The Actuary Alphabet
It is the acronym for the financial backup fund for claims that already took place, though the policyholder hasn't notified the provider yet.
What is IBNR?
This spreadsheet program remains the actuary's most-used tool, whether for a quick rate calc or a full pricing model.
What is Microsoft Excel?
This annual award, given by the Recording Academy, includes the category "Album of the Year," widely considered its top honor.
What is the Grammy Award for "Album of the Year"?
This flightless bird is the largest bird species alive today.
What is the Ostrich?
CMS uses this acronym for the risk-adjustment model that scores enrollee health status.
What is HCC (Hierarchical Condition Category)?
This team member is the most recent person to join our team.
Who is Carol?
This is the only calculator brand the SOA permits, and candidates better clear its memory before walking in.
What is Texas Instruments?
This streaming service's series "The Crown" won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes for its depiction of the British royal family.
What is Netflix?
This marine mammal sleeps with only half its brain at a time, keeping one eye open to watch for predators.
What is the Dolphin?
This 2 letter abbreviation for a pre-ASA exam has the longest sitting time of any preliminary exam at 3 hours and 30 minutes.
What is Exam PA (Predictive Analytics)?
This team member always waiting on Centene's webpage to answer questions about Centene's resources
Who is MAX?
This AI coding assistant is integrated into Microsoft teams and many other programs.
What is Copilot?
This musician has been named the most streamed musician of the year for 4 separate years and recently performed the most recent Superbowl halftime show.
Who is Bad Bunny?
This bird can fly backwards, and is the only bird able to do so.
What is the Hummingbird?
This CMS program ties a portion of Medicare Advantage plan payment to how members rate their own health outcomes and experience, alongside clinical measures.
What are star ratings?
This team member lives farther west than everyone else on the call.
Who is ????
This popular third-party exam prep company offers "Adapt" practice tests that actuarial candidates use to study for SOA and CAS exams.
What is Coaching Actuaries?
This 2022 film was named Best Picture at the 2023 Oscars and features googly eyes and everything bagels.
What is Everything Everywhere All At Once?
This is the only mammal capable of true, sustained flight.
What is the Bat?
This acronym describes the annual window, typically running mid-October to early December, when Medicare beneficiaries can switch plans.
What is the AEP (Annual Enrollment Period)?
This cloud-based data platform lets actuarial teams store and query massive volumes of claims data without managing physical servers.
What is Snowflake?
This actress is currently the highest grossing movie star of 2026 (so far).
Who is Zendaya?
This bird species builds the largest nest of any bird, sometimes weighing over a ton.
What is the Bald Eagle?