CAS Profile: Madison Bemis

Madison Bemis studies actuarial science and music at the University of St. Thomas. She previously held the title of Co-President of the Beta Pi chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma and currently serves as the concertmaster for her school’s string orchestra. Madison is also currently interning at Travelers, where she will be working full-time after graduation.

Why are you interested in pursuing a career in the insurance industry?
I want to be a part of an industry that helps people. Insurance often gets a bad reputation, but in the face of tragedy, insurance is the first step to help people get back on their feet. It is imperative that we have caring people that work in the industry to remember what insurance is really all about: the people that we serve.

Why did you decide to study actuarial science?
Like many actuaries, I decided to pursue actuarial science because of my love for math. When I first started college, I still wasn’t even sure what an actuary really did. However, as I began my studies and internships, I fell in love with actuarial science and the challenges actuaries face every day. The industry is fast-paced, meaning new problems are popping up all the time, and actuaries have to come up with creative solutions.

What advice would you give to someone interested in studying actuarial science?
Don’t underestimate the power of coding! Models are becoming increasingly complex, and it is becoming more important than ever that actuaries are able to both build and understand them. Whatever experience you can get now in any coding language will be incredibly helpful for any position you have in the future.