Singapore College Of Insurance’s Post

Always feeling great to be back at uni! Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of engaging with students and young graduates at two universities, discussing various aspects of the actuarial and risk profession. It's always inspiring to learn from the students and share our own experience. Putting aside those technical questions, some of the most common conversations are: How to choose the right actuarial pathway? My advice? Dive into internship experiences to get hands-on exposure and engage industry professionals or seniors to explore different pathways. It's absolutely ok not to have a specific preference initially; the first one/ two years post-graduation are fine to explore further! A doctor saves lives, but what impact do actuaries bring to the community? To illustrate using a simple example, within insurance companies, our roles in pricing, reserving, and risk management ensure that products are priced appropriately and that sufficient capital is always available to honor claims, even in toughest time. Whether it's safeguarding lives (medical insurance), livelihoods, or minimizing disruption to daily operations (such as reimbursing claims to factories or production plants), the work we do in insurance is truly meaningful and impactful. Insurance is indeed a remarkable and meaningful financial product, wouldn't you agree? Securing an internship placement can be challenging, but planning ahead (2-3 months before internship) and systematically applying to companies of interest/ preference can enhance your chances. Treat each stage of application as a learning opportunity, regardless of the outcome, and use the experience to refine your approach. Based on my past experiences, I organized companies into a bucket list and submitted applications in batches. This approach allowed time for assessment and interviews, and most importantly, provided key learning/ reflection points from each engagement. When it comes to student leadership activities, quality trumps quantity. Highlight the specific skills and experiences gained from these roles, such as interpersonal skills, stakeholder management, or budgeting, rather than just listing them on your resume. During your interview, hiring managers are eager to understand how your past leadership experiences can add value to the job and organization. In terms of industry talent, strong fundamentals and passion are key. Demonstrating a solid understanding of industry concepts and showcasing genuine enthusiasm for the work you choose can set you apart from the others. Additionally, strong communication skills are essential for advancing in the actuarial or risk management field. Being able to convey technical concepts/ jargons in simple language and effectively communicate assessment results is integral to drive business or risk- informed decision. Photo credits to Malaysian Actuarial Student Association (MASA) (thanks for inviting the way 😀 )

Dive into a Dynamic Career with the University of Cincinnati's BBA in Insurance and Risk Management Program at the University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business! Insurance and Risk Management Unleashed: The insurance industry offers diverse functional roles, spanning accounting, finance, advertising, information systems, sales, and operations. Paired with risk management, these sectors strategically control business risks across various industries like financial services, health care, manufacturing, and entertainment. UC's Lindner College Advantage: Our program is crafted to prepare students for impactful careers, whether managing risks within corporations or serving in the insurance and financial services industry. Graduates find positions in private-sector insurance carriers, with dramatic growth in demand, especially due to factors like the Affordable Care Act. Success through PACE Framework: ▶️ Professionalism: Real-world learning opportunities and Lindner’s Career Services team guide students in developing essential professional communication skills and obtaining practical work experience. ▶️ Academics: Our unique curriculum ensures a foundational understanding of key business functions. Students can tailor their education with co-operative education, internships, and study abroad experiences. ▶️ Character: Lindner instills strength, conviction, and ethical leadership through ethics seminars, global experiences, and collaborative projects with Cincinnati businesses. ▶️ Engagement: Beyond work, personal growth is fostered through community service, citizenship, and organizational involvement. Lindner encourages students to join 20+ student organizations, 300+ university organizations, and engage with service organizations like the United Way of Greater Cincinnati. Join UC's Lindner College of Business to customize your roadmap for success --> https://ow.ly/a92250QIWU1 #UCInsuranceStudies #RiskManagement #BusinessEducation #FutureLeaders

It's more than insurance - It's a partnership. Visit our website to schedule a qualifying meeting with a risk management and short-term insurance specialist. #WyngaardtBrokers #RiskManagement #ShortTermInsurance #ProfessionalDevelopment #TIP2024 #TheInsurepreneurshipProgramme

A Transformative Chapter Concludes: 🌱The soil has been turned, the seeds are planted and watered, now we apply consistency to nurture growth. The Insurepreneurship Programme wrapped up its official closing session at INSETA-Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority in Sandton, marking the culmination of an enriching journey. ✨No stone was left unturned in this colossal package that was prepared for the selected candidates with our guide on this fantastic “Entrepreneurial and Insurance Internship”: Janelle Kettle (Kettle Consulting). From Unlocking the Conscious Mind and Colour Accounting to Marketing strategies, Technology integration, AI applications, practice management, and the Business Model Canvas - all provisioned us with extraordinary tools with which to serve our clients, employees and strategic partners. 👏I’ll take a moment here to speak to Janelle’s unwavering commitment and due care to fostering our professional development. Her and her team’s meaningful inputs have shed light on many important and significant topics but most importantly made the subject matter relatable and easily replicable. A selected few stalwarts were invited to share how these topics have enhanced our perspectives, further honed our skills and better equipped our professional journeys and those of our business’. The esteemed guests—including Wayne Poggenpoel (The Funding Lounge), Nonte Nzimakwe (Emerald Risk Transfer (Pty) Ltd), Tatenda Erica Macheka CFP® (Gradidge Mahura Investments), and Nkateko Mayimele (Sasria SOC Limited)— added their insights of the programme’s impact and its contribution to our professional development within the insurance industry and added a few reminders to us as business owners. 📈The session offered a moment of reflection on the monstrous strides in learning we’ve taken throughout the programme and its application in the years to come. It reinforced the importance of staying grounded in our purpose, continuing to nurture growth, and consistently striving for excellence in our practices. #WyngaardtBrokers #InsuranceBroker #RiskManagement #ShortTermInsurance Accelerated Skills Development Insurance Institute of South Africa Financial Intermediaries Association of Southern Africa (FIA) (Gauteng Enterprise Propeller) Kettle Consulting #TIP2024 Jaco Erasmus Sarah Mqadi PropLit Consulting Kelvin Mudzindi Intelifin Nadia Pillay Olemera

There are two types of employers we encounter through our career. There are those that challenge us by testing how much we know and how well we can do our job; and there are those that challenge us by developing us and teaching us what we need to know to progress in our careers. What type of employer you give the best years of your life could be one of the defining decisions of your life. This is why programs like Zurich Insurance "Make The Difference" are so consequential, not just for me, but for the whole organisation. They offer a real opportunity for participants like me to experience an intensity and standard of development that is only possible from an organisation that sees your development as one if its core values. It was intense, it was exhausting, and it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced… and it was life changing. Firstly, I must say a thank you to Hamish, Giles, Alex and Linda for their support. I had no idea what I was in for, but 1 week from the end of this almost 5-month program and I feel like a different person. In May I flew across to Singapore for a month where I connected with an amazing cohort and our wonderful program leaders,Cassie Galloway and Akihiro Rodrigo Suzaki. I felt deeply inspired to be surrounded by individuals that have the strongest of growth mindsets and are passionate to see change in the business and take it to the next level…what a privilege and a learning to be surrounded by this energy. What followed Singapore was a 3 month project back home where I developed an immense sense of pride in my work as I was forced to gain a very quick but in-depth understanding on a very unfamiliar topic…..M&A. I have a newfound appreciation for the work that Kevin Angelini and Tim Howell do in the region to grow Zurich’s footprint and will be forever grateful for their imparted wisdom. Working in M&A requires a knowledge of economics, regulation, law, finance, distribution, risk, products, underwriting, ESG, and a deep intrinsic knowledge of what makes an insurance company win. It was challenging, and we had to rapidly balance getting up to speed with these topics and apply this knowledge to add value. In my career I have progressed, but I have often struggled with impostor syndrome, especially when considering other roles or promotions. What this program has taught me is that by harnessing your strategic, creative and growth mindset….you can rapidly learn and add value in a very unfamiliar space. I will try my best not to pigeonhole my skills in future. Thank you to the amazing cohort Li Sze Khoo, Donna, Lily, Isaac, Jane, Lucinda, Duncan, Ben, Jessica, Oil Woon, Elizabeth, Lauren and Swissinda who now feel like family. Their friendship has made this very challenging program a joy. The "Make the Difference" program is everything I unknowingly needed. Thank you to everyone in this post that made this a once in a lifetime growth opportunity. As profound as this sounds, I will never be the same.

Hello everyone . Let me share my own experience of me facing the struggle of pursuing actuarial science . After completing my schoolings I wanted to pursue my degree in actuarial science. There came a situation ,where my relatives who are not aware of what actuarial science is ,started saying " Oh that is an insurance agent job " What is there to study ?! . I hope most of the people faced this during the study . It's not uncommon for people to misunderstand or oversimplify actuarial science as "insurance work." Here's a simple explanation to help your relatives understand the difference: I know you think I'm just an 'insurance agent,' but my field, actuarial science, is actually a specialized profession that uses math and statistics to analyze and manage financial risks. Think of it like this: Insurance agents sell policies to customers, whereas actuaries design those policies, calculate premiums, and ensure companies have enough funds to pay claims. We're more like the 'financial engineers' behind the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly and sustainably. It's a bit like how a doctor and a pharmacist are both important in healthcare, but they have different roles. I'm more like the 'doctor' of insurance, diagnosing and solving financial problems, while insurance agents are like the 'pharmacists' who deliver the solutions to customers. So, while insurance is part of what I do, my work as an actuary is much broader and more technical. I hope that helps clarify things!" By explaining it in this way, you can help your relatives understand the distinction and appreciate the complexity and value of your work in actuarial science. #actuary #actuarialscience #actuaryeducation #actuarialgraduate #actuaryjob #actuarialinternship #actuarialwork #actuaries #IAI #IFOA

To all the grads stepping into this new adventure, CONGRATULATIONS! As you dive into the next chapter, carry with you the wisdom and know-how you've picked up along the way. Whether you're diving into the world of numbers or charting a different course, here's to your success! Remember, the universe is yours to conquer! 🎓✨ #GraduationSeason #Contratulations #InternalControls #AccountingFirm #BusinessRescue #Assurance #InternalAudit #TurnaroundManagement #RiskManagement #Strategy

| ASymposium: Enlightening Actuarial Visionaries | 🚀 The long awaited ASymposium is finally here! We are thrilled to announce our annual flagship event - ASymposium: Enlightening Actuarial Visionaries. This year, SAFE will be hosting a case study challenge with engaging panel sessions and interactive networking session, where you could delve deep into the world of actuarial science and unleash your full potential in this dynamic industry. ✨ In today’s ever-evolving industry landscape, the need for creative problem solving and forward thinking solutions has never been more crucial. As we navigate through dynamic challenges, it’s essential to stay ahead and embrace innovation. With that, we aim to hone students’ ability to dissect problems, identify key issues, and formulate strategic solutions for approaching possible challenges in the actuarial field. 💼📈 Details of the Case Study Challenge are as follows: 📅 Event Period: 31st May 2024 (Friday) - 20th July 2024 (Saturday) 💵 Registration Fee: Free of Charge 🎓 Team Size: Teams of 4-5 🔗 Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/gr-AGBBb ⏳ Registration Deadline: 28th May 2024 (Tuesday) **Open to all undergraduate students across Malaysia. **Registration is open for teams with less than 3 members and we will assist in matching you with other teammates to complete your group. **Participants who signed up for the Case Study Challenge will automatically be registered for the Grand Final. The Grand Final will feature a panel session and a networking session to enhance attendees' engagement in the actuarial world. Additionally, career booths will be accessible, offering participants the chance to look for prospective opportunities. Mark your calendars for the Grand Final on 20th July 2024 (Saturday). Stay tuned for more details about the Grand Final. 🌟 Gather your friends to embark on this enriching journey. Let’s unlock new possibilities together and shape the future of the actuarial industry! 🎊 #ASymposium2024 #ActuarialScience #Insurance #CaseStudyCompetition

Last Thursday & Friday, I was blessed with the opportunity by Prudential to attend my first course by Wealth Management Institute (WMI) - Certified Affluent Wealth Adviser (CAWA) certification. I have been to many courses, but I really enjoyed this course for several reasons: 1. I was impressed with the overall quality of the course by WMI - from the pre-registration, the carefully curated content and flow of the program, the food, the comfortable learning environment and all the email communication/clear instructions. Today, our online role play assessment for 30 of us was so superbly coordinated! It shows me that serious effort has been put in to ensure that all the participants go back enriched and empowered to be a better wealth consultant after this course! 2. Thank you Lim Cho Peng for making the course fun and enjoyable by sharing with us all your stories through your candid and very relatable sharing during your corporate years in the finance industry. I took away a lot of great insights that have nudged me to look at areas in my practice that I want to improve in. 3. It’s not often we get to sit in the same room for 2 full days with many fellow experienced and successful colleagues from Pru. All the open and selfless sharing allowed us to learn a lot from each other. I had a great time catching up with friends as well as making new ones! ❤️ 4. The highlight of the course would be the second afternoon where we had to do group role plays. Kudos to WMI who actually hired “actors” (2 of whom are real professional actors!) to pose as our clients, for us to interview and practice our skills, while 5-6 pairs of eyes were concurrently watching to give us feedback. It was pretty stressful but fun nonetheless! 5. Alas! Today was the last segment - an online role play assessment where we have a zoom session with our “client” and conduct three “real” interviews. I was so privileged to get a really experienced and kind assessor who gave me great feedback and takeaways after the session! As always, I’m looking forward to putting these new insights into action to better serve my clients! 😊 #growingandlearning #hnwadvisory #makinglearningfun

I’m excited to share that I’ve just completed my first week as a Technical Accountant at Swiss Re, working solely on the Australian and New Zealand team (ANZ). It’s been a tough week filled with learning, challenges, and growth.   Joining this team has been an incredible experience. As I joined during the quarterly close, the team was extra busy, which created a lot more stress. However, they all still made enough time for me. From small things such as knowing to call me Osman, Oz or Ozzy or finding out my hobbies and interests, everything helped make that transition into working life that little bit smoother. Everyone has been extremely helpful and supportive, and I’m very grateful for the team’s guidance as I learn and try to understand the complexities of working in such a specialised area.   As someone who prides themselves on being a fast learner, it’s been a bit frustrating not to grasp everything as quickly as I’d like. But I’m learning to be okay with that. Understanding that the learning process takes time is crucial, especially in a field as intricate as reinsurance accounting. Mistakes have been made, but each one is a stepping stone towards greater understanding and expertise. If there is one thing I realised during my first week, it’s that you can never ask a question that’s too silly. I’ve asked constant questions (even if they're just definitions), which has helped me gain knowledge and a clearer understanding of the task that is set.   What’s keeping me resilient is the very essence of Swiss Re’s mission: making the world more resilient. I’m embracing the challenges, knowing that resilience isn’t about never failing—it’s about learning, adapting, and coming back stronger. #NewBeginnings #LearningCurve #TechnicalAccounting #SwissRe #Resilience #GrowthMindset