No one is immune to accidents and death obviously, but what people can do when they occur is prepare themselves, typically through investing in insurance coverage to meet their needs and particular lifestyle. Families should prepare for the unexpected -- what if the bread-earner of the family dies? This is where actuary professionals prove to be a great help!
Actuaries have a unique job. This is because actuaries examine and estimate the costs of accidents, death, injuries, and sicknesses in order to determine the particular coverage employees and specific individuals should qualify to receive. If someone has a dangerous job, where he/she takes many risks suck as sky diving of bungee jumping, his/her coverage will be high because of higher risks of accidents. The type of health coverage a person will have will depend on his/her age, sex, previous injuries or diseases, lifestyle (e.g. smoker or non-smoker), and various other factors.
Actuaries must develop policies to fit the company’s needs by determining the likelihood of accidents, and when accidents do occur, the financial impact it will have on the company. Basically, in a sense actuaries must predict the future and have in a place to cover what may occur. Health coverage plans may be very technical in the terminology so actuaries need to explain these coverage plans in simple, easy to understand terms to the clients enabling them to make wise decisions regarding their healthcare policies.
Many companies offer pension plans. The actuaries involved in pension plans must evaluate the plan and explain its working to the company’s employees ensuring them of what to expect when they retire.
Mathematics and statistical knowledge is a key importance in an actuary’s career with mathematical formulas used on a regular basis. The Society of Actuaries and Casualty Actuarial Society are two of the leading actuary organizations that offer certifications. The US Department of Labor for Enrollment of Actuaries pertains to those who wish to become pension actuaries to define the benefit pension plans for Federal Government. The American Academy of Actuaries is another leading organization which offers a variety of services such as expert advice on medical and casualty issues.
The demand for actuaries professionals are expected to increase over the next decade. This is because with the rise in population, more people increasingly look for long-term health coverage. A rise in terrorism and natural calamities has also played a major role in the increasing demand of actuary professionals. Healthcare policies change frequently and actuaries are needed constantly to keep the client informed of changes in order to make the necessary adjustments. Health insurance reform will be addressed in the coming years, and with the changes in coverage and the additional policies that will be available, actuaries will be needed to compare and contrast different policies. Consulting actuaries are becoming increasingly popular because certain companies cannot afford to hire in-house actuary professionals.
Those who do work in the actuary industry earn very well with an average salary of $54,000 per year and as much as $150,000 per year. The potential for advancement and higher earnings are great for those who are well-qualified and continually receive additional training. Those actuaries who show the necessary skills and knowledge can rise to the top to become Chief Risk Officers.
One of the biggest investments an individual can make is protecting the future of their loved ones. Planning for the future is easier said than done. Actuary professionals must prepare those individuals and companies for the unexpected and hope the financial and emotional impact of these events can be reduced in some manner. Managing risk is, while not ideally the best way to spend a person’s day, but it is necessary. A majority of actuary professionals work in insurance because the insurance industry is ideal to help manage risk in the best way possible. When dealing with money and people’s health, risk can occur in a variety of ways. Actuaries offer counseling on managing such risks and prepare the individual for minimum losses and maximum gains.
