News Type: CAS Profiles

Cory Ortiz works at State Farm as an Actuarial Analyst in the Homeowners Pricing Unit.  Cory graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Actuarial Science and a minor in Business Management.  He was born and raised in Central Illinois and is back in his hometown after graduating from BYU.

Why would you recommend a career in the insurance industry to current college students?
Insurance will always be needed in society.  Not only is that cause for job security, but it also shows the importance of the work that the industry is doing.  Insurance gives peace of mind to those who suffer or are in risk of suffering a disaster.  Being able to be a part of helping someone in distress is a good feeling even if we as actuaries aren’t on the front lines.

Why did you become an actuary?
My love of sports is what drew me to statistics at a young age.  From there, I knew I wanted to pursue a math-related career.  My high school calculus teacher suggested that I look into actuarial science and the rest is history.  I became an actuary not only because of the math knowledge I get to apply, but also because of the work-life balance, incentives, benefits, and work environment.  I am also a competitive person and so having exams to work through really pushes me to grow my knowledge.

What drew you to a career in property and casualty insurance?
As I was deciding which field I should work in, I was more intrigued by the P&C side of insurance because of the tangibility of the assets that are insured.  Also, there is a wide spectrum of assets that are covered in this industry.  The industry is also constantly changing thanks to new technology and ideas including autonomous vehicles, and ride-sharing.

What can students do now to prepare for a career in the industry?
The first thing a student should do to prepare is to gain basic insurance knowledge.  Having this knowledge will help immensely when starting an internship or a new job.  I would also encourage students to start taking exams as early as possible.  I didn’t take my first exam until I was a senior in college and that is my biggest regret.  Lastly, as the world becomes more data-driven, I would advise students to also get as much coding experience under their belt as they can.  This will impress employers, and those who have a coding background will have the ability to take on more projects.

Carlo Lahura works as an Actuarial Consultant with EY where he has advised a variety of national and international clients since 2017, and obtained his FCAS credential in 2019. Carlo graduated as Valedictorian from the University of Waterloo in 2017 with 7 actuarial exams, president of various clubs, and nearly 2 years of actuarial internships.

Why would you recommend a career in the insurance industry to current college students?
Insurance is what enables society to advance forward without worrying about large risks that may cause significant financial problems – that provides my career with a tremendous sense of value. As an actuary, I enjoy working on complex math puzzles every day to better serve my clients, all the while enjoying rewarding benefits and comfortable work conditions.

Why did you become an actuary?
I liked math and was good at it, so I wanted to base my career around that. What keeps me here is the engaging nature of the work and the community of actuaries – it’s a friendly and tight-knit group!

What drew you to a career in property and casualty insurance?
I did 5 actuarial internships in college, with only the last one being a P&C internship. The short-term nature and larger variety in our products were what convinced me that P&C was the right fit for me.

What can students do now to prepare for a career in the industry?
First, learn to code as big data is a real thing and is playing a key role in the modernization of the actuarial profession. Second, actively seek out presentation opportunities as actuaries with public speaking skills are highly valuable. Third, get through your exams as fast as you can. I obtained my FCAS early by front-loading the exams, and I have absolutely zero regrets from that grind. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out directly to me on LinkedIn!

My name is Melissa Salazar and I am a Senior Actuarial Analyst at Nationwide Insurance where I work in Management Liability and Specialty Lines of insurance. I was raised in Florida where I went to school at the University of Florida (Go Gators!) and obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics as well as minors in Actuarial Science and Communication Studies. I have been in NYC since April 2017 working in my actuarial role. Prior to this position, I worked with Nationwide in Gainesville, FL as a claim adjuster for non-injury auto accidents as a diverse claim representative, meaning I handled claims in English and Spanish. I am a loud and proud Colombian, and in my free time I enjoy exercising, watching movies and cheering on the Colombian National soccer team!

Why would you recommend a career in the insurance industry to current college students?
The insurance industry offers a wide array of career paths that cater to various skill sets. In insurance you can find technical careers such as actuary, data analyst or consultant; careers after law school such as coverage counsel; positions that create and maintain relationships with brokers and clients; hands-on work as loss estimators after catastrophes occur; and many positions in which skill sets overlap like underwriting. Transitioning from one department to another is also very possible and IS often encouraged. For instance, I started my career within the insurance industry as a claim adjuster and am now an Actuarial Analyst.

Why did you become an actuary?  
I knew I wanted to become an actuary since my junior year of high school when my math teacher brought it up to me. I was excelling in my AP Statistics course and found the material very intriguing; once I did some research on the actuarial field, I thought it was the perfect storm of applied mathematics and sciences. My coursework in college solidified my decision – I wanted to be a problem-solver.

What drew you to a career in property and casualty insurance?
In reality, I wasn’t particularly drawn to a career in property in casualty because when I embarked on my search for an actuarial role, I didn’t know enough about the different sects of the profession to prefer one over another. I serendipitously ended up working on non-injury auto claims and that got my feet wet in the P&C sector. From there, I applied to an actuarial position which also happened to be in P&C. Now, I can’t imagine working in any other industry!

What can students do now to prepare for a career in the industry?
Students looking to have a career in the insurance industry can start by understanding the ins and outs of insurance from the moment a policy is written to the moment a claim is paid out, to the essential equation of insurance. At the beginning, the learning curve is steep; insurance is like an alternate reality that as a young adult, we don’t have much experience in, especially when it comes to commercial lines. Having a basis of knowledge of insurance and understanding the big picture can be a great start. Additionally, particularly for the actuarial profession, making an effort to be proficient in excel and having some programming experience will help immensely!

Julianne Borgardt has been with Allstate Insurance Company since 2015 and currently works as an Actuarial Assistant on Allstate Business Insurance’s Commercial Property Lines. Julianne is a graduate of Concordia University of Wisconsin where she majored in Actuarial Science and minored in German Language. In addition to her normal actuarial work, Julianne has enjoyed speaking to college classes and actuarial clubs as well as participating in High School Actuarial Days and career days to increase awareness of the actuarial profession and share her experience. 

Why would you recommend a career in the insurance industry to current college students?
The insurance industry serves a social benefit and is interesting and ever-changing. It allows its policyholders to rebuild after an unexpected loss and gives them that peace of mind, which for me makes this a rewarding field of work. The industry is ever growing as new items are considered valuable, think cellphones, and as regulation at the state and countrywide level changes, such as with self-driving cars or even tax laws. Additionally, a lot of the positions are in an office environment, so employees get to work in comfortable conditions.

Why did you become an actuary?
The main reason I became an actuary is because it was a profession that would use my problem-solving skill set and let me grow and be challenged while helping others. I was also attracted to the profession because of the exam program that has tangible achievements to help me feel accomplished. I also liked that it has a code of conduct and self regulates.

What drew you to a career in property and casualty insurance?
As an actuarial science student I was drawn to the P&C insurance industry because a lot of the products deal with tangible assets and because the work is still progressing and changing. You can find out how much a car costs or how much it costs to repair a roof; and as personal and commercial assets have shifted – cellphone insurance, ride-sharing and even identity theft all fall under property and casualty insurance. This keeps the problems we’re solving new, fresh, and interesting.

What can students do now to prepare for a career in the industry?
Getting good grades, and taking mathematics, probability, insurance, and business classes really helps build a foundation for the knowledge you’ll need in the insurance industry and as an actuary. I would also recommend doing your own research; there’s a lot of information out there about the industry and actuarial science, and it can help you find the right path for you.

Kelly Gates is a Pricing Actuary on the Commercial Auto team at Zurich North America. She is an Associate of the CAS and is currently working on her last exam for her Fellowship. She is a graduate of Lafayette College.

Why would you recommend a career in the insurance industry to current college students?
I think it would surprise most college students that a career in the insurance industry has a variety of exciting opportunities, especially for actuaries.  Getting your credentials provides a springboard to follow a more technical career or pursue non-traditional roles. So far in my career I’ve spent time in rate filing support and pricing.  However, there are so many more avenues I intend on exploring.  In fact, I’m incredibly excited about my next opportunity with Zurich.  I’m currently in the process of finalizing the details for a two-year rotation in Dublin, Ireland.

Why did you become an actuary?  
I started studying for actuarial exams as a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote village in Cameroon, Africa.  My schedule was very different during my service, and studying for exams helped me mentally get through a lot of the emotional obstacles I faced.  Watching the young women and girls in my village made me quickly realize the opportunities I have in my life.  This perspective helped me pass my first two exams during my time in Africa.  It sparked a passion, and it took two years in a remote village for me to find this focus in my life.

What drew you to a career in property and casualty insurance?
I believed that the property and casualty industry would be a stable choice, and I don’t regret my decision.  I’ve spent a majority of my career working in Commercial Auto, which is a line that has experienced rate increases across the industry due to an increase in frequency and severity of collisions that are partially caused by distracted driving.  In addition, there are more people on the roads in a strong economy when there are lower fuel prices. Helping our customers navigate these risks has exposed me to a variety of different projects.

What can students do now to prepare for a career in the industry?
Students should learn to communicate the technical work they will do as actuaries.  As an actuary, I know how important strong communication skills are to being successful in the role.  Take the opportunity to learn these skills during school.  If you can’t properly translate your insights, then you won’t have success getting them implemented.  Take opportunities to work with non-actuaries early in your career to help develop non-technical skills and to better understand how to translate your work.

Robert Hark is an Actuarial Analyst at Applied Underwriters. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Montana Tech and a Master of Science from the University of California, Davis.

Why would you recommend a career in the insurance industry to current college students?
If you have strong mathematical and analytical skills, and you would like a well-paying, satisfying career in an industry that utilizes those skills, then a career in the insurance industry may be a good fit. Additionally, the actuarial profession is expected to have faster-than-average job growth: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of actuarial jobs is expected to increase by 22% between 2016 and 2026.

Why did you become an actuary?
After I graduated from Montana Tech, I enrolled in the PhD Statistics program at UC Davis. During my time there, I discovered that conducting abstract statistics research did not appeal to me as much as applying my knowledge of statistics to concrete, real-world problems. I had done extensive research about the actuarial profession, and I liked the idea of a professional career that would allow me to use my mathematics and statistics skills while developing my business acumen in a business environment. Accordingly, I left the program with a Master’s degree and pivoted my focus to the actuarial profession, and I have not looked back.

What drew you to a career in property and casualty insurance?
Honestly, when I was interviewing for my first actuarial position, I did not have a strong preference one way or the other regarding whether to pursue a Property and Casualty career or a Life and Health career. I accepted a job offer at Applied Underwriters, which is a Property and Casualty company focusing on Workers Compensation, and I fell in love with the work. I am now decidedly pursuing my ACAS credential (and then my FCAS credential).

What can students do now to prepare for a career in the industry?
Once you start working full time, you will have less free time than you did in university, and it becomes more difficult to schedule the study time required to pass the exams for your credentials. Therefore, I would advise students to take at least the first two preliminary actuarial exams, 1(P) and 2(FM), as well as to take the VEE courses while still in school. This will give students a head start on the exams and will also help students produce a strong and attractive resume. Additionally, I would learn as much computer programming knowledge as possible, including languages such as SQL, R, and SAS. Companies are increasingly interested in candidates with solid programing skills.

Marla Strykowski, FCAS, MAAA, is an actuary at Plymouth Rock Assurance. She graduated from Bentley University with a double major in Mathematical Sciences and Liberal Studies, with a concentration in Actuarial Science.

Why would you recommend a career in the insurance industry to current college students?
Learning about the numerous aspects of the insurance industry is fascinating, relevant, and a satisfying component of being an actuary. I love knowing that my work in this field ultimately provides people with help, and the support they need for the unexpected circumstances in their lives.

Why did you become an actuary?
I’ve always liked math and when I discovered actuarial science in college, I knew it was the profession for me. Besides the work itself, the uniformity and structure of the exam system, which measures all candidates on the same scale, really appealed to me.

What drew you to a career in property and casualty insurance?
Property and casualty insurance is so essential to everyday life that it’s easy to overlook, but that doesn’t make it any less important. From drones to earthquakes, there is a lot of variety. There’s always something new to discover, which coincides with my desire to be a lifelong learner.

What can students do now to prepare for a career in the industry?
Gaining an understanding about the insurance industry in general, such as becoming familiar with standard insurance policies, is a great place to start preparing. For actuarial students in particular, passing some of the actuarial exams is definitely an advantage. I’d also recommend taking a variety of statistical, computer/coding, and economics classes to gain a broad modeling and analytical background.

Allie Rexroat, ACAS, MAAA, works as an Actuarial Analyst at State Farm in the Specialty Lines Pricing Unit. She is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri.

Why would you recommend a career in the insurance industry to current college students?
The insurance industry today is changing very quickly. There are so many new technologies that didn’t exist even 5 years ago that impact insurance, such as ride-sharing, autonomous vehicles, and advanced smart home technologies. As our industry and the types of risks we insure change, actuaries have to think creatively to solve new problems and have a forward-looking perspective for what else the future may hold.

Why did you become an actuary?
I became an actuary because I had a skill and passion for math and learned that applied math was appealing to me. It’s nice to be able to actually use the fundamentals that we learn through the exam process to apply to our work and the real world. Actuaries also have the opportunity to be involved in many areas of an insurance company from pricing and reserving to risk management to executive leadership. Actuaries can easily hold roles in multiple areas, so we’re not restricted to doing the same thing for our entire career.

What drew you to a career in property and casualty insurance?
I like the property and casualty side of insurance because it feels tangible. We are protecting the assets of people and caring for them in their time of need after a catastrophe or auto accident. These events can happen multiple times throughout one’s life. Being involved on the pricing side of insurance is rewarding, knowing we’ve priced or created a product that has helped someone.

What can students do now to prepare for a career in the industry?
I would recommend taking insurance courses during college, if they’re offered. Understanding how our products work is an important first step to any actuarial work. Of course, sitting for and passing exams while in school is becoming an industry standard when applying for internships. Really, getting any exposure to what an actuary’s work is like through things like job shadows is a great way to prepare for your career.

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.