Member Spotlight

Our Member Spotlight highlights our members and their achievements! Each month, we will highlight a member online and in our weekly e-bulletin. Nominate yourself for a monthly spotlight and share your story to help us strengthen the community of the CAS and inspire future actuaries. You can also nominate another member for one of our monthly spotlights.

September 2025 Member Spotlight - Kinsey Turk ACAS

Kinsey Turk, ACAS. A confident professional woman is posed against a dark, neutral background. She is smiling warmly, showing approachability and friendliness. Her straight, blonde hair frames her face neatly, and she wears a dark teal blouse with a soft bow detail at the neckline. Her arms are crossed casually, highlighting her polished jewelry and manicured nails in a deep red shade. The overall impression is one of professionalism, confidence, and warmth.

Where do you work and what is your position?

Allstate, Actuarial Assistant

Why did you decide to become an actuary?

When looking through degree programs at my university, the level of math required was ranked on a scale of one to three. I found myself feeling disappointed every time a degree only had a one or two and excited when it was a three. This led me to realize that I should be pursuing a mathematics degree, but I knew I didn’t want to teach or do research. Actuarial science seemed like the perfect fit and after the first class I was hooked!

What aspects of the field do you love?

I love how actuarial science intersects with various disciplines. Success in the field requires more than just strong math skills—it also demands knowledge of economics, law, politics, programming, and more. These overlaps create complex problems with no single solution, making the work both challenging and deeply engaging.

What is the best career advice you have ever received?

Comparison is the true thief of joy. In this field, it’s all too easy to measure yourself against your peers—whether it’s exam progress, promotions, or other milestones. While I’m far from perfect at it, I strive to focus on my own achievements rather than measuring them against others.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?

When you're just starting out, you'll have a million questions—and while that’s understandable at first, it can quickly get old for the person answering them. My biggest piece of advice is to always share where you've already looked for answers before asking a question. This reassures the other person that you've made an effort and prevents them from checking the same sources. Additionally, try to propose a few possible solutions, even if you're unsure whether they're correct. This not only demonstrates initiative but also makes the conversation more productive.

What is your favorite CAS memory?

My favorite CAS memory is attending my first annual meeting as a CAS student ambassador. The meeting was held in Las Vegas, and I was amazed to see so many credentialed actuaries in one room. Since then, I have had the privilege of attending meetings in New Orleans, San Diego, Atlanta, and my hometown of Phoenix. Each event has been an opportunity to forge new connections and reconnect with friends from past meetings. The actuarial world truly is so small!

What is a fun fact about yourself that many people don’t know about?

I come from a family of artists! My grandparents and several cousins on my father’s side are all painters and I grew up surrounded by art of all mediums. Though I went the STEM route, I am very creative and still love to draw when I have the time. I even had the chance to lead a paint-and-sip class at my company!

Past Member Spotlights

December 2024 Member Spotlight - Louis-Philippe Caron, FCAS

Where do you work and what is your position?

TD Insurance Agile Product Owner – General Insurance Product Enhancements & Regulatory Projects)

Why did you decide to become an actuary?

Wanted to work in a applied math environment with great growth potential

What aspects of the field do you love?

All things related to Governance and Operational Excellence

What is the best career advice you have ever received?

Be honest with yourself and do work that gets you excited

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?

Be bold, never take No as an answer and transform that in opportunities.

What is your favorite CAS memory?

CAS 1989 75th Anniversary Gala in the Egyptian areas of the Metropolitan Museum

What is a fun fact about yourself that many people don’t know about?

Active long distance master swimmer

February 2025 Member Spotlight - Jim Arns, ACAS

Where do you work and what is your position?

Deloitte Consulting LLP | P&C Actuarial Senior Manager

Why did you decide to become an actuary?

In high school, I explored different professions knowing I wanted to do something with mathematics and business. In talking to a family member, he recommended that I explore actuarial, accounting, and finance. Actuarial was by far the most interesting to me and showed the most career growth potential, in addition to being the voted one of the best job in the US.

What aspects of the field do you love?

The ability to work with clients to solve their most difficult problems!

What is the best career advice you have ever received?

Network, network, network. Our profession is small and getting to know others in our profession can help open doors.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?

Be curious! Actuaries are in a wide variety or roles within organizations and exploring different opportunities can allow you to find your dream role.

What is your favorite CAS memory?

Receiving my ACAS. After years of studying, it was a huge accomplishment and made the thousands of hours worth it!<

What is a fun fact about yourself that many people don’t know about?

I am a huge survivor fan and would love to be on the show someday! Years ago, an SOA actuary was on the show and did very well but did not win. I would love to win to show that CAS actuaries are the better

March 2025 Member Spotlight - David Reyes, FCAS

Where do you work and what is your position?

I am a Pricing Director at USAA, leading a team of actuarial analysts responsible for conducting pricing analyses. Our work enables USAA to offer the most competitive rates for our unique military membership.

Why did you decide to become an actuary?

I discovered my love for statistics in high school, which guided my decision to pursue a math-related field in college. Once I learned what actuaries do, I knew it was the perfect fit and that I had found my calling.

What aspects of the field do you love?

I love the math, of course, but I also appreciate the people - actuaries are truly underrated! Throughout my career, I’ve worked in marketing, corporate responsibility, product development, and state management, and across all these areas, actuaries have stood out as some of the most driven, creative, and intelligent professionals I’ve encountered.

What is the best career advice you have ever received?

The best career advice I’ve ever received was to branch out. After earning my ACAS, I asked a former manager, “What should I do next?” His advice was to step beyond a traditional actuarial role. Three weeks later, I took a job in Corporate Responsibility (ESG). It was challenging and intimidating, but that experience broadened my perspective and pushed me to think differently. I believe it has made me a better actuary.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?

Find your people. I’ve been at USAA for nearly 15 years, and the actuaries I’ve met along the way have become not just colleagues, but also friends and my greatest supporters. We have lifted each other up through exam successes and failures, changing bosses, weddings, kids, and even cancer. Starting out can be incredibly tough because you are balancing a demanding job while tackling rigorous exams. Take a moment to appreciate the people around you. If you nurture those relationships, they may become lifelong friends and invaluable advisors.

What is your favorite CAS memory?

My favorite CAS memory was the recent Fall Meeting in Phoenix. I’ve become more involved in volunteering, starting with joining the board of SWAF (Southwest Actuarial Forum) and later participating in the Academy’s Committee on Equity and Fairness. This fall, I finally had the opportunity to meet and catch up in person with actuaries I had previously only interacted with over Zoom. Connecting with other volunteers has made my CAS experience even more enjoyable.

What is a fun fact about yourself that many people don’t know about?

I was a huge band nerd in high school and even chose to skip my graduation to perform with the Cavaliers Drum Corps. That summer was incredibly hot and sweaty, with nights spent sleeping on gym floors and traveling from city to city. By August, all the hard work paid off when my group became world champions!