Modern Actuarial Theory and Practice

Book excerpt: In the last two decades, there has been a significant shift in thinking and in the approach taken to actuarial practice: moving from deterministic methods (with implicit or explicit margins to protect against variability) to fully stochastic methods. Important international developments are currently being made in actuarial education, with radical changes being implemented in Australia and North America, and evolutionary changes planned in the UK. At the same time, the Consultative Group of Actuarial Associations within the EU and the International Forum of Actuarial Associations are both actively considering the international harmonization of professional qualifications. Modern Actuarial Theory and Practice matches the philosophy of those international developments, and the manner in which actuarial qualifications are changing and are likely to continue to change. It describes the traditional areas of actuarial activity with an emphasis on the fundamental principles, as well as the economic, financial, and statistical foundations of actuarial theory and practice. Information is presented in five interconnected sections: Investment Life Insurance General Insurance Pensions Actuarial Models which can be read separately or taken as part of the integrated whole. This text will be an invaluable aid for final-year undergraduates, MSc students, research students preparing for an MPhil or Ph. D degree, and to student actuaries preparing for the professional actuarial examinations of a number of professional bodies. Practicing actuaries will also find this a useful guide to current methodologies and models.