Are You An Actuary?

1. Who's the real actuary? 'Sitting Ducks' is a lithograph created by Michael Bedard in the late 1970s. It depicts a literal interpretation of the idiom "sitting duck". Of course we all know that the caricature of an actuary as a sitting ducks sucks. But never the less, can you tell who's the real actuary?

The one on the left

The middle one

The right one

Hold your breath...
The answer will be given after question 2.

Explanation

Hold your breath...
The answer will be given after question 2.

2. Motivate your choice Please explain why you picked the actuary duck you picked in question 1. I chose actuary X because...

He's the one most relaxed!

He makes study of what he's doing

He's the outward looking one

He's the one that noticed the bullet holes

He's the one looking me in the eye

He's the only one decently dressed

He's the only one that pays attention to his colleagues

He's not distracted by his surroundings

All observations make sense. However, the most important talent of an actuary as risk manager is to pay attention to early warnings, Therefore unfortunately only 'bullet holes' score in this question.
This also makes the right duck the best actuary.

Explanation

All observations make sense. However, the most important talent of an actuary as risk manager is to pay attention to early warnings, Therefore unfortunately only 'bullet holes' score in this question.
This also makes the right duck the best actuary.

3. Who's the most ethical actuarial student in this cartoon? This cartoon (original source: Bennett) about ethics says it all. Ethics become more and more important in today's society. Can you tell who's the student whith the best ethical attitude on this actuarial exam about ethics?

The guy with the blue shirt, because he doesn't cheat

The woman. It doesn't mind that she cheats. Woman's ethics are different from man's

The man in the brown shirt. He can't look over the shoulder of the student in front

The man on the left. He clearly doesn't cheat and he's the only one writing 'right'.

The woman, because she cheats openly

The man on the left. He is trying to get the attention of the invigilator to report the cheating

The student with the blue shirt, because he looks smart

As we are not able to conclude definitely from this cartoon who is or isn't cheating, nor who has or hasn't been cheating, the only right thing an actuary should do is trying to or warn the invigilator...
Therefore the student on the left must be the actuary.
Probably the man in the blue works at the Regulator's office, because a lot of actuaries seem to copy him..... ;-)

Explanation

As we are not able to conclude definitely from this cartoon who is or isn't cheating, nor who has or hasn't been cheating, the only right thing an actuary should do is trying to or warn the invigilator...
Therefore the student on the left must be the actuary.
Probably the man in the blue works at the Regulator's office, because a lot of actuaries seem to copy him..... ;-)

4. Who would you appoint as actuary? Whether you know the story of Snow White and the seven dwarfs or not, doesn't matter. Your recruitment manager just showed up with seven actuarial applicants. You have to appoint the leading actuary. Which actuarial dwarf do you appoint as an actuary?

Dopey

Bashful

Sneezy

Sleepy

Happy

Grumpy

Doc

Grumpy is the only one that has countervailing power (grumpiness) you need as an actuary.

Explanation

Grumpy is the only one that has countervailing power (grumpiness) you need as an actuary.

5. What's most important for an actuary? The actuary work field is full of fallacies. Actuaries need a lot of skills and tools to advice their clients. What do you consider as the most important in your actuarial work and why?

It must be Vision. Without vision there's no direction and all choices are defendable...

Definitely Tools. You may have data and vision, but without the right tools you're lost

Surely Knowledge. If you lack knowledge you can't formulate robust models or a vision...

Clearly Models. If you can't model it, you can't explain it either

Undoubtedly the Data. Without data you're blind and can't underpin our advice.

All of those above and all of the time, as you can not do without one of them

One day when electricity fails, your data are lost,your tools have become wasteless and your knowledge has betrayed you, it all comes down on your vision. Can you convince your clients just on your vision?
Answer 'all of those above' is simply wrong. Of course if something fails it'll be a handicap. But with You and your vision on stage this handicap will turn out to be a success factor!

Explanation

One day when electricity fails, your data are lost,your tools have become wasteless and your knowledge has betrayed you, it all comes down on your vision. Can you convince your clients just on your vision?
Answer 'all of those above' is simply wrong. Of course if something fails it'll be a handicap. But with You and your vision on stage this handicap will turn out to be a success factor!