Updated: 
  August 15, 2006

Cosponsored by the American Academy of Actuaries

As part of our growing audio seminar series, the Conference is proud to announce the following stand-alone audiocasts on professionalism issues.  These audio seminars are a quick and easy alternative to a web seminar.  Participants can attend anywhere phone reception is available with previously provided materials on their laptop. The audiocasts offer all the same information, but you can take them on the road in a car/train, in an airport, or in your office.  You have no worries about either slow internet connections or firewall issues.

Two days before the audiocast you will be e-mailed a PowerPoint presentation and given a call-in number. You simply access the number at the starting time, listen, and follow along with the presentation on your laptop or with a paper version.  Callers are on mute during the presentation so background noise does not disturb the presentation. Live question and answer periods are available at the conclusion of each audiocast.

Previous Audiocasts

The Code of Professional Conduct ("Code") requires actuaries to adhere to the high standards of conduct, practice, and qualifications of the actuarial profession. Through its fourteen precepts, it specifies professional and ethical standards that actuaries must comply with in order to fulfill their responsibility to the public and to the actuarial profession. During the audiocast, various case studies regarding professional issues are discussed to examine how the Code may be applied in day-to-day situations.

An examination of the Morris Report and CRUSAP.

As a part of the series of audiocast seminars on professionalism, the American Academy of Actuaries and the Conference of Consulting Actuaries are pleased to offer a session on Engagement letters, May 10th, 2006, from 12:30 PM through 1:45 PM EST.

Lorraine Dorsa, Dorsa Consulting, and Stephen N. Eisenstein, Ernst & Young; are the presenters. Lance Weiss, Chair of the Committee on Professionalism for the Conference, is the moderator for the session.

Engagement letters have many potential uses beyond simply stating fees--for example, they may define the scope of a project; clarify responsibilities and expectations of the parties; establish time frames, and avoid misunderstandings.

The Conference’s Committee on Professionalism developed guidelines to assist actuaries in enhancing their professionalism practices when considering, developing and using engagement letters. These guidelines are available to Conference members.

This audiocast focuses on the engagement letter guidelines so that you may:

• Learn how you might use the guidelines as a component of your actuarial practice;

• Identify situations where you may want to use an engagement letter;

• Assess how an engagement letter may be utilized in your client relations; and

• Gain an understanding of the Conference’s purpose in developing the guidelines.

Please note that specific examples of engagement letter provisions or language is not discussed or provided to ensure compliance with Anti-trust regulations.

A discussion with the Chairman of the Joint Board and the Executive Director of the Joint Board on current issues of interest to enrolled actuaries. Discussion topics include an update on the new regulations being drafted, the disciplinary process and ethical issues of current interest, and changes being considered to the continuing education requirement. Also discussed is the interplay between the Joint Board's jurisdiction and Circular 230.

A peer review program can help your firm consistently deliver products and services with higher quality. This audiocast reviews the benefits of peer review and its application to actuarial firms. The discussion will include aspects of the 2005 American Academy of Actuaries discussion paper, available at http://www.actuary.org, and the Conference of Consulting Actuaries peer review guidelines. If your firm has an existing peer review program, this session can provide perspective, ideas for enhancement, and some practical advice. Both small and large firm perspectives will be explored. If you want to enhance the quality of your firm's work product and services by establishing a peer review program, or if you want to examine the issues and advantages of peer review, this audiocast is for you.

 
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E-mail: conference@ccactuaries.org

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