthcare costs
✅ The status of the Medicare Trust Fund
✅ Employer-based versus government healthcare programs
✅ How actuaries add value in government healthcare
✅ The actuarial role in private versus public healthcare

If you are interested in learning from a creative actuary who has experience running a small consulting firm, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 61 is Ezekiel Macharia, FIA, Managing Director and Chief Actuary at Kenbright.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮.

Ezekiel and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The insurance and risk management landscape in Africa
✅ Opportunities for innovation and transformation in Africa
✅ How challenges are being addressed in the region
✅ Appointed Actuary duties in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania
✅ Leading an actuarial and financial advisory services firm in Africa
✅ The Actuarial Academy of East Africa

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who is driving innovation and transformation in Africa’s financial services sector, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 60 is Matt Duke, ACAS, ARe, MAAA, Head of Pricing - US Middle Market at AXA XL.

The theme for the episode is 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆.

Matt and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The foundations of an effective strategy
✅ How actuaries can become strategic problem solvers
✅ Considerations for supporting business decision making
✅ Lessons learned from strategic failures
✅ Navigating career moves to capture the upside of risk
✅ His motivation behind pursuing a top tier MBA program

If you are interested in learning from a data analytics executive who has led data science and operations analytics teams, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 59 is Shane Barnes, FCAS, Global Head of Pricing at Lemonade.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵.

Shane and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ The state of the insurtech market
✅ Transitioning from data science to insurtech
✅ How actuaries add value in insurtech
✅ Actuaries in insurtech compared to insurance
✅ Navigating the insurtech landscape
✅ Opportunities for actuaries who work in insurtech
✅ The value of historical data relative to smart technology

If you are interested in learning from a data analytics executive who has led data science and operations analytics teams, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com⁣

My guest for Episode 58 is John Harney, FIA, CERA, Senior Consultant at Aon.

The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

John and I explore the following topics:⁣

✅ How actuaries add value in pensions
✅ Defined Benefit (DB) Plans and Defined Contribution (DC) Plans
✅ How shift from DB to DC plans impacts the demand for actuaries
✅ Underlying drivers of liability block transfers
✅ Redirection of pension scheme funds into private equity in the UK
✅ The gender gap in pensions in the UK
✅ Risks associated with pension schemes

If you are interested in learning from an actuary who is passionate about optimizing pension scheme outcomes, you want to listen to this.

My Website: maverickactuary.com