The Actuary Magazine https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/ Published six times a year by the Society of Actuaries (SOA), The Actuary gives readers the information they need to stay on top of actuarial trends and enhance their business career development. Wed, 20 May 2026 16:57:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Product, Process, Channel https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/product-process-channel/ Wed, 20 May 2026 16:54:55 +0000 https://theactmagstage.wpengine.com/?p=10013 Reports and surveys indicate that the insurance industry is undergoing a profound distribution transformation. Traditional channels have served consumers well for decades; insurers have optimized for long product cycles, hierarchical channels and intermediary-driven sales. Yet consumers now live in an on-demand world, where insurers can extend their experiential strengths into digital-first moments. The gap between […]

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]]> Analysis: GLP-1s and Mortality Risk https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/analysis-glp-1s-and-mortality-risk/ Wed, 20 May 2026 16:54:54 +0000 https://theactmagstage.wpengine.com/?p=10017 The intense interest surrounding glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and other incretin-based medications is impossible to ignore. They have received significant public and media attention due to their potential implications for obesity and related conditions. Some commentators have touted them as “everything drugs” that will rewrite the trajectory of human mortality and reverse stagnating life expectancy trends. […]

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]]> The Risks Reshaping 2026 https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/the-risks-reshaping-2026/ Wed, 20 May 2026 16:54:54 +0000 https://theactmagstage.wpengine.com/?p=10015 The Emerging Risk Survey has become a cornerstone initiative of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) Research Institute and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS), offering a yearly snapshot of the most pressing risks facing the insurance and financial services industries. The 19th annual survey had more than 350 respondents. In addition, more than 100 of those […]

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]]> GLP‑1 Medications https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/glp-1-medications/ Wed, 20 May 2026 16:54:53 +0000 https://theactmagstage.wpengine.com/?p=10019 GLP‑1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists have rapidly transformed the landscape of obesity and diabetes management. Initially developed for diabetes, these drugs have recently seen a surge in popularity, largely due to widespread media coverage and endorsements as a “miracle cure” for weight loss. GLP‑1 drugs received initial regulatory approval in 2014, and 2021 is typically […]

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]]> Leading Through Change https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/leading-through-change/ Tue, 12 May 2026 19:08:16 +0000 https://theactmagstage.wpengine.com/?p=9985 Editor’s note: Society of Actuaries (SOA) CEO Greg Heidrich originally presented some of this content about the changing industry landscape during the 2026 ReFocus Conference, which was sponsored by the SOA and the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). We live in a world of great change that is often disorienting, confusing and at times […]

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]]> From Claims Control to Operational Governance https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/from-claims-control-to-operational-governance/ Tue, 12 May 2026 19:08:16 +0000 https://theactmagstage.wpengine.com/?p=9984 In many insurance lines, periods of stress follow a familiar pattern: deteriorating experience prompts corrective action, which alters behavior, and those behavioral changes further destabilize results. At times, actuaries recognize this dynamic in hindsight, after loss ratios, lapses or utilization trends have already exceeded expectations. In the post-pandemic environment, this pattern has become more pronounced […]

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]]> From Pension Risk to Alignment https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/from-pension-risk-to-alignment/ Tue, 12 May 2026 19:08:15 +0000 https://theactmagstage.wpengine.com/?p=9992 As reports and articles detail, Canada’s retirement system is evolving, driven by shifting demographics, market conditions, and longer lifespans, all of which are reshaping what retirement looks like and how Canadians and their employers prepare for it. In this environment, innovation in plan design, investment strategy and plan management is a key pillar that helps […]

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]]> Curiosity and Honesty https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/curiosity-and-honesty/ Tue, 12 May 2026 19:08:15 +0000 https://theactmagstage.wpengine.com/?p=9990 In recognition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, I connected with Jon Wu, FSA, MAAA, CERA, to gain his insights into an actuarial career guided by curiosity, honesty and a commitment to always helping others. Here, Jon, who retired in 2024 from his consulting practice that focused on enterprise risk management […]

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]]> Applying AI https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/applying-ai/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:34:07 +0000 https://theactmagstage.wpengine.com/?p=9969 Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere, promising faster results and more intelligent decisions, among other things. I have spent a lot of time experimenting with AI in my own work, from Excel and Power Query to editing and analysis. What I’ve learned is straightforward: Current, widely deployed AI systems perform exceptionally well when tasks are structured, […]

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]]> Insights: Assisted Dying https://www.theactuarymagazine.org/insights-assisted-dying/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:34:06 +0000 https://theactmagstage.wpengine.com/?p=9963 Humans have long sought to understand death, whether caused by natural factors such as aging or disease, or by unnatural events such as accidents or wars, through various fields, including biology, pathology, philosophy, metaphysics, spirituality, psychology, sociology, law, ethics, technology and economics. Besides natural and unnatural causes, suicide—the voluntary and deliberate act of ending one’s […]

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