Diving into Data—Literally and Figuratively

This month, I decided to return to my geeky actuarial roots and talk about something we all know and love: data. But as I started reflecting, I realized that working with data feels a lot like scuba diving—an experience I recently had the chance to try. The parallel was almost too perfect. What you see on the surface rarely tells the full story. The real magic happens when you dive deeper and start seeing the world from an entirely different angle.

When I analyze data, I often find what I expected to see—common patterns, familiar trends, like fish swimming in schools or coral growing where it should. Everything’s in its place, behaving just as you’d imagine. But as I continue to explore, I start to notice things I didn’t expect—curious outliers and anomalies that challenge what I thought I knew. That’s when the real questions start: Why is this here? How long has it been like this? Much like the creatures under the sea, data isn’t always what it seems. Some points are beautiful and make perfect sense. Others are strange, messy, or don’t seem to belong at all.

Sometimes those unexpected insights jump right out at you. Other times, you have to dig—really dig—and be patient. But when you uncover that one nugget of insight, it’s incredibly rewarding. That’s what makes us actuaries who we are. We thrive on curiosity. We find joy in the exploration, in uncovering stories hidden in the numbers, and in learning something new every time we dive in.

At the end of the day, data gives us perspective. It helps us understand the world in sharper, more meaningful ways. I recently asked one of my kids what the best advice they’d ever received was, and their answer stuck with me: “Perspective.” And really, what is perspective other than a carefully gathered collection of data that helps us interpret and engage with the world?

As actuaries, we’re not just crunching numbers. We’re diving deep, connecting the dots, and surfacing with insights that help solve real-world problems. And if you ask me, that’s a pretty extraordinary superpower.

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