CAS Profile: Jason Rutten

Jason Rutten is a Senior Actuarial Consultant at Travelers. After starting in an underwriting role at Travelers  Jason transitioned to actuarial work.

Where do you work and what is your position?

I work in St. Paul, MN, at Travelers as a Senior Actuarial Consultant supporting Small Commercial Auto.

Where did you attend college?

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

Why did you decide to become an actuary?

Honestly, it was a long journey with a bit of luck at the end. I graduated with a degree in Mathematics, eventually passing four SOA exams but struggling to build a career after graduating. I spent a lot of time working in retail management before finally landing an opportunity to switch into insurance. I worked at Travelers in an Underwriting Support role for a little over a year, and while looking at many possible career paths, an entry level actuarial role opened up and I’ve been in this profession ever since.

What aspects of the field do you love?

The community is by far the best I have ever worked in. I have made many great connections with amazing people, both actuaries and business partners in other areas. Some have been mentors, and I have even been able to mentor others as well. Individual successes are celebrated across our whole group, and that is something I haven’t found in other industries that I have been a part of.

Besides the people, I love that there are many diverse opportunities to learn and grow. For example, I supported a large project analyzing profitability on a specific market segment with an opportunity to present to Underwriting Leadership. I have also led efforts in smaller groups to create comprehensive documentation on processes and business needs, solving actuarial workflow problems on repeated processes. Every project I work on gives me something new to learn, and that keeps me excited to come to work in the morning.

What is the best career advice you have ever received?

Make your own opportunities. If you are unhappy in your current situation, you are responsible for making the changes needed to get to a better one.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?

Spend time networking and learn how to make real connections with people. Communication and soft skills are an important part of the job when working with different groups and business partners. Learning different ways to communicate with people will pay dividends for your entire career.

Why would you recommend a career in the P&C insurance industry to current college students?

I think it’s a great industry because of the variety of backgrounds you can find. People I know in my company have degrees in math, business, economics, or even library science (among many others). Additionally, it is relatively easy to switch career tracks as you learn and develop new skills. This provides a ton of opportunity for those who are willing to seek it out.

What can students do now to prepare for a career in the industry?

Don’t rush through exams until you know where you are going to work. I spent a lot of time and money studying for exams when I would have been better off learning how to network, apply, and interview. The first exam I took with company support was so much easier and less expensive than I realized.