SOA Podcasts - Society of Actuaries

Join Danny Moore and Aaron Jurgaitis as they discuss tertiary and quaternary care from an actuarial perspective. Danny and Aaron discuss: Definitions around the different levels of care, from primary up to quaternary Specifics around the types of care delivered in the specialized facilities that deliver this care, and The key themes actuaries need to keep in mind when analyzing data that include t...

In this episode Joe Alaimo interviews Jeremy Levitt.   Actuarial models are central to decision-making across insurance, finance, and risk management—but without proper validation, even the most sophisticated models can lead to costly errors. In this episode, Joe and Jeremy take a deep dive into model validation: defining its purpose, outlining key procedures, and highlighting the risks of getting...

Join host Tiana Zhao as she explores the transformative power of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) in the world of marketing and distribution actuarial work. This episode of the SOA Marketing and Distribution podcast dives deep into: The fundamentals of OKR methodology and its adoption by tech giants How OKRs can enhance clarity, focus, and measurable outcomes for actuaries A practical example of...

Join host  Justin Le, ASA, MAAA for a talk with Kate Smith FSA, MAAA about finding meaning and purpose in our work as actuaries. Kate is a Director and Actuary working in Valuation at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. In this episode Kate shares her perspective and advice on connecting her work to the impact on her company's members.

Listen as Danny Moore interviews Charlie Larimer on Epidemiology and Predictive Analytics.  Listen as Charlie gives his insight on applying predictive analytics techniques to determine drivers of health outcomes in differing populations and regions.

This interview featured Amanda Hug, the president and chair of the Society of Actuaries, discussing the role of actuaries in building trust with AI models. Amanda shared a personal anecdote from a trip to Uganda, highlighting the global reputation of actuaries. The discussion covered the importance of integrity, excellence, and professionalism in the actuarial field and provided advice on incorpor...

Arielle Galinsky—Harvard Kennedy School MPP candidate, JD candidate at Yale Law School, and advocate for aging with dignity—joins host Roger Loomis for a wide-ranging conversation on caregiving, aging, and how her generation sees the future of LTC financing.

Listen to this interview with Whitney Pratt – an actuary who leads a team of data scientists – about similarities and differences of the two fields and how we can better work together.  If you are an actuary wanting to know more about data science, or trying to choose between the two career paths, this is a must listen!

Becoming credentialed is one of the major goals for an actuary, but what does life look like after? Join Carly Mauro, FSA, MAAA and Chris Lombardi, FSA, MAAA as they discuss "the void" and how to approach personal growth, investing time in the community and the SOA, and professional development after exams.  

SOA is proud to present the audio version of the winning entry in the 2024-25 Speculative Fiction Contest, Faulty Medication by Brian Tajlili, FSA, MAAA. Here is what the contest's literary judge, Dr. Bob Mielke, had to say, "Nothing but positives here. A plausible and timely scenario, excellent world-building, vivid incidents, lively and detailed, polished and very well-written. …This story has a...

Join host Tiana Zhao, FSA, CERA, as she explores the emerging field of marketing actuaries in this insightful episode of the SOA Marketing and Distribution podcast. Discover how these professionals blend actuarial science with marketing strategies to drive data-informed business decisions. Tiana breaks down the key responsibilities of marketing actuaries, including data analysis, predictive modeli...

In this podcast episode Joe Alaimo interviews Bob Leach.   Bob introduces us to model validation concepts from the article that he has written for the emerging topics community: Model Validation 101: Bring your Calculus Mindset!   Bob discusses how to use calculus concepts to validate results from actuarial models.   This discussion is in the context of principle-based reserve valuation models, bu...

In this podcast, Michael Frings FSA, MAAA, now Chief Actuary at one of the Bermuda insurance companies, shares his experiences on his career path, where he started from an unexpected place -- medical school, which ultimately took him to where he is now -- an actuary. Please join us as we explore how Michael navigated his "unusual" path, how he found success, and what one may expect entering the pr...

In this podcast Darryl Wagner, Principal with Deloitte Consulting, discussed the complexities and principles of IFRS 17, highlighting its goal to standardize insurance accounting globally. He explained the building blocks of IFRS 17, including best estimate cash flows, risk adjustment, and contractual service margin (CSM). Darryl emphasized the significant data and technology requirements for impl...

Host Jackie Lee discusses the MAPD historical and future landscape of the Medicare Advantage market. They talk about notable milestones throughout the years and their impact on the growth of this sector.  

  This podcast features Robert Eaton, Principal and Consulting Actuary at Milliman and Sherry Chan, Managing Director at EY.   They discussed the role of actuaries in overseeing AI models, highlighting their unique skills in data analysis and model evaluation. Robert and Sherry emphasized the importance of actuaries in ensuring AI models are free from bias and leveraging AI to handle routine tasks...

Join host Tiana Zhao as she explores the critical role of relationships in actuarial marketing and distribution. In this insightful episode, Tiana discusses why strong partnerships are essential in the insurance and financial services industry, and provides practical tips for understanding distribution partners, effective communication, collaborative product development, and building trust.

Join Host Jackie Lee with Brian Pauley as they discuss the characteristic of leaders, including developing an abundance mindset. Their discussion is based on the High Road Leadership book by John Maxwell and Brian's article featured in The Stepping Stone .

Join Joe Alaimo, Founder and CEO of ProComp, and David Schraub, Founder and CEO of David Schraub Actuarial Consultancy, as they discuss the rapidly developing regulatory frameworks surrounding AI in the insurance industry. They explore the intricacies of laws and guidelines across the U.S., Canada, the European Union, and China, focusing on AI's role in underwriting, pricing, and risk management....

Dive into price transparency with Danny Moore and Greg Mottet, founder of Vairate. In this episode, they discuss a study exploring inpatient maternity rates in Washington, as well as the use of price transparency in payer-provider negotiations and its impact on consumers, payers, providers, and employers.

Roger Loomis and Steve Schoonveld discuss the state of the Long-Term Care Insurance industry and the opportunities to modernize products and broaden coverage.

In this episode, join host Tiana Zhao, FSA, CERA, to explore the principles of "The New One Minute Manager" by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson.

Join host Andrea Wang, ASA, ACIA, for an inspiring episode featuring Vincent Lepez, PhD, IAF (Institut des Actuaires Francais) , a distinguished leader and a seasoned expert in the insurance and reinsurance industry. With decades of experience bridging academia and diverse global sectors, Vincent unveils his remarkable career journey, offering actionable insights on discovering your passion and ma...

Roger Loomis interviews Matt Morton about the next generation of the SOA's Long-Term Care experience study. You can reach out to Matt Morton at mattmorton@illumifin.com.

Host Victor Zhao, FSA, CERA sits down with Frank Cheung, FSA, MAAA, CEO and Founder of Accorded, to explore how modeling headaches and operational friction inspired him to launch an actuarial data and analytics infrastructure startup. Frank shares how he identified the core problem, validated it through deep industry conversations, and took the leap into entrepreneurship.