SCHAUMBURG, IL -- A leading political economist with inside knowledge of the U.S. capital heads a list of speakers in 150 educational sessions at the 1997 Society of Actuary's (SOA) annual meeting, Oct. 26-29, at the Washington, DC, Hilton and Towers.
Robert B. Reich, 1993-97 U.S. Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, will give the keynote address, "The New Social Contract," at 8:30 a.m. Mon., Oct. 27. The speech looks at the growing split between the "have-mores" and "have-lesses" caused by globalization and technological change and asks: How can societies cope with this widening split without blocking trade or technological change? Reich, a faculty member of both Harvard and Brandeis, authored the 1991 best-seller The Work of Nations, published in 14 languages. His most recent book, Locked in the Cabinet, presents an insider's view of the Clinton administration's first four years.
The 1997 SOA annual meeting will feature three days of continuing education seminars on important current topics. Also, the SOA's first actuarial career fair will be held Mon., Oct. 27, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. for high school and college teachers and students in the Washington area.
In addition, 1996-97 SOA President David M. Holland concludes his term at the presidential luncheon, 12:15 p.m. Tues., Oct. 28. He is president and CEO, Munich American Reassurance Co., Atlanta. He will pass the gavel to President-Elect Anna Rappaport, principal, William M. Mercer Incorporated, Chicago.
Seminars at this year's annual meeting will address social security, the old-age crisis, genetic testing, technology, health care, banks entering the insurance market, and other topics:
"Social Security and the Stock Market -- Risk and Returns," session 8, 10:30 a.m. Mon., Oct. 27;Actuaries are trained in mathematics and statistics to analyze the financial risks inherent in business and provide evaluations to assist companies in strategic management decisions. The Society of Actuaries, an educational, research and professional membership organization, represents 17,000 actuaries, principally in North America, who practice in life and health insurance, employee benefits and pensions, and finance and investments. Journalists are welcome at the general session, the SOA presidential luncheon, and all meeting sessions, but they must obtain credentials from the Society's registration desk before attending. Many sessions will be available on tape within 24 hours, transcripts within two weeks."Current Issues for U.S. Social Security and the Canadian Pension Plan," session 101, 2:30 Tues., Oct. 28;
and "Is Social Security a Regressive System?" session 122, 8:30 a.m. Wed., Oct. 29;
"Perspectives on the Old-Age Crisis," session 30, 2 p.m. Mon., Oct. 27;
"The Old-Age Crisis," session 82, 10:30 a.m. Tues., Oct. 28; and "Planning for an Older Society," featuring National Academy on Aging representatives, session 121, 8:30 a.m. Wed., Oct. 29;
"Genetic Testing and Risk Classification," session 34, 2 p.m. Mon., Oct. 27;
"Impact of Technology on Health Care Delivery Systems," session 35, 2 p.m. Mon., Oct. 27;
"Selling Life Insurance Over the Internet," session 103, 2:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 28;
"Medical Savings Accounts and HR3103 (Kennedy-Kassebaum), session 38, 2 p.m. Mon., Oct. 27, and "The World after HR3103," session 108, 2:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 28;
"Ethical issues in Managed Care: Where Do We Draw the Line?" session 81, 10:30 a.m. Tues., Oct. 28;
"Bank Alliance Niche for Insurers," session 79, 10:30 a.m. Tues., Oct. 28, and
"Global Assessment of Bancassurance," session 100, 2:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 28;
"Mortality in the 21st Century," session 10, 10:30 a.m. Mon., Oct. 27;
"Taxation of Multinationals," session 28, 2 p.m. Mon., Oct. 27;
"Financial Reporting of Multinationals," session 145, 10:30 a.m. Wed., Oct. 29; and "Valuing Foreign Business," session 135, 10:30 a.m. Wed., Oct. 29;
"Illustration Regulation -- Past and Future," session 68, 8:30 a.m. Tues., Oct. 28;
"Equity-Indexed Products -- Pricing, Investment, Accounting, and Reserving," session 99, 2:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 28;
"How Annuities are Really Sold," session 152, 2 p.m. Wed., Oct. 29.
More information is available from the Society of Actuaries, 847/706-3566. Information also is posted on the SOA's Web site (www.soa.org) under continuing education.