Live With The Maverick

My guest for Episode 99 is Julia Lessing, FIAA, Director at Guardian Actuarial.The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮.Julia and I explore the following topics:⁣✅ The actuarial profession in Australia✅ The market for new graduates and qualified actuaries in Australia✅ Opportunities for actuaries in data science and non-traditional roles✅ The impact of generational dynamics for future actuaries✅ Transitioning from individual contributor to manager✅ Tips for actuaries leading a team for the first time✅ Tips for actuaries presenting results to stakeholders ✅ Tips for actuaries managing high-quality technical work✅ Communication and leadership traits to be an effective actuary✅ Retraining, upskilling, and future-proofing actuarial careersIf you are an actuary interested in building a dynamic and resilient career, you want to listen to this.My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 98 is Cathy Lyn, FIA, FSA, IFoA Council Member and Retired Actuary.The theme for the episode is 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀.Cathy and I explore the following topics:⁣✅ Running for IFoA Council and what she seeks to contribute✅ Nurturing a competitive quantitative workforce✅ The importance of mathematical rigor in society✅ Why quantitative professionals need to have a seat at the table✅ How quantitative professionals make countries more competitive ✅ How actuaries and engineers can work together to develop systems✅ Quantitative opportunities in housing, transportation, and agriculture✅ Changing societal attitudes towards paying for competency✅ Closing educational gaps in developing a quantitative workforce ✅ The importance of industry-academia collaboration for quants✅ The importance of mentorship and professional networks for quantsIf you want to understand how quantitative professionals make a difference in society, you want to listen to this.My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 97 is Lewis Kemp, CEO at Lightbulb Media.The theme for the episode is 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.Lewis and I explore the following topics:⁣✅ Content marketing and its relevance in the modern era✅ Content creation and its importance for professionals ✅ The three stages of the conversion funnel✅ How individuals can apply the conversion funnel to their own careers✅ How individuals can find their target audience✅ Developing success criteria around content creation✅ Keys to cultivating a relationship with a target audience ✅ Keys to finding your authentic voice when creating content✅ Fundamentals for individuals getting started with content ✅ Overcoming nerves and limiting beliefs around content creationIf you are curious about creating content and not sure where to start, you want to listen to this.My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 96 is Don Grimm, FCAS, Principal and Consulting Actuary at Archer Actuarial Consulting.The theme for the episode is 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆.Don and I explore the following topics:⁣✅ The connection between excess casualty and primary lines✅ Target classes of business and coverage scope for excess casualty✅ Capacity, rate dynamics, and trends in the excess casualty market✅ Key differences between excess casualty and umbrella insurance✅ Tradeoffs between excess casualty and reinsurance✅ Evaluating attachment points and limits for excess layers✅ Unique risk dynamics and exposure attributes for excess casualty✅ Risk loads for casualty lines of business ✅ The life cycle of an excess casualty program✅ Actuarial reserving considerations for excess casualtyIf you work in property and casualty insurance, especially on the liability side, you want to listen to this.My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 95 is Hasham Piperdy, FIA, General Manager, Saudi Arabia and Director, Actuarial at Badri Management Consultancy.The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁.Hash and I explore the following topics:⁣✅ The Middle East region and its relevance for actuaries✅ Insurance penetration, regulation, and market in the Middle East✅ United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and mature market dynamics✅ Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and emerging market dynamics✅ Takaful insurance and other unique market attributes✅ The impact of oil prices on insurance markets ✅ Sustainability initiatives, oil dependency, and economic diversification ✅ Vision 2030 and other transformation initiatives in the region ✅ The actuarial profession in the Middle East✅ The supply/demand imbalance in actuarial science✅ Opportunities for actuaries to add value in the region✅ The impact of geopolitical risk on insurance If you are interested in learning about the Middle East actuarial market, you want to listen to this.My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 94 is Dorothy Andrews, ASA, MAAA, PhD, Senior Behavioral Data Scientist and Actuary at NAIC.The theme for the episode is 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆.Dorothy and I explore the following topics:⁣✅ The link between media, data, and algorithms✅ Pitfalls in using big data to gain cognitive insights✅ The relevance of psychology for building models✅ The link between correlation and causation✅ Rational explanations for variable relationships✅ Natural experiments and randomized controlled trials ✅ The link between cognitive bias and cognitive dissonance✅ Bias in traffic ticketing, health diagnoses, and loss ratio modeling ✅ Potential downstream societal implications of bias ✅ How the insurance industry is addressing negative biasIf you are interested in learning about media psychology, you want to listen to this.My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 93 is Annie Tay, FIAA, FIA, CERA, Senior Advisor at Meanwhile.The theme for the episode is 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.Annie and I explore the following topics:⁣✅ Manufacturing and reviewing global insurance products✅ Developing financial strength methodologies for life insurance✅ The underlying drivers of strategic restructuring ✅ The pathway to Merger & Acquisition (M&A) transactions✅ The role actuaries play in M&A transactions✅ Lessons learned from a 56-jurisdiction acquisition ✅ Working in quantitative risk management as an actuary✅ Digital transformation and its relevance for actuaries✅ Recent market developments involving digital transformation✅ Business problems being solved by actuaries in Fintech✅ Developing a life insurance product on the blockchain ✅ Digital transformation opportunities for actuaries beyond insurance If you are interested in learning about digital transformation, you want to listen to this.My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 92 is Larry McClure, FCAS, Chief Reserving Actuary, Americas P&C at SCOR.The theme for the episode is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴.Larry and I explore the following topics:⁣✅ The business imperative for actuarial reserving✅ Schedule P, Statement of Actuarial Opinion, and actuarial reports✅ Key decision points impacted by reserving actuaries ✅ Reserving actuary interactions with finance, claim, and pricing actuaries ✅ Fundamentals of a reserving analysis ✅ The impact of limits, attachment points, and policy changes on reserving✅ Key reserving differences between insurance and reinsurance ✅ Key reserving differences between US and international jurisdictions ✅ Fair value accounting under IFRS 17✅ Regulatory regimes in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and France✅ The impact of social inflation and COVID on reserving If you are interested in learning about actuarial reserving, you want to listen to this.My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 91 is Esperanza Borja Mead, FCAS, FSA, MAAA, Principal at Actuarial Factor.The theme for the episode is 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.Esperanza and I explore the following topics:⁣✅ The inspiration behind starting her own business✅ Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship ✅ Bridging the entrepreneurial knowledge gap ✅ Marketing, sales, and pricing for new business owners✅ Boutique consulting firms and the clients they serve ✅ Providing actuarial services for multinational clients✅ Regional risk dynamics in the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean✅ Delivering value for clients consistently If you are interested in small business consulting and working internationally, you want to listen to this.My Website: maverickactuary.com

My guest for Episode 90 is Donna Glenn, FCAS, MAAA, Chief Actuary at NCCI.The theme for the episode is 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.Donna and I explore the following topics:⁣✅ Working in underwriting and product management as an actuary✅ Origins of workers compensation in the United States✅ Private markets, state funds, and residual markets✅ Indemnity and medical claims transactions✅ The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI)✅ NCCI loss cost and rate analysis ✅ LCMs, e-mods, schedule mods, and company deviations✅ Class-level rating and individual risk rating ✅ Aggregate loss factors on demand ✅ Legislative pricing, industry-level analytics, and data validation ✅ Impact of extreme temperatures on workers compensationIf you are interested in learning about workers compensation, you want to listen to this.My Website: maverickactuary.com