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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 />

14 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>


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 />

16 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>


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 />

Permit No. 141

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