Log in / My SOA

Chairperson's Corner

By Erika Dochney

NewsDirect, April 2025

Computer-generated image of a goldfish jumping from a small fish bowl to a larger fish bowl.

 

As we begin 2025, l'd like to take a moment to reflect on our progress and share some exciting updates from the Marketing & Distribution Section. Actuaries have a unique appreciation for quinquennial comparisons, so it seems like the perfect time to look back at how things have changed from 2020 to 2025.

The way people work and shop has shifted dramatically in the past five years— trends that are crucial to understand as we adapt to emerging risks and opportunities in our otherwise steady-moving profession.

Toward that goal, we aim to provide relevant content to our members through various initiatives:

  • Podcasts: Councilmember Tiana Zhao, FSA, CERA, has put out several insightful podcasts, with the most recent one diving into distribution strategies. These discussions provide valuable perspectives on key topics in marketing and distribution. You can view the section-sponsored podcasts here.
  • Newsletter: Councilmember Helen Duzhou, FSA, FCIA, CERA, continues to edit NewsDirect, ensuring we deliver timely, high-quality, and relevant content to our readership.
  • Competiscan: As a member benefit, the Marketing & Distribution Section provides Competiscan reports. These reports provide insights into insurance industry marketing strategies by compiling and analyzing marketing materials. Members can learn how to access this benefit by checking out this article.

We also welcome contributions from our members. If you have ideas or content to share, please reach out via email. Your input helps keep our section dynamic and relevant.

Thank you for being a member of the Marketing & Distribution Section. We look forward to another productive and insightful year ahead!

Statements of fact and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily those of the Society of Actuaries, the newsletter editors, or the respective authors’ employers.

Erika Dochney, FSA, is an AVP, experience studies at Lincoln Financial. She can be contacted at erika.dochney@lfg.com.