A Risky Business

Intangible, invisible and worth trillions, risk is everywhere. Its quantification and management are key to the success and failure of individuals, businesses and governments. Whether you’re an interested observer or pursuing a career in risk, this book delves into the complex and multi-faceted work that actuaries undertake to quantify, manage and commodify risk—supporting our society and servicing a range of multi-billion-dollar industries. Starting at the most basic level, this book introduces key concepts in actuarial science, insurance and pensions. Through case studies, explanations and mathematical examples, it fosters an understanding of current industry practice. This book celebrates the long history of actuarial science and poses the problems facing actuaries in the future, exploring complex global risks including climate change, aging populations, healthcare models and pandemic epidemiology from an actuarial perspective. It gives practical advice for new and potential actuaries on how to identify an area of work to go into, how best to navigate (and pass!) actuarial exams and how to develop your skills post-qualification. A Risky Business illuminates how actuaries are central to society as we know it, revealing what they do and how they do it. It is the essential primer on actuarial science. Catrin Townsend is a qualified actuary (a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries) and data enthusiast. In this book, she draws on her experience of pricing and reserving roles in general insurance, in both Lloyd’s syndicates and global insurers. Since earning a first-class degree in Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics & Economics from the University of Warwick, Catrin has worked with a range of insurance products and is currently leads a pricing team at a global insurer. She also leads and runs training courses on the theory and application of statistical modelling, and is a career ambassador for the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Catrin lives in Surrey with her husband (who is also an actuary) and two children.