Research Insights, a Society of Actuaries Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Society of Actuaries Research Insights Podcast, host Kara Clark, Senior Research Actuary at the SOA Research Institute, is joined by Al Klein, Principal and Consulting Actuary at Milliman, and Erik Pickett, Actuary and Chief Content Officer at Club Vita. Together, they discuss Chapter 10: Catastrophes from the paper Long-Term Drivers of Future Mortality, authored by Yair Babad and Al Klein for the 2023 Living to 100 Symposium.

This episode dives into the complex and varied effects that catastrophes—natural, man-made, and biological—have on mortality. Topics include wildfires, droughts, war, terrorism, pandemics, and the challenges actuaries face when modeling these unpredictable yet impactful events.

This is the final chapter in the podcast series based on this important research paper. To explore the full series and access the original report, visit the landing page:  https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2025/longterm-drivers-futuremort-podseries/ 

🎧 Tune in to gain key takeaways on how to incorporate catastrophic risk into future mortality projections.

Classic Replay: Takaful—An Alternative Approach to Insurance

In recognition of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the Society of Actuaries Research Institute is re-releasing a compelling episode from the Research Insights Podcast archive: "Takaful: An Alternative Approach to Insurance."

In this conversation, Dale Hall, Managing Director of Research at the SOA Research Institute, sits down with consulting actuary and author Shariq Sikander, FSA, FPSA, CERA, to explore how Takaful—a Shari'ah-compliant, cooperative insurance model—embodies principles of ethical investing, surplus sharing, and community support. Together, they discuss how this values-based system not only aligns with cultural and religious beliefs but also promotes financial inclusion and poverty alleviation across global markets.

As we reflect on the importance of economic empowerment and access to financial protection, this classic episode reminds us how innovation in insurance can help build more equitable systems—ones designed to serve, not just insure.

Tune in to revisit this thought-provoking discussion and consider how alternative frameworks like Takaful might inspire the next chapter of inclusive financial solutions.

Landing page:  https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2024/takaful-alternative-approach/

Send us your feedback at ResearchInsights@soa.org

In Episode 6 of the Society of Actuaries Research Institute's podcast series Long-Term Drivers of Future Mortality, Kara Clark is joined by Al Klein, Principal and Consulting Actuary at Milliman, and Erik Pickett, Actuary and Chief Content Officer at Club Vita, to discuss the pivotal role of health care in shaping future mortality outcomes.

Drawing from the SOA Research Institute report presented at the 2023 Living to 100 Symposium, this episode dives into Chapter 6, which examines health care systems across the globe—from universal government-funded models to private nonuniversal systems—and their implications for access, treatment, prevention, and long-term outcomes. The conversation explores technological innovation, systemic disparities, and the actuarial lens on future health care challenges.

📘 Access the full report and explore all podcast episodes here:
https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2025/longterm-drivers-futuremort-podseries/

Send us your feedback at ResearchInsights@soa.org

Don't miss our latest Research Insights Podcast straight to you from the Research Institute at the Society of Actuaries!  Listen to Sara Teppema, FSA, MAAA, FCA and Chief Actuary at Wildflower Health and Rebecca Owen, FSA, MAAA and Principal at Oregon Coast Actuarial, discuss social physical and cultural determinants of health and their incorporation into the actuarial data and workstreams.

Landing page:  https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2023/soc-phy-cultural-doh/

Report:  chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.soa.org/496f00/globalassets/assets/files/resources/research-report/2023/sdoh_act_data_workstreams.pdf 

Hear David Schraub, Senior Practice Research Actuary at the SOA Research Institute, talk about how artificial intelligence and machine learning (AIML) can help accelerate the speed of analysis for life and annuity actuarial modeling.

Report:  https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2023/predictive-analytics-and-machine-learning/

Listen to David Schraub, Senior Practice Research Actuary at the SOA Research Institute, talk about the recently published report "Microinsurance in a Nutshell: Only for Africa?"  The journey for microinsurance, nowadays called inclusive insurance, started a long time ago and is not complete in the majority of the low-income and low middle-income markets. When seeking to enhance inclusive insurance markets, it is useful and necessary to have a good understanding because it entails a different treatment of customers, distribution, products, pricing, client management, premium collection, claims declaration and settlement, and reporting.

Report:  https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2023/microins-in-a-nutshell/

The Society of Actuaries (SOA) Research Institute is dedicated to advancing education and research for the actuarial profession. As part of its mission, the SOA Research Institute recognizes the importance of partnering with colleges and universities to help develop future actuaries. With this in mind, the SOA Research Institute holds an annual Student Research Case Study Challenge, which provides an opportunity for teams of students to apply their actuarial skills on a real-world problem in a business setting.

Time to tune in to another episode of Society of Actuaries Research Insights Podcast!  Our guests today are Julia Zhang, Partner at EY and Jingling Zhang, Senior Consultant at EY discussing their recently written report "ESG for the Insurance and Pension Industry in Asia Pacific Markets" which addresses trends of ESG development for different types of institutions in the insurance and pension industry across APAC regions and markets.

Report:  https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2023/esg-ins-pension-asia-pacific/

Greetings listeners!  Tune in to another episode of SOA Research Insights Podcast featuring Max Rudolph from Rudolph Financial Consulting, LLC and Sr ERM Actuary at ARM talking about the "16th Annual Survey of Emerging Risks."  The 16th Survey of Emerging Risks follows trends about risks that go beyond the normal planning cycle, using the wisdom of crowds concept to apply foresight to potential future scenarios.

Report:  https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2023/16th-survey-emerging-risks/

Tune in to the 253rd episode of Research Insights Podcast featuring John O'Leary and John Cutler discussing a recently published report that explores stakeholder views in Minnesota on the efficacy of a public catastrophic long-term care insurance program at the state level.

Long-Term Care Coverage: Stakeholder Thoughts on State-Based Catastrophic Insurance