Nancy A. Behrens, FSA 1984, MAAA

Vice President Operations, Life/Health, State Farm Life Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL

Brief description of the type of work you currently do:

Oversee all aspects of the company's life and health product portfolios, including pricing, risk management, product development, research, and compliance.

Primary Area of Practice:

Life Insurance

Other Areas of Practice/Interests:

Health Benefit Systems

Professional Background:

My professional life has been spent at State Farm Insurance, in a number of different capacities. I performed most of the traditional roles in a life actuarial department before becoming involved in tax planning and research. I have also spent some time in our property and casualty operations as well as life insurance operations. I currently have responsibility for all aspects of the product portfolio for life and health insurance, including pricing, risk management, product development, research, and compliance. I also oversee our pension plan actuaries. This wide range of experience has provided me with the opportunity to see the many different areas where the special skills of actuaries can add value, as well as how our work contributes to the overall health of an organization.

Volunteer Experience:

• Basic Education and Examination–I have served on a number of both education and examination committees, including those which developed course content, specific examinations, and the Fellowship Admissions Course. This ultimately led to service as the Examination General Chairperson.
• Board of Governors–I was an active member of the SOA Board of Governors from 1995–1998.
• Vice President–I served as the Vice President overseeing Continuing Education from 1998–2000. During this time, we focused on upgrading the content and presentations of a number of SOA meetings. In addition, the Life Insurance Conference, an interdisciplinary conference with LIMRA/LOMA, was developed and implemented.
• Fellowship Admissions Course Facilitator–I have served as a facilitator for the FAC for many years and have had the distinct privilege of seeing hundreds of new FSAs complete their formal education and begin the less formal, but more important, continuing education that will help them maintain their professionalism throughout a career as an actuary. I am always impressed with the talent and energy of the people we are attracting to the profession.

Vision Statement:

During my term as President–Elect and President, I would like to place particular
emphasis on:

• Maintaining the high standards of our profession and value of our credentials through high quality research and education systems
• Developing relationships with other actuarial and professional organizations
• Continuing to grow our relationship with academics

My previous experience with the SOA has centered on the basic and continuing education of our actuaries. I have had the privilege of working in a number of areas in the SOA that have impacted the recruiting of candidates and the skills that both new and experienced actuaries develop. I am particularly pleased with the recent changes to the Fellowship Admissions Course, where we have the opportunity to influence the development of decision making and communication skills. Our educational systems must continue to strike a balance between foundational education and marketplace needs.

I enjoy seeing the impact of the work of our actuaries as they demonstrate the need to serve the general public within their chosen fields. Certainly, the recent financial turmoil will only increase the need for qualified actuaries in a number of disciplines, with the business acumen and analytical skills to pave a path for the future.

I look forward to working with the excellent SOA staff and volunteer systems in leading the profession toward an even better future.

For more information visit my Web site at Behrens4soapres.homestead.com