Managing Risk in a World of Polycrisis with Rade Musulin
Actuary Voices
In this episode of Actuary Voices, Preeti Vasishtha sits down with Rade Musulin, longtime Academy volunteer, recipient of the 2025 Jarvis Farley Service Award, and author of Managing Risk in a World of Polycrisis, the cover story of the July/August 2026 issue of Contingencies. The conversation explores systems thinking, scenario analysis, climate and geopolitical risk, and the limitations of relying solely on historical data and sophisticated models. Rade also discusses how actuaries can help policymakers navigate uncertainty, why judgment remains essential alongside analytics, and what...
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Policy Update: Representing the U.S. Actuarial Perspective Globally
Actuary Voices
In this episode of Actuary Voices: Policy Update, host Ted Gotsch speaks with Will Behnke, public policy manager for the Academy's Risk Management and Financial Reporting Council, and Lisa Slotznick, chairperson of the Academy's International Committee, about why international engagement matters for the U.S. actuarial profession. The conversation explores how the Academy represents U.S. actuarial perspectives on global issues such as solvency regulation, financial reporting, artificial intelligence, and emerging risks. Will and Lisa also discuss the Academy's growing international role,...
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The Hidden Cost of Complexity: Pietro Parodi on Smarter Actuarial Models
Actuary Voices
In this episode of Actuary Voices, Pietro Parodi, pricing actuary, author, and thought leader, shares his unconventional path into the actuarial profession, from studying physics and AI to becoming one of the industry's leading voices on pricing and actuarial modeling. Pietro discusses why more data doesn't always lead to better decisions, the importance of building models that are both accurate and understandable, and how actuaries can avoid the trap of unnecessary complexity. He also shares his perspective on artificial intelligence, the value of critical thinking, and his widely used...
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GLP-1s Explained: Beyond the Weightloss with Dr. Kimberly Ferrero
Actuary Voices
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are making headlines for weight loss, but their potential impact goes far beyond the numbers on a scale. Could these drugs reshape health care spending, insurance coverage, longevity, and even the assumptions actuaries use to model risk? In this episode of Actuary Voices, Contingencies Editor-in-Chief Preeti Vasishtha speaks with Dr. Kimberly Ferrero, the American Academy of Actuaries' Assistant Director of Research. Drawing on her background in cardiovascular and metabolic disease research, Dr. Ferrero explores the science behind GLP-1...
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Hidden to Heard: Transgender Visibility and the Power of Data with Cynthia Edwalds
Actuary Voices
In this episode of Actuary Voices, Cynthia Edwalds, treasurer of the Sexuality and Gender Alliance of Actuaries (SAGAA), talks about her path to becoming an actuary, the importance of visibility and community within the profession, and the challenges of understanding risks when data doesn't tell the full story. She explores how actuaries account for missing data, barriers to insurance access, the evolution of underwriting practices, and how actuarial expertise can help create more informed and inclusive systems. Cynthia also shares how SAGAA supports both...
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Policy Update: Tariffs, Inflation, and Rising Auto Insurance Costs
Actuary Voices
In this episode of Actuary Voices: Policy Update, host Ted Gotsch sits down with Rob Fischer, Margo MacKenzie, and Jeff Clinch to explore one of the most pressing issues facing consumers and insurers today: the rising cost of auto insurance. The conversation examines the factors driving affordability challenges across the auto insurance market, including inflation, vehicle repair costs, changing driving patterns, advanced vehicle technology, and the growing uncertainty surrounding tariffs and global supply chains. Margo and Jeff also discuss the Academy’s recent issue brief on...
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Leading the Actuarial Profession Forward: Insights from Tricia Matson
Actuary Voices
In this episode of Actuary Voices, Academy President Tricia Matson and Academy Executive Director Bill Michalisin reflect on the challenges and opportunities shaping the actuarial profession today. From AI and climate risk to affordability and demographic changes, they discuss what feels most consequential right now and why actuaries are uniquely equipped to help organizations and society make sense of uncertainty. They explore the importance of professionalism, stakeholder engagement, governance, and the Academy’s mission to serve both the profession and the public. Tricia also shares what...
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AI Won't Replace Actuaries: Melissa McDermott on How AI Will Change (Nearly) Everything
Actuary Voices
Artificial intelligence is moving quickly, but the real question for actuaries is how to use it well and what it means for the profession. In this episode of Actuary Voices, Everest's Chief Actuary Melissa McDermott shares what she thinks about her role. We go beyond technical expertise and look into what it means to be a leader and how to navigate the changing AI landscape. Drawing on nearly three decades in the profession, she discusses where AI is already making a real difference in actuarial workflows, what is still overhyped, how leaders can guide teams through...
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Inside the NAIC Spring Meeting with Katie Dzurec: AI, Risk, and What’s Next
Actuary Voices
Growing affordability concerns. Conversations about how AI is reshaping access to insurance. The NAIC Spring 2026 Meeting covered a lot of ground, and the Academy was at the center of it. In this episode of Actuary Voices, host Ted Gotsch talks with Katie Dzurec, the Academy's Director of State Public Policy Outreach, about the key takeaways from this year's meeting. Katie shares what regulators are prioritizing right now and how actuaries fit into the conversation. Additional Resources: Read Katie’s full recap on the Actuarially Sound blog: Read the Academy's recent research findings...
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Decoding the Economy & AI Investments: Insights from an Economist
Actuary Voices
In the latest episode of Actuary Voices, Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at Cotality, joins host Preeti Vasishtha for a conversation about the economy, housing trends, and AI investments.
info_outlineRade Musulin, a member of the Academy’s Research Committee, joins host Ted Gotsch on this special Election Issues Clearinghouse episode of Actuary Voices. They discuss Rade’s wide experience in extreme weather events and their effects on property insurance, both professionally and here at the Academy.