Section Council Elections

[JMO]

Did anybody else find it odd that only one of the candidates had the CERA designation?

[campbell]

For reference, here are the bios:
http://soa.org/files/pdf/2009-sect-bio-jrm.pdf

I want to know what some of these other designations are:
MSCF
AQ

[JMO]

I want to know what some of these other designations are:
MSCF

Master of Science in Computational Finance (http://www.tepper.cmu.edu/master-in-computational-finance/index.aspx)

(seems more likely than the band, "My So-Called Friend" ;)

ETA: I had no luck with AQ, though.

[campbell]

Oh duh on the MSCF. I was thinking of doing that at Courant, and decided against it.

I assume AQ isn't this:
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/info/regist/calendars/programs/503.html

[or al Qaeda]

[Kenshiro]

Did anybody else find it odd that only one of the candidates had the CERA designation?

:iatp:

It's especially weird since the SOA grandfathered anybody with significant ERM experience who asked for it into the CERA designation.

Do we conclude that they didn't have ERM experience or that they don't see any value in the CERA designation?

[JMO]

:iatp:

It's especially weird since the SOA grandfathered anybody with significant ERM experience who asked for it into the CERA designation.

Do we conclude that they didn't have ERM experience or that they don't see any value in the CERA designation?
Thanks.
Several of them do have other RiskManagement designations. So I guess they thought CERA wasn't worth it.

[Kenshiro]

Thanks.
Several of them do have other RiskManagement designations. So I guess they thought CERA wasn't worth it.

That's fairly disappointing. I suppose I'll give the one person who cared enough to get the SOA designation a vote.

I notice the first person doesn't have any ERM credentials. He's also a "senior associate" at PwC. Unless I'm mistaking my titles, that seems to be a very low level role for an FSA and for someone running for a section. Is he fresh out of college? That could provide a fresh viewpoint on the council.

[Run2standstill]

I spoke with the first candidate briefly before. He is relatively young but not fresh out of school. He worked at McKinsey before and now at PwC. Also, I think senior assco. is about the right level for near/new FSAs. Bear in mind that many companies stopped promotion and froze salaries last year, so he might get hurt a little bit.

Do not know about his RM background given we only had a 5-min short conversation, but he does seem to be quite bright.

Please note another quite capable and experienced candiate has both FRM and PRM designations. If I were him, I probably won't go for CERA either - why do I need anyone to put after my name just for the sake of a designation? The fact they volunteerd to run for ERM section says enough that they care about ERM and ERM for actuarial profession. When I voted earlier today, I read carefully their experience and what they think about ERM but did not care a bit about their desginations.



That's fairly disappointing. I suppose I'll give the one person who cared enough to get the SOA designation a vote.

I notice the first person doesn't have any ERM credentials. He's also a "senior associate" at PwC. Unless I'm mistaking my titles, that seems to be a very low level role for an FSA and for someone running for a section. Is he fresh out of college? That could provide a fresh viewpoint on the council.

[Kenshiro]

After reading all the bios, I think I'm most impressed with the guy who doesn't have a single SOA credential. :)

It was my impression that promoting the CERA was the most important agenda in RM for the SOA. The fact that only one person running for the joint RM council bothered to apply for the credential (when most of them would only need to ask for it!) says bad things both about the credential and it's future value. If none of the members has the credential, then surely they won't do much to promote or improve the designation.

[campbell]

After reading all the bios, I think I'm most impressed with the guy who doesn't have a single SOA credential. :)


It is a joint council, after all. Not too shocking to have CAS members w/o SOA credentials on the council.

[Kenshiro]

It is a joint council, after all. Not too shocking to have CAS members w/o SOA credentials on the council.

The shocking part is that, as an SOA member who wants to see the CERA pushed, I'm most impressed with an FCAS member.

Does it seem odd to you that the list is dominated by SOA members without the CERA credential?

[campbell]

Does it seem odd to you that the list is dominated by SOA members without the CERA credential?
I would say it's a little sad, but not necessarily odd.

What I mean is this: there are plenty of FSAs/ASAs working in ERM who would not qualify for the experienced practitioner path for CERA [and that path is gone now], and especially if you're an FSA, perhaps having gotten that credential years ago, you're not necessarily going to want to be taking another exam.

Credentials are a good way to signal one's basket of skills/knowledge, but direct experience [as shows up on a resume and in references] will also speak well. Past a certain point, the practitioner's experience is giving more shine to the credential and not vice-versa.

[EddieC]

they don't see any value in the CERA designation?

this.