Actuaries

Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain premium rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.

Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

1. Ascertain premium rates required and cash reserves and liabilities necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.

2. Analyze statistical information to estimate mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates.

3. Design, review and help administer insurance, annuity and pension plans, determining financial soundness and calculating premiums.

4. Collaborate with programmers, underwriters, accounts, claims experts, and senior management to help companies develop plans for new lines of business or improving existing business.

5. Determine or help determine company policy, and explain complex technical matters to company executives, government officials, shareholders, policyholders, or the public.

6. Testify before public agencies on proposed legislation affecting businesses.

7. Provide advice to clients on a contract basis, working as a consultant.

8. Testify in court as expert witness or to provide legal evidence on matters such as the value of potential lifetime earnings of a person who is disabled or killed in an accident.

9. Construct probability tables for events such as fires, natural disasters, and unemployment, based on analysis of statistical data and other pertinent information.

10. Determine policy contract provisions for each type of insurance.

11. Manage credit and help price corporate security offerings.

Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Education: A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

The college search results are undergraduate programs associated with Actuaries. Further education may also be required to pursue this career.

The training search results include both short and long-term programs associated with Actuaries, and may be more appropriate for adult and non-traditional students. Further training may also be required to pursue this career.

In NY the average wage for this occupation was:

$50,820 for entry level workers, and $126,960 for experienced workers.

Based on the total number of annual openings and its growth rate, the employment prospects for this occupation are described as Favorable.

During 2006, there were approximately 1,510 Actuaries employed in NY.

We estimate that in 2016 there will be 1,630  employed in NY. This represents an increase of 10 job(s) each year, and a total of 60 job openings each year.

Rader's NumberNut - NumberNut.com is a website that teaches the basics of math to all ages. It has sections on artithmetic which includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. More advanced ideas like fractions, decimals, and percentages have been added. Information on prealgebra topics is coming!

Columbia Education Center's Math Mini-Lessons (Elementary) - Youth Net is a server on the Internet that sponsors this group of lesson plans that came from the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshops. They were done by a consortium of teachers from 14 states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States.

Learn NC: Math - Learn NC gives you what you need for K12 teaching. The site leads you to web resources and complete lesson plans. The math link covers math topics from a lesson called Dinosaur Math(K) for manipulatives learning to algebra and discrete mathematics named To be or not to be(8-12).

Columbia Education Center's Math Mini-Lessons (High School) - Youth Net is a server on the Internet that sponsors this group of lesson plans that came from the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshops. They were done by a consortium of teachers from 14 states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States.

Columbia Education Center's Math Mini-Lessons (Intermediate) - Youth Net is a server on the Internet that sponsors this group of lesson plans that came from the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshops. They were done by a consortium of teachers from 14 states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States.

InterMath - InterMath is a professional development effort designed to support teachers in becoming better mathematics educators. It focuses on building teachers' mathematical content knowledge through mathematical investigations that are supported by technology. Lesson plans include handouts.

Math Dude: See How Cool Math Can Be Algebra Video Series - The Math Dude, a new video series helps middle and high school students improve their Algebra skills. These fast?paced programs are aimed at helping students with Algebra I and each five- to seven-minute episode may be viewed online through podcasts and iTunes.

Illuminations: Activities - Illuminations is designed to provide standards based resources that improve the teaching and learning of mathematics for all students. The library of 90 online activities sorted by age group help to make math come alive in the classroom or at home.

Analyze Math: Mathematics Tutorials and Problems - Free mathematics tutorials to help you explore and gain deep understanding of math topics. The site includes several java applets to investigate Graphs of Functions and Equations. Algebra,Trigonometry, Calculus, Geometry and Precalculus tutorials can be used either as complements to topics already studied or to learn a new topic through exploration.

Careers in Statistics: A World of Opportunity - Statisticians collect and analyze data, then calculate results using a specific design. They are able to draw conclusions and make decisions in the face of uncertainty. Statisticians provide crucial guidance in determining what information is reliable and which predictions can be trusted. Careers in Statistics informs the reader that mathematical and statistical knowledge is applied to social, economic, medical, political, and ecological problems in a variety of businesses and industries.

Johnnie's Math Page - Johnnie's Math Page is a collection of K8 interactive math activities gathered by an elementary math teacher. This is great for individual practice or whole-group interactive whiteboard use. The activities include measurement, fractions, multiplication and more.

Be An Actuary; a Career Without Boundaries - Separate portals for high school students, college students and career changers: list career literature, give interactive actuarial exams as well as information about the exams, also highlights recent news and articles.

PROMYS: Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists - PROMYS is a six week summer program at Boston University designed to encourage motivated high school students to explore the creative world of mathematics in a supportive community of peers, counselors, research mathematicians, and visiting scientists.

Actuaries - Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.

Tools for Understanding: A Resource Guide for Extending Mathematical Understanding in Secondary Schools - This site is intended for educators who teach mathematics and are interested in integrating common technologies into their daily instruction. While much of this site focuses on mathematics, there are a number of lessons and activities that are intended to blend mathematics with writing and make use of mathematical reasoning in other content areas such as social studies.

Certified Public Accountants Career Opportunities Handbook - Provides CPA job seekers with a guide to small and medium sized firms from around the New York State area. Firms which accept applications from entry level accountants and those which feature internships are highlighted.

Illuminations: Lessons - Illuminations is designed to provide standards based resources that improve the teaching and learning of mathematics for all students. The collection of 524 lessons for preK12 math educators is easily sorted by age group and topic.

Mrs. Glosser's Math Goodies - Mrs. Glosser's Math Goodies' interactive math lessons, puzzles and worksheets are self-paced learning modules ideal for students of all ages and abilities and aspire to the NCTM Standards for Teaching mathematics. These interactive math lessons were created to help children develop problem-solving skills.

Polytechnic University Mathematics Institute - The Mathematics Institute at Polytechnic University focuses on giving high school students real-world, problem-solving experience with an emphasis on pure and applied mathematics. Students will build their skills within areas such as Number Theory, Geometry, Combinatorics, and Elementary Analysis.

Goudreau Museum of Mathematics in Art and Science - The Goudreau Math Museum offers workshops for staff development. Workshops can be done either at the Goudreau Museum, located in New Hyde Park, NY, or at your school. The topics include using teddy bears, clowns and animals to help young children develop logical thinking to use as a problem-solving strategy, the concepts of shape, balance, symmetry, reflection, and 2-3 and 3-d space using geometric shapes to develop Art-Tessellations and a look at some surprising places to find math in and out of the classroom are available.

Be An Actuary, A Career Without Boundaries - Separate portals for high school students, college students and career changers that list career literature, give interactive actuarial exams as well as information about the exams, also highlights recent news and articles.

Student Learning Assistance Center Math Tutorials - Looking to help your students get the most out of their math education? These math tutorials contain lessons for basic mathematics, algebra and geometry, precalculus and calculus. Interactive review exercises, powerpoint slides and easily printed text are included.

Cost Estimators - Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.

Accountants - Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain record of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.

Assessors - Appraise real and personal property to determine its fair value. May assess taxes in accordance with prescribed schedules.

Credit Analysts - Analyze current credit data and financial statements of individuals or firms to determine the degree of risk involved in extending credit or lending money. Prepare reports with this credit information for use in decision-making.

Financial Analysts - Conduct quantitative analyses of information affecting investment programs of public or private institutions.

Insurance Underwriters - Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

Tax Preparers - Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses but do not have the background or responsibilities of an accredited or certified public accountant.

Statisticians - Engage in the development of mathematical theory or apply statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields, such as bio-statistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, economic statistics, or other fields.

Procurement Clerks - Compile information and records to draw up purchase orders for procurement of materials and services.