Annual Meeting Cross Discipline Sessions

Decision-making can be a lot like gambling - weighing odds, calculating risks, and making choices that can lead to either successful outcomes or costly mistakes. As we gather in the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas, explore the universal principles of strategic thinking and risk management. Learn how the psychology of choice and behavioral economics can guide you in making informed decisions, avoiding hidden pitfalls, and taking bold yet calculated risks. Whether you decide to take a big chance or play it safe, this session provides you with the tools to navigate uncertainty like an experienced high roller. This session is intended to satisfy the 1.0 Bias credit requirement under the USQS.

The CCA’s Business Session precedes the Monday General Session with the welcoming of attendees, announcement of new directors and officers, Treasurer’s Report and presentation of the CCA’s annual awards. Our keynote presentation from Rich Karlgaard on the 2025-26 economy and markets immediately follows. What is the likely outcome of President Trump’s tariffs, both in the coming months and for the remainder of his administration? Are investor fears overblown? Is a recession now likely, and if so, how long will it last? And which industries and regions will be hardest hit? Will lawsuits challenging the president’s tariff authority succeed? What strategies are smart companies using to grow and thrive amidst all this uncertainty? Will tariffs slow down – or accelerate – AI’s “shock-transformation” of business? How will the U.S. economy in 2025-26 shape the elections in 2026? From his vantage point as a former Forbes publisher and now futurist and American commentator for Forbes Asia, Rich Karlgaard has interviewed some of the top business and global leaders of our time. He shares his business and financial outlook for 2025 and beyond. Called “The Navigator to the Future” by the late Harvard Business School professor, Clayton Christensen, Rich charts the best course of action for your business and industry.

Actuaries are increasingly curious about AI – but what are we actually using it for today? We’ll explore the results of the recent CCA member survey on AI awareness, usage, and goals, including what members said they wanted most: real-world use cases. Whether you’re exploring or already experimenting, this session offers a tactical, grounded look at where actuaries are with AI – and where they want to go next.

The CCA Leadership Development Community meets to discuss current issues, outlooks, and news. Neither CCA nor community membership is required to attend.

Do you know what is important to your clients and how they value/leverage their outside advisors? If you don’t you will after attending this session. Our panelists will be a combination of CHROs and CFOs.

The fiscal, economic, and social challenges posed by population aging are by now reasonably well understood. Speakers explore the different ways in which today’s major developed countries are responding—or could potentially respond. They focus on four key strategies: reducing the cost of old-age benefit systems, encouraging higher birthrates, increasing immigration, and extending work lives. While the panelists pay particular attention to the choices facing the United States, they draw heavily on lessons from abroad.

Financial wellness means more than just retirement readiness or having a savings plan. In this session, we’ll explore the less visible needs of employees and the strategies employers and point solutions are using to meet them. Panelists share insights on what employees are really struggling with and how targeted solutions can make a meaningful impact on financial well-being.

This session will explore the different strategies of ERISA class action litigation, explaining ins and outs of each of the different critical stages. Experienced ERISA litigators will draw from actual examples of litigation spanning DC plans, investments, pensions, and healthcare topics.

The CCA Women in Consulting Community meets to discuss current issues, outlooks, and news. Neither CCA nor community membership is required to attend.

The CCA Smaller Actuarial Consulting Firms Community meets to discuss current issues, outlooks, and news. Neither CCA nor community membership is required to attend.

The CCA Executive Compensation and Benefits Firms Community meets to discuss current issues, outlooks, and news. Neither CCA nor community membership is required to attend.

Speakers explore the concept of "Spike Expense Risk"— sudden, significant, and unpredictable costs that can jeopardize the sustainability of cash flow over retirement. New research will be presented that will quantify the impact of these expense shocks and introduce strategies to mitigate this risk, including various uses of home equity that can support a sustainable retirement.

Unlock the true potential of your consulting projects with expert project management skills. In today’s dynamic business landscape, mastering the art of planning, executing, and leading projects is not just beneficial, it's essential. This session offers proven strategies and processes to ensure your projects meet and exceed client expectations. Discover how to optimize team collaboration, mitigate risks, and deliver impactful results that consistently hit the jackpot. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your project success to new heights.

The 2025 CCA Annual Meeting concludes with the final remarks of the CCA President, the passing of the gavel to the President Elect, and our closing general session presentation from six-time Emmy Award-winning comedian, network TV host, and best-selling business author Ross Shafer. Learn how to future-proof your company during this wildly entertaining presentation while energizing your colleagues. Get solid ideas on how to create instant rapport for building solid relationships (based upon the proven tactics of TV talk show hosts). Ross encourages you to accept that relevance is a moving target. Securing your growth in this ever-evolving, post-pandemic economy requires the vigilance to respond to constant changes in client expectations. Ross unveils inspiring case studies that span the landscape of retail, manufacturing, B2B, HVAC, construction, technology, and healthcare.