2006 Annual Report - Society of Actuaries
2006 Annual Report - Society of Actuaries
2006 Annual Report - Society of Actuaries
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The Power <strong>of</strong> Ideas<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong>
Thomas Terry,<br />
FSA, EA, MAAA, FCA<br />
p r e s i d e n t<br />
c c a s t r at e g i e s L L C<br />
“There would be no opportunities without risk, and risk is<br />
the actuaries’ domain.”
The <strong>Society</strong>’s vision is for<br />
actuaries to be recognized<br />
as the leading pr<strong>of</strong>essionals<br />
in the modeling and<br />
management <strong>of</strong> financial<br />
risk and contingent events.
Table <strong>of</strong> Contents<br />
02 Letter from the President<br />
05 Creating Value through Greater Understanding<br />
09 Revitalizing Our Brand<br />
13 Managing Strategically<br />
19 Addressing Important Issues<br />
22 2005 Financial Results<br />
24 The Future<br />
25 Board <strong>of</strong> Governors 2005 – <strong>2006</strong>
Letter from the President<br />
Dear Fellow SOA Member:<br />
In today’s competitive landscape, the most successful pr<strong>of</strong>essions leverage their<br />
ideas to remain dynamic and relevant to current business needs. Ideas help frame<br />
our thinking, inform our beliefs, define our values and drive our behaviors and<br />
interactions.<br />
Throughout the pages <strong>of</strong> this report, you will learn how the SOA, along with<br />
thousands <strong>of</strong> talented and dedicated volunteers, is leading the North American<br />
actuarial pr<strong>of</strong>ession through the power <strong>of</strong> ideas. Highlights include:<br />
n Seizing a window <strong>of</strong> opportunity for our pr<strong>of</strong>ession to position actuaries<br />
in the new and emerging field <strong>of</strong> enterprise risk management through a<br />
new ERM credential.<br />
n The creation <strong>of</strong> a “value ladder” for pr<strong>of</strong>essional development.<br />
n Evolving the SOA Web site into an interactive knowledge center.<br />
n Listening to our members through a variety <strong>of</strong> interactive channels including<br />
FutureRisk.org, Important Issues @ soa.org and our section thought<br />
leadership process.<br />
n Leveraging technology to make it easier to interface with the SOA, such<br />
as launching online exam registration.<br />
n Developing an e-learning platform for members and candidates to create<br />
relevant, engaging and interactive educational experiences now and in<br />
the future.<br />
n Utilizing a balanced scorecard framework to manage and measure outcomes<br />
outlined in the SOA Strategic Plan.<br />
<br />
T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong>
n Launching a new customer care center to<br />
serve as the frontline <strong>of</strong> an enhanced member<br />
and candidate experience.<br />
n Unveiling a new, redefined brand for the North<br />
American actuarial pr<strong>of</strong>ession.<br />
I’d like to extend my gratitude to the thousands<br />
<strong>of</strong> volunteers whose collective thoughts, opinions<br />
and ideas are proving to be a powerful catalyst<br />
for change. I’d also like to thank the talented and dedicated SOA staff for their<br />
contributions to the pr<strong>of</strong>ession every day.<br />
While my SOA presidency is nearing an end, a bright, new future is beginning.<br />
I pass the baton to my respected colleague, Ed Robbins. I am confident he<br />
will take the organization and the pr<strong>of</strong>ession to the next level <strong>of</strong> performance,<br />
harvesting the ideas <strong>of</strong> our members and maximizing the SOA’s value through<br />
great execution.<br />
I could not be more excited about our future.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Robert M. Beuerlein, FSA, MAAA<br />
President<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong><br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s
Dan McCarthy,<br />
FSA, MAAA, EA<br />
C o n s u lt i n g A c t u a r y<br />
M i l l i m a n I n c<br />
“<strong>Actuaries</strong> are practitioners <strong>of</strong> the art <strong>of</strong> the practical.”
Creating Value through Greater Understanding<br />
The SOA works to understand member, candidate and employer/client needs and<br />
apply those insights to the creation <strong>of</strong> solutions that produce value for members.<br />
This “value creation” process depends on continual input from members and<br />
other key stakeholders. Here is how the SOA is tapping into these insights.<br />
S e c t i o n T h o u g h t L e a d e r s h i p Section thought leadership is a critical<br />
component <strong>of</strong> the SOA’s value creation process because it combines deep<br />
actuarial expertise with broader marketplace knowledge. Examples <strong>of</strong> solutions<br />
identified through the SOA’s section thought leadership process include:<br />
n Exploration <strong>of</strong> a personal actuary career path (Actuary <strong>of</strong> the Future Section);<br />
n SOA’s response to a rapidly changing marketplace for pension actuaries<br />
(Pension Section);<br />
n <strong>Annual</strong> Trend <strong>Report</strong>s from the Emerging Issues Advisory Committee<br />
(Sponsored by a number <strong>of</strong> the life practice-related sections); and<br />
n Re-envisioning retirement systems for the 21st century (Retirement 20/20).<br />
Retirement 20/20 is a partnership between the SOA and the Pension Section.<br />
The initial focus is on research and building consensus for the fundamental<br />
principles <strong>of</strong> a system among key stakeholders.<br />
SOA<br />
Strategic<br />
Initiative<br />
The SOA has moved to become<br />
a section-driven organization.<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s
F u t u r e R i s k . O R G The SOA actively seeks an ongoing dialogue with its<br />
members using the Web-based tool, FutureRisk.org, the first <strong>of</strong> its kind in<br />
the non-pr<strong>of</strong>it world. Launched in May <strong>2006</strong>, this tool enables easy, 24 / 7, online<br />
market research and provides SOA members and other interested parties with<br />
a simple, effective way to respond to important actuarial and risk-related issues.<br />
FutureRisk.org conducts surveys around topics <strong>of</strong> significance such as<br />
employment trends, pr<strong>of</strong>essional benchmarks and emerging issues. Most<br />
recently, surveys were conducted on Mandatory Continuing Education:<br />
What’s Your Opinion? and Career Advancement and Satisfaction. To date,<br />
more than 2,200 have registered.<br />
SOA<br />
Strategic<br />
Initiative<br />
The SOA will conduct<br />
environmental scanning and<br />
make use <strong>of</strong> trends, events and<br />
relationships in the external<br />
environment to assist in<br />
planning the SOA’s and<br />
the pr<strong>of</strong>ession’s future.<br />
<br />
T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong>
I s s u e s I d e n t i f i c at i o n P r o c e s s In addition to FutureRisk.org and section<br />
thought leadership, the SOA has a third channel for identifying issues. Our<br />
new Important Issues @ soa.org submission process allows members to easily<br />
communicate significant issues they believe the SOA should be aware <strong>of</strong> — from<br />
trends impacting our work, to new and emerging issues such as avian flu, to SOA<br />
policies and procedures.<br />
“We develop systems<br />
and products to<br />
help people plan for<br />
financial security.”<br />
Va l u e L a d d e r The Actuarial Value Ladder, currently in development, is being<br />
designed to provide actuaries with an enhanced understanding <strong>of</strong> how value is<br />
created beyond technical applications.<br />
The value ladder benefits:<br />
n <strong>Actuaries</strong> – By helping them plan career paths while assisting in evaluating<br />
and pursuing additional competencies.<br />
n Actuarial Organizations – By providing a value-based network for solution<br />
development. It also enables the marketing <strong>of</strong> the business case for<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional development.<br />
n Employers – By enabling employers to better assess the value <strong>of</strong> actuarial<br />
credentials and competencies.<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s
Sudha Shenoy,<br />
FSA, MAAA<br />
A c t u a r y<br />
W e l l p o i n t<br />
“<strong>Actuaries</strong> are rigorously trained, and I can’t think <strong>of</strong><br />
any other pr<strong>of</strong>ession that is as uniquely positioned or<br />
qualified to manage risk.”
Revitalizing Our Brand<br />
In the past year the SOA has continued its journey, in partnership with the other<br />
North American actuarial organizations, to position and create market demand<br />
for the pr<strong>of</strong>ession’s skills and services in the 21st century.<br />
Market research suggests that actuaries face tough competition for senior<br />
leadership positions in traditional markets (such as insurance and employee<br />
benefits) and in new roles and fields (such as enterprise risk management and<br />
broader financial services settings).<br />
<strong>Actuaries</strong> are <strong>of</strong>ten viewed as too technical and lacking the important business<br />
and communication skills needed to succeed as business leaders. Addressing<br />
these needs is essential to sustain and grow the pr<strong>of</strong>ession.<br />
In response to this research, in fall <strong>of</strong> 2005, the SOA launched the Marketing and<br />
Market Development Plan (MMDP), a three-year strategic initiative. The MMDP<br />
serves as the impetus for a branding initiative for the pr<strong>of</strong>ession, and contains<br />
two important drivers: revitalizing the pr<strong>of</strong>ession’s image and equipping actuaries<br />
with the skills necessary to be valuable thought leaders for 21st century business,<br />
especially in managing risk.<br />
Starting in winter 2005, the SOA engaged a broad range <strong>of</strong> actuaries representing<br />
various areas <strong>of</strong> practice and organizational affiliations through interviews, surveys<br />
and focus groups to get to the “essence” <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>ession’s brand. This work<br />
engaged the Image Advisory Group (IAG), which included participants at both<br />
the staff and member-partner level from the following organizations: American<br />
Academy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong>, American <strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> Pension Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and <strong>Actuaries</strong>,<br />
Canadian Institute <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong>, Casualty Actuarial <strong>Society</strong>, Colegio Nacional De<br />
Actuarios and Conference <strong>of</strong> Consulting <strong>Actuaries</strong>. The results <strong>of</strong> this work were<br />
later shared and validated by the SOA sections leadership, marketplace relevance<br />
strategic action team, and SOA Board <strong>of</strong> Governors. Among the important issues<br />
addressed, SOA sought to answer the question: What makes actuaries special<br />
and different?<br />
In-depth interviews were also conducted with more than a dozen top executives<br />
from Fortune 500 companies representing insurance, benefits and broader financial<br />
services perspectives. The findings revealed that actuaries are valued for their real-<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s
world solutions, forecasting ability, credentials, comprehensive approach and unique<br />
insights. They also believe that the pr<strong>of</strong>ession’s track record <strong>of</strong> understanding risk<br />
can be leveraged for future gain — benefiting both business and society.<br />
“Changing conditions<br />
compel us to take<br />
another look at what<br />
we stand for and to<br />
reestablish ourselves<br />
in the marketplace.”<br />
Executives interviewed respect actuaries and their work on challenging and<br />
important issues and are willing to consider them for leadership roles in<br />
their industry. However, in order to attain leadership roles, actuaries need to<br />
demonstrate broader business leadership and communications skills, affirming<br />
previous quantitative research.<br />
Executives are interested in an actuary’s ability to guide strategic responses,<br />
especially in understanding the elements <strong>of</strong> risk that link to opportunities and<br />
greater return for their employers and clients. They want to hear about actuaries’<br />
expertise in dealing with the same problems that they are concerned about,<br />
including complex changes in society.<br />
SOA<br />
Strategic<br />
Initiative<br />
The SOA will enhance the<br />
image <strong>of</strong> the actuary through<br />
a long-term image campaign.<br />
Combining what actuaries think about themselves and how the world perceives<br />
them is the basis for the pr<strong>of</strong>ession’s brand positioning statement, which will serve<br />
as a guiding light to clearly show a path between the current state and future state:<br />
10 T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong>
Brand<br />
Positioning<br />
Statement<br />
<strong>Actuaries</strong> bring a complex future into<br />
focus by applying unique insight to<br />
risk and opportunity. Known for their<br />
comprehensive approach, actuaries<br />
enable smart, more confident decisions.<br />
To tell the actuarial story externally, a message platform (see below) was<br />
developed to target four key audiences: 1) actuaries; 2) traditional market<br />
employers — insurance; 3) traditional market employers — employee benefits;<br />
and 4) nontraditional market employers — broader financial services.<br />
Strategies for Economic<br />
and Social Change<br />
<strong>Actuaries</strong> enable<br />
organizations to<br />
anticipate and manage<br />
strategic responses to the<br />
21st century’s changing<br />
economic and social needs.<br />
Real-World Solutions<br />
for Complex Problems<br />
<strong>Actuaries</strong> are rigorously<br />
trained to manage risk,<br />
<strong>of</strong>fering real-world solutions<br />
to complex and<br />
important problems.<br />
Future Leadership<br />
Anchored in centuries <strong>of</strong><br />
helping the world understand<br />
risk, actuaries are<br />
well positioned to assume<br />
broader risk management<br />
and leadership roles.<br />
With the brand positioning guiding our communications and the messages<br />
helping the pr<strong>of</strong>ession tell its story, there is one final, important and visible<br />
piece to the pr<strong>of</strong>ession’s revitalized brand: the tagline …<br />
This short statement <strong>of</strong>fers broad insight into the pr<strong>of</strong>ession, sparking curiosity;<br />
providing clarity into what actuaries do; and differentiating them from other<br />
competing pr<strong>of</strong>essions. The tagline asserts that risk is a kind <strong>of</strong> capital, and<br />
actuaries are the right experts to turn that capital into a successful enterprise.<br />
The SOA will support the pr<strong>of</strong>ession to ensure today’s actuary has the business<br />
acumen and communication skills to pursue new opportunities. With the essential<br />
brand elements in place, the pr<strong>of</strong>ession is reenergized for the rest <strong>of</strong> the journey.<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s 11
Tonya Manning,<br />
FSA, EA, MAAA, FCA<br />
C h i e f A c t u a r y<br />
R e t i r e m e n t<br />
A o n C o n s u lt i n g<br />
“<strong>Actuaries</strong> have the expertise to comprehend and tie<br />
together all the moving parts <strong>of</strong> the company in order<br />
to analyze an organization’s entire risk pr<strong>of</strong>ile.”
Managing Strategically<br />
The SOA’s commitment to the actuarial pr<strong>of</strong>ession’s future is realized using<br />
its strategic management system (SMS). The SMS is grounded in the strategic<br />
plan and uses the highly regarded balanced scorecard approach to manage its<br />
strategic agenda and measure progress toward achieving defined outcomes. This<br />
approach enables the SOA to translate vision and strategy into action. Essentially,<br />
initiatives that broaden opportunities for the pr<strong>of</strong>ession and membership are<br />
contained within the SMS. This system enables us to achieve our shared purpose<br />
<strong>of</strong> becoming recognized as leading pr<strong>of</strong>essionals in risk management, while at<br />
the same time providing greatest value to our membership.<br />
The system is led by the Board <strong>of</strong> Governors and supported by four strategic<br />
action teams based around the four themes:<br />
n Membership Value,<br />
n Knowledge Management,<br />
n Marketplace Relevance and<br />
n Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Community Advancement.<br />
These teams, comprised <strong>of</strong> volunteer/staff partnerships, are core to the progress<br />
and achievement <strong>of</strong> the strategic objectives.<br />
Key components <strong>of</strong> this system are member opinions, shared through<br />
FutureRisk.org studies, and important issues and opportunities for the<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>ession and the SOA submitted through the Important Issues process.<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s 13
Membership Value<br />
N e w N o m i n at i o n s a n d E l e c t i o n P r o c e s s In <strong>2006</strong>, we implemented<br />
a new nominations and election process for the Board <strong>of</strong> Governors. Identifying<br />
and developing strategic leadership is critical to our success as an organization.<br />
The nominating process requires broader involvement in generating potential<br />
leaders and ties the identification <strong>of</strong> nominees to the issues being faced by<br />
the SOA.<br />
This year we moved to one ballot, which contained fewer candidates. Candidates<br />
within each category (president elect, vice president and elected board member)<br />
answered the same question about their vision <strong>of</strong> the future <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>ession,<br />
giving voters comparative data about the candidates.<br />
According to the online election satisfaction survey, 93.3 percent <strong>of</strong> respondents<br />
rated their experience using the new election process as satisfying or very satisfying.<br />
O N L I N E E X A M R E G I S T R AT I O N We are committed to increasing member<br />
value by leveraging technology to provide information vital to members and staff.<br />
We want to make it easier for you to do business with the SOA and utilize Webbased<br />
functions especially as our global membership expands. One example<br />
<strong>of</strong> the SOA’s overall operational strategy is to improve the customer experience<br />
through online exam registration.<br />
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<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong>
As a result, we have combined “high-tech” with “high-touch” by coordinating<br />
the launch <strong>of</strong> online registration for exams with the inauguration <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Customer Care Center (see more on page 21). As <strong>of</strong> Sept. 25, <strong>2006</strong>, which<br />
was the registration deadline for November <strong>2006</strong> exams, nearly 11,000<br />
candidates, representing 65 percent <strong>of</strong> all exam registrants, had registered<br />
online. Candidate responses to our survey <strong>of</strong> customer satisfaction regarding<br />
online registration have been highly positive, especially since Web-based<br />
transactions reduced the waiting time for confirmation from weeks to literally<br />
seconds. In addition, the administrative burden for exam application data<br />
entry has been significantly reduced.<br />
“Some pr<strong>of</strong>essionals<br />
can identify risks, but<br />
actuaries go even<br />
further by assessing<br />
the value, cost and<br />
opportunity.”<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s 15
Knowledge Management<br />
The SOA believes that leadership positions such as chief risk <strong>of</strong>ficer are available<br />
to actuaries who have the breadth <strong>of</strong> skills employers require. Beyond the current<br />
curriculum, we are focused on <strong>of</strong>fering state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art credentialing, certification<br />
and continuing education programs.<br />
e x a m i n at i o n s y s t e m r e d e s i g n The Education and Exams redesign<br />
is core to maintaining the value <strong>of</strong> the FSA and ASA credential in the evolving<br />
marketplace. To date, design, development and implementation activities include:<br />
n The implementation <strong>of</strong> preliminary exam changes.<br />
n The launch <strong>of</strong> the Web-based Fundamentals <strong>of</strong> Actuarial Practice (FAP) course.<br />
n The implementation <strong>of</strong> three FSA components in 2007, including:<br />
n Learning-outcome based examinations;<br />
n e-learning modules; and<br />
n The Capstone Experience (focused on enhancing business and<br />
communication skills).<br />
n An adult learning process that is flexible and timely in meeting the needs<br />
<strong>of</strong> the membership and the marketplace.<br />
SOA<br />
Strategic<br />
Initiative<br />
The basic education system<br />
has been redesigned to<br />
improve relevance, value<br />
and travel time.<br />
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As candidates participate in the FAP course, they provide feedback on what they<br />
have learned and how it applies to their job. We will use this information to refine<br />
and enhance the course in the future.<br />
E n t e r p r i s e R i s k m a n a g e m e n t C r e d e n t i a l The Board <strong>of</strong> Governors<br />
approved the development and introduction <strong>of</strong> a new ERM credential that<br />
emphasized understanding <strong>of</strong> financial mathematics (consistent with material<br />
on the SOA’s preliminary education syllabus) and <strong>of</strong> advanced topics in ERM.<br />
The ERM credential is being developed for the marketplace using a product<br />
development lifecycle process similar to one commonly used in the insurance<br />
industry with strategic oversight from the SOA’s knowledge management and<br />
marketplace relevance strategic action teams. The credential is expected to<br />
be implemented by summer 2007.<br />
SOA<br />
Strategic<br />
Initiative<br />
The SOA is taking a leadership<br />
position on enterprise risk<br />
management.<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s 17
Kara Clark,<br />
FSA, MAAA<br />
m a n a g i n g d i r e c t o r<br />
a c t u a r i a l m a r k e t p l a c e s o l u t i o n s<br />
S o c i e t y o f A c t u a r i e s<br />
“<strong>Actuaries</strong> are able to provide a valuable perspective<br />
on a broad range <strong>of</strong> issues, particularly in relation to<br />
risk, but we also need strong business communication<br />
skills to ensure we’re translating our technical expertise<br />
into solutions that clients understand.”
Addressing Important Issues<br />
The SOA is committed to identifying and addressing important world matters.<br />
Here are some key examples <strong>of</strong> activities undertaken in the past year:<br />
S O A Pa n d e m i c I n i t i at i v e The threat <strong>of</strong> avian flu becoming a worldwide<br />
pandemic has resulted in actuaries being called upon to evaluate the financial<br />
consequences from such an event and develop solutions to mitigate the potential<br />
pandemic risk. In the face <strong>of</strong> these developments, the SOA’s actuarial marketplace<br />
solutions department put in place a broad-based initiative to educate and provide<br />
information on this topic to members. A multidisciplinary staff/volunteer team was<br />
assembled to coordinate and develop efforts to provide actuaries with the most<br />
relevant information and research available on this topic. Results <strong>of</strong> this initiative<br />
can be accessed on soa.org.<br />
W o m e n i n R e t i r e m e n t Women live longer and so are more likely to be<br />
adversely affected by the increased responsibility for personal risk management,<br />
making the management <strong>of</strong> their retirement security all the more important<br />
for them. These risks can easily overwhelm the unprepared and should be<br />
understood as a critical issue for all Americans, not just retirees. The research<br />
serves as a call to action by employers and employees and by all groups<br />
advocating to accelerate the enormous task <strong>of</strong> preparing the women <strong>of</strong> the<br />
baby boom generation for the challenges ahead.<br />
P r e f e r r e d M o r ta l i t y The SOA is currently sponsoring the largest, most<br />
complex and multifaceted mortality study ever undertaken by an actuarial<br />
organization. Our initial research will reveal the results <strong>of</strong> experience studies<br />
that will support redefinition <strong>of</strong> reserve requirements for preferred life policies.<br />
The likely outcome <strong>of</strong> this project will be to better reflect preferred mortality in<br />
life insurance liabilities while still assuring adequate protection for policyholders<br />
and investors.<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s 19
Marketplace Relevance<br />
w e b e n h a n c e m e n t Your perception <strong>of</strong> SOA.org is clear. Information is<br />
difficult to find due to search limitations and a site architecture that has evolved<br />
over time versus being orchestrated by intuitive logic. Information is difficult to<br />
use because it is not interactive or personalized.<br />
“I think the hallmark<br />
<strong>of</strong> actuaries is that we<br />
can both see the bigpicture<br />
and have the<br />
ability to deep-dive<br />
into the intricacies <strong>of</strong><br />
complex situations.”<br />
The SOA is enhancing and redesigning the SOA.org Web site in conjunction<br />
with the revitalization <strong>of</strong> the overall actuary brand. This effort will support the<br />
execution <strong>of</strong> our strategic plan while greatly improving our ability to serve<br />
members, candidates and employers on a daily basis. The goal <strong>of</strong> the Web site<br />
enhancement initiative is to transform SOA.org into a simple-to-use, personalized,<br />
interactive knowledge center for members and the pr<strong>of</strong>ession at large.<br />
Enhancements to the Web site will be implemented over the upcoming months.<br />
The initial focus will be on improving the core architecture and functionality <strong>of</strong><br />
the site to meet your needs, with expanded e-commerce and personalization<br />
functionality. The current implementation schedule is as follows:<br />
n Phase one – Online membership renewal<br />
n Phase two – Better content organization, enhanced search, revised<br />
visual branding<br />
n Phase three – Personalized content, expanded e-commerce functionality<br />
n Phase four – Enhanced online career management, expanded<br />
personalization features<br />
20 T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong>
S o l u t i o n L i f e C yc l e The Solution Lifecycle is the SOA’s product<br />
development and portfolio management process. It is designed to bring<br />
to market SOA programs, products and services.<br />
The Solution Lifecycle approach provides the organization with a repeatable,<br />
scalable and streamlined framework that enables solutions to “get to market”<br />
in a timely fashion.<br />
C u s t o m e r C a r e E x p e r i e n c e a n d C e n t e r The vision for a new customer<br />
experience is targeted at all relevant stakeholders, but its primary focus is SOA<br />
membership. The frontline for providing this experience is the recently introduced<br />
Customer Care Center. Launched in June <strong>2006</strong>, the center <strong>of</strong>fers a new level <strong>of</strong><br />
experience with defined standards <strong>of</strong> service and continuous evaluation. It is<br />
focused on customer identity, providing differentiated service for each customer<br />
type (actuary, candidate, employer, SOA partner, media and staff).<br />
Customer<br />
Care<br />
Center<br />
60.3%<br />
Performance<br />
Increase in customer<br />
contacts since<br />
launch on June 26<br />
Customer Satisfaction<br />
26%<br />
Rated<br />
service as<br />
“Excellent”<br />
9%<br />
Average increase<br />
in customer<br />
contacts every<br />
week since launch<br />
86%<br />
“Satisfied” with<br />
their experience<br />
with the Customer<br />
Care Center<br />
Note: These findings<br />
establish a baseline<br />
for future comparisons.<br />
2005 Financial Results<br />
While the <strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> is a non-pr<strong>of</strong>it organization, it is a financial entity<br />
with revenues and costs that must be actively managed if it is to succeed in<br />
fulfilling its mission. In setting the annual budget, the overall goal is to provide<br />
resources for ongoing operations and strategic initiatives, while maintaining<br />
membership equity at acceptable levels.<br />
The 2005 results and future budgets reflect an investment in our pr<strong>of</strong>ession and<br />
strategic initiatives as indicated by the 2005 member and candidate research.<br />
We are striving to provide significant value to members and the resources that<br />
the organization needs to achieve its core goals and objectives for future years.<br />
The SOA has three principal revenue streams, including member dues,<br />
examination fees and fees charged for meetings and seminars. Other sources <strong>of</strong><br />
revenue are fees for experience studies and research, miscellaneous revenues and<br />
investment income.<br />
Total revenues in 2005 were $25.2 million, and <strong>2006</strong> revenues are budgeted<br />
to be $29.6 million.<br />
Historically, basic and continuing education are not only self-supporting but<br />
also contribute to research and help cover overhead. Membership dues have<br />
been used principally to fund the cost <strong>of</strong> providing services to members.<br />
Education and examination results were strong for 2005 because <strong>of</strong> an increasing<br />
number <strong>of</strong> candidates, particularly in early exams. Continuing education also<br />
increased slightly. Research revenues less expenses exceeded budget for the<br />
year. Member services, as well as marketing and general overhead performed<br />
better than or close to budget for the year.<br />
The SOA 2005 financial results showed a management basis increase in net assets<br />
<strong>of</strong> $1,148,000. This is better than the budgeted amount and the increase reflects<br />
the SOA’s aggressive work implementing the strategic plan validated by our<br />
member research. The <strong>2006</strong> budget continues the plan <strong>of</strong> investing SOA reserves<br />
in the future <strong>of</strong> the actuarial pr<strong>of</strong>ession, with a planned decrease in net assets<br />
<strong>of</strong> $256,000. The summary <strong>of</strong> the budget for <strong>2006</strong>, as approved by the Board <strong>of</strong><br />
Governors in October 2005, is compared to the right with the 2005 actual:<br />
22 T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong>
SOA Budget<br />
Revenue<br />
(in 1,000s)<br />
Summary 2005 Actual $ 25,166<br />
<strong>2006</strong> Budget 29,245<br />
Change in Net Assets<br />
(in 1,000s)<br />
2005 Actual $ 1,148<br />
<strong>2006</strong> Budget (256)<br />
Member Equity as <strong>of</strong> 12.31.<strong>2006</strong><br />
(in 1,000s)<br />
2005 Actual $ 10,879<br />
<strong>2006</strong> Budget 10,623<br />
The above figures use our management basis <strong>of</strong> accounting, which is slightly<br />
more conservative than GAAP. Membership equity does not include the<br />
additional $1.6 million <strong>of</strong> restricted funds (mostly sections’ surpluses).<br />
Membership equity is measured against the following year’s expenses, standing<br />
at 37 percent at the end <strong>of</strong> 2005. The current budgeted membership equity<br />
position <strong>of</strong> $10.6 million is about 33 percent <strong>of</strong> annualized expenses. The target<br />
range <strong>of</strong> membership equity established by the Board <strong>of</strong> Governors is 30 to<br />
50 percent.<br />
S t r at e g i c I n i t i at i v e s The funding <strong>of</strong> strategic initiatives is emerging as<br />
an increasingly important part <strong>of</strong> the SOA budget. Two strategic initiatives as<br />
part <strong>of</strong> the MMDP, “taking a leadership position on enterprise risk management”<br />
and “enhancing the image <strong>of</strong> the actuary through a long-term image campaign,”<br />
rated 8.0 and 7.9 out <strong>of</strong> 10, respectively, in importance in the 2005 member and<br />
candidate survey. The funding necessary for the initiatives reflected in the <strong>2006</strong><br />
budget will combine aggressive expense reduction in operational areas with<br />
revenue enhancement.<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s 23
The Future<br />
We are pleased to introduce E d wa r d L . R o b b i n s<br />
as <strong>2006</strong> – 2007 president <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong>.<br />
Robbins is Director, Life Actuarial Services at SMART<br />
Business Advisory and Consulting. A graduate <strong>of</strong> Cornell<br />
University, he worked for Pan-American Life Insurance<br />
Company from 1972 – 1982 and at KPMG LLP from 1984<br />
to his retirement from the partnership in 1998.<br />
In addition to his most recent position as president elect <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Actuaries</strong>, Robbins has been pr<strong>of</strong>essionally active, serving on a number <strong>of</strong><br />
committees <strong>of</strong> both the <strong>Society</strong> and the American Academy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong><br />
including serving on the Board <strong>of</strong> Governors for the <strong>Society</strong> from 1999 – 2004.<br />
He is also co-author <strong>of</strong> the textbooks entitled U.S. GAAP for Life Insurers and<br />
U.S. Tax Reserves for Life Insurers.<br />
24 T h e P o w e r o f I d e a s<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong> <strong>2006</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong>
Board <strong>of</strong> Governors 2005 – <strong>2006</strong><br />
Design Rogue Element, Inc. Printing Lake County Press Photography Thomas Arledge, Steven Gross<br />
P r e s i d e n t<br />
Robert M. Beuerlein, FSA, MAAA<br />
P r e s i d e n t E l e c t<br />
Edward L. Robbins, FSA, MAAA<br />
V i c e P r e s i d e n t s<br />
Thomas R. Corcoran, FSA, MAAA<br />
Jay M. Jaffe, FSA, MAAA<br />
Mike Lombardi, FSA, FCIA, MAAA<br />
Warren R. Luckner, FSA, MAAA<br />
Bruce D. Schobel, FSA, MAAA, FCA<br />
Judy L. Strachan, FSA, MAAA, FCA<br />
Kathleen R. Wong, FSA, MAAA<br />
S e c r e ta r y-T r e a s u r e r<br />
Bruce D. Schobel, FSA, MAAA, FCA<br />
Pa s t P r e s i d e n t s<br />
Stephen G. Kellison, FSA, MAAA, EA<br />
Neil A. Parmenter, FSA, MAAA, FCA, EA<br />
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong><br />
475 North Martingale Road<br />
Suite 600<br />
Schaumburg, Illinois 60173<br />
Tel: (847) 706-3500<br />
Fax: (847) 706-3599<br />
www.soa.org<br />
B o a r d M e m b e r s<br />
Noel John Abkemeier, FSA, MAAA<br />
Mary J. Bahna-Nolan, FSA, MAAA<br />
Christopher M. Bone, FSA, MAAA, EA<br />
Errol Cramer, FSA, MAAA<br />
Edward W. Frees, Ph.D., FSA, MAAA,<br />
Charles D. Friedstat, FSA, MAAA<br />
Charles L. Gilbert, FSA, FCIA<br />
James M. Glickman, FSA<br />
Abraham S. Gootzeit, FSA, MAAA<br />
Mary Rosalyn Hardy, Ph.D., FSA, FIA<br />
Timothy F. Harris, FSA, MAAA<br />
Shu-Yen Liu, FSA, MAAA<br />
Cynthia S. Miller, FSA, MAAA<br />
Patricia A. Pruitt, FSA, MAAA<br />
Max J. Rudolph, FSA, MAAA<br />
Barry L. Shemin, FSA, MAAA<br />
Kenneth A. Steiner, FSA, MAAA, FCA, EA<br />
Richard Q. Wendt, FSA, MAAA, EA<br />
Teresa Russ Winer, FSA, MAAA
<strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actuaries</strong><br />
475 North Martingale Road<br />
Suite 600<br />
Schaumburg, Illinois 60173<br />
Non-Pr<strong>of</strong>it Org.<br />
US Postage<br />
PAID<br />
Chicago, IL<br />
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