Boston's Back Bay Hosts 2002 CAS Annual Meeting

by François Morin

Come join us at the Boston Marriott Copley Place for the 2002 CAS Annual Meeting. The meeting will begin on Sunday, November 10 and conclude on Wednesday, November 13. The featured speaker will be David Gergen, one of the most sought-after political minds in the country. He has served in the White House as an adviser to four presidents: Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. He currently serves as editor at large for U.S. News and World Report.

Four general sessions are currently planned. The first general session, "Operating in a Post-Enron World: Implications for Property/Casualty Insurance Companies," will explore issues related to the need for disclosure and independence as well as how the evaluation of loss reserves for companies is being affected by this increased level of scrutiny. A second general session, "Shareholder Value: Truth or Consequences," will compare a company's duty to policyholders with its duty to shareholders. This session will also contrast the short-term focus of shareholders and Wall Street with the need to provide long-term financial solidity. "What's the Problem with Homeowners Insurance?" will try to uncover some of the difficulties companies have had with this line over many years. Finally, the closing session on Wednesday will consider "What Will Federal Chartering of P&C Companies Do to their Industry and to the Actuarial Profession?"

Concurrent session topics being planned include a recap of the last 10 years of homeowners insurance in Florida, the state of the professional liability market, a chief risk officers' roundtable, nursing home professional liability, trends and issues with D&O, developing a successful actuarial student program, and the state of the California workers compensation market. In addition, the Conference of Consulting Actuaries will offer two sessions: "Good Ways to Communicate Bad News," designed to help actuaries communicate results; and "Practicing Defensive Actuarial Medicine," aimed at minimizing professional liability exposure.

On Tuesday evening, members and guests will be invited to the New England Aquarium for a special dinner.

More detailed information on the CAS 2002 Annual Meeting will be mailed to members and available online soon.