An actuary is a business professional who analyzes the financial consequences of risk. Actuaries use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to study uncertain future events, especially those of concern to insurance and pension programs. Practicing actuaries are involved in the modeling and management of financial risk and contingent events, calculate insurance premiums, policy and loss reserves (liabilities), and estimate costs of future losses.
Actuaries may work for insurance companies, consulting firms, government, employee benefits departments of large corporations, hospitals, banks and investment firms, or, more generally, in businesses that need to manage financial risk.
Students pursuing a career in the insurance industry typically take at least one professional actuarial examination before graduation. For more information about actuarial science, browse the websites of the professional organizations:
Employers & Positions
Actuaries may work for insurance companies, consulting firms, government, employee benefits departments of large corporations, hospitals, banks and investment firms, or, more generally, in businesses that need to manage financial risk.
Job Titles:
- Actuary/Actuary Assistant
- Financial Analyst
- Accountant
- Financial Manager
Companies:
- Allstate Insurance
- Securian Financial Group
- Sentry Insurance
- Thrivent Financial