Actuarial

Pension benefit payments are based on actuarial estimates using current assumptions for discount rates, expected return on long-term assets and rate of compensation increases.

Estimated pension funding and post-retirement benefit payments are based on actuarial estimates using current assumptions for discount rates, expected return on long-term assets, rate of compensation increases and health care cost trend rates.

The SOA and CAS jointly sponsor a Web site for those interested in pursuing an actuarial career.

But in dealing with the problem of old-age insurance, some understanding of the actuarial principles becomes imperative, because their neglect has led many useful and well-meant experiments to grief.