1. Appointed Actuary Certificates
Ottawa June 29, 2006
John Dark
Bob Wilson

2. Why are we here?
To review the Exposure Draft of the proposed Qualification Standard for Appointed Actuaries Certificates (AAC)
Feedback at this meeting will be used by the working group on the AAC to revise the draft for presentation at the September Board Meeting
If it passes the Board it would be subject to member ratification at the October Chicago meeting (perhaps also by electronic voting)

3. Stakeholders Direct Indirect Actuaries functioning as : Regulators
AA’s
AA peer reviewers
Actuarial Specialists for auditing purposes of insurance entities (excluding Worker’s Compensation)
Indirect
Regulators
Public (whether they know it or not)
All actuaries
Users of the services of actuaries performing reserved roles

4. Who’s idea was this?
Appointed Actuaries committee put forward the first proposal which was exposed last year.
E.E.C. would administer like other qualification issues so we are proposing this.

5. Why do we need this?
“The exposure draft has been issued partly because of the importance of the role of the AA and partly because of concerns expressed by regulators, as well as by some actuaries who have acted as external reviewers, that we need to do more to ensure that actuaries have the technical knowledge and relevant experience before taking on the role of an AA.”
- Charles McLeod, C.I.A. President
June 2006 CIA bulletin

6. Background
In the U.K. this has already happened to valuation actuaries in a form controlled by the Government not the actuaries themselves as a result of the Morris Commission (Equitable Life failure)
We believe Canadian actuaries have a very good track record setting standards for themselves and would like to retain this by being ahead of the regulators with rules we make ourselves

7. Who FCIAs (life and P.&C.) acting as :
AA’s
AA peer reviewers
Actuarial Specialists for auditing purposes of insurance entities (excluding Worker’s Compensation)
AA’s of companies, consultants etc.
No plans to widen the scope

8. What
Yearly renewable certificate contingent on CPD, qualifications and experience
Needed before performing one (or more) of these reserved roles

9. Why
Demonstrates the holder has met a threshold in order to be able to consider this work
RULE 2 still applies

10. When Annually renewable
Starting no later than January 1, 2008 and perhaps year end 2006

11. Where Canadian work only
Qualification includes a requirement for specific Canadian experience

12. OK so what do you want to know?
Are there practical issues?
Are there errors or omissions in the Qualification Standard?
Do you support or oppose the concept and why?
Can we start December 31, 2006

13. How do I provide input Preferably by e-mail to:
Then we can share it with our working committee
Otherwise right here and now – or volunteer for our Working Group!!
Deadline date July 14, 2006

14. Nobody ever responds to Exposure drafts
14 individuals and 2 committees so far plus 2 regulators and Assuris
Considerable thoughtful input

15. What kind of stuff do they say?
Input received on :
Start date;
Experience requirements
– years , specific experience etc.;
Application form;
Concern about expansion to other areas;
Appeals; etc.

16. Where can I get details ?
On the CIA website or me

17. What an AA has to say: Bob Wilson, A.A. Sun Life, and
Chair A.A. Committee

18. Wish that we did not have to do this
Current proposal has flaws but limited by what can be passed
Significant difference in roles of AAs and this needs to be recongnized.
Concern is not medium to large companies since Boards of Directors active and understand issues.
Rule 2 is not enough as the incompetent are the last to know that they are incompetent.
The job is a lot bigger than those just below the job believe.
Fundamentally most AAs wish that we did not have to do this. The proposal has flaws but all in life is compromise.
The title AA runs from the AA who deals with a long closed foreign branch to small to medium sized companies where the AA actually does the valuation, to large conglomerates where reserves are actually calculated by teams of actuaries all over the world. In each of these cases the roles are significantly different and the individual that you would want would have different skill sets. Any standard has to allow for this diversity.
The concerns that have been expressed by both regulators and auditors is generally not with any medium or large companies. In these companies there is generally a broad array of actuarial talent and Boards of Directors who are diligent in selecting the individual.
Rule 2 is not enough because the incompetent are the last to know it.
As well because the job is actually bigger than those just below believe, they may not be up to it even if they are technically capable.

19. Have there been problems?
Has anyone ever taken an AA job when they were not qualified?
Yes
Has an AA ever been disciplined?
Would this standard have prevented the appointment?

20. View from the AA Committee
The Committee on the AA/VA supports the proposal.
The vote on the proposal was unanimous.
This does not happen often