I "fell" into the casualty field (it was the only job offer I had!) but,
given the choice again, I'd do the same thing. The life actuarial
profession has had to work harder to re-define itself, I think, because
computers have streamlined a lot of the pension and mortality calculation=
s.
We've had to do the same thing, of course- when I think of some of the
computations that needed to be done by armies of casualty actuarial
students 20 years ago and can now be done by one person with a spreadshee=
t,
I wonder if I would have had even THAT offer if PCs had been in use in
1975. Still, I think that the casaulty field has more problems which don=
't
lend themselves to "cookbook" solutions. And, with the notable exception=
of AIDs and subsequent development in treatment, I think that life
insurance issues aren't changing as rapidly as casualty.
(Note to life actuaries- plese feel free to contribute- this is my view=
from outside!)
I agree that the size of the CAS is less intimidating, although we're als=
o
going to have to address the consequences of growth. When I attend
receptions for new Fellows and New Associates, I know so few of them that=
I
really have to work hard to keep from hanging around with the Old Fellows=
like we're a bunch of wallflowers. But, I make the effort and I enjoy
hearing what the new members are working on and what their future plans
are.
Regina Berens
MBA, Inc.- Consultants in Casualty Actuarial Science
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/MBAInc
Visit the CAS Web Site at http://www.casact.org
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