July/August 2020
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Each month, we will feature a member of the Academy and share a glimpse into their professional and personal lives.
TRICIA MATSON
Specialty: Life
WHY DID YOU BECOME AN ACTUARY?
I decided to become an actuary late in college, based on my interest in math. It seemed like an interesting, challenging career choice; I’m so glad I made that decision.
DESCRIBE A CHALLENGE YOU HAVE OVERCOME.
Early in my career, I faced a particularly thorny professionalism challenge. I felt that someone I worked with—someone who was a supervisor—was acting unethically. I first spoke with the supervisor and when that did not go well, I reached out to both an internal ethics group as well as the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (ABCD) for advice. It’s a good reminder—the ABCD is there to help.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT BEING AN ACTUARY?
I enjoy many aspects of actuarial work, but one I particularly love is helping others solve complex problems in a quantitative way. There’s just something about unpacking convoluted questions as a group—I find it immensely satisfying.
SHARE SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF.
I don’t spend all of my time in the office, of course. I spend a lot of time with my family; I also enjoy CrossFit and running.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU SHARE WITH YOUNG ACTUARIES?
When younger actuaries ask me for advice, I always tell them the same thing: Study hard early and get those exams out of the way. They open a lot of doors!
SEE MORE
"Get your credentials, learn to work with others, jump into new things, and challenge yourself. You will never grow without doing these things."
"...it didn’t take long for me to realize some of the benefits of volunteering, including learning and interacting with other actuaries."
"In 25 years, I can honestly say my job has never been boring. It has been complicated, intimidating, even frustrating, but I continue to learn and to find satisfaction in the topics that I continue to learn about."
"Get your credentials, learn to work with others, jump into new things, and challenge yourself. You will never grow without doing these things."