Donald J. Segal, FSA 1967, FCA, MAAA, EA
Vice President, J.P. Morgan Compensation and Benefit Strategies, New York, NY

Brief description of the type of work you currently do:
Serve as a national resource on the application and interpretation of statutes, regulations, and other guidance as they apply to retirement plans. Primary contact with government agencies. Extensive experience as consulting actuary in the design of retirement plans.

Primary Area of Practice:
Retirement Systems

Professional Background:

• 1988 to 2005: The Segal Company, New York, NY, Senior Vice President and Actuary; Research Actuary (2002-2005)
• 1984 to 1988: Wolper Ross & Company, New York, NY, Chief Actuary
• 1982 to 1984: Milliman, USA, New York, NY, Consulting Actuary
• 1960 to 1982: The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, New York, NY, Vice President and Actuary

Since 1966 I have been functioning as a consulting actuary providing plan design, advice, and valuation services to sponsors of qualified retirement plans.

Volunteer Experience:

• Society of Actuaries:
  • Vice President (2007-present)
  • Board of Governors (1997-2000)
  • Pension Section Council (1993-1996, Chair, 1995-1996)
  • Program Committee (1990-1993)
  • Pension Research Committee (1986-1990)
  • Retirement Systems Professional Development Committee (1992-1994)
  • Retirement Systems Practice Advancement Committee (1995-1996, 1997-2000)
  • Strategic Planning Committee (1997-1998, 2002-2004)
  • Finance Committee (1998-2000)
  • Committee on Elections(1999-2001)
  • Task Force on Discipline (2000-2005)
  • Knowledge Management Strategic Action Team (2004-2008)
• American Academy of Actuaries:
  • Vice President, Pensions (2005-2007)
  • Pension Committee (1987-present, Chair, 1997-2003)
  • Pension Practice Council (1995-present, Vice-Chair 2003-2005)
• Conference of Consulting Actuaries:
  • Vice President, Continuing Education (2005-2007)
  • Treasurer (2007-2008)
  • Board of Directors (2002-2008)
  • Annual Meeting Committee (1991-present, Chair 2002)
• Joint Program Committee of the Enrolled Actuaries Meeting (1995-present, Chair 2000 and 2004)
• Joint Program Committee for SOA/CCA Spring Pensions Meeting (2005-present, Chair 2006 and 2007 Meetings)
• IRS Advisory Committee for Tax Exempt/Government Entities (2001-2004, Chair, 2001-2004)
• Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries Advisory Committee on Examinations (1988-2002)
• Pension Practitioners Liaison Group of the IRS Northeast Key District (1992-present)
• IRS EPTA Practitioners Liaison Group (2007-present)
• Actuarial Meetings: In the last 25 years, I have presented at over 100 sessions of meetings sponsored by the Society of Actuaries, the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, and the Enrolled Actuaries Meeting.
• Volunteer Service Awards:
  • SOA John E. O'Connor Distinguished Service Award 2006
  • Conference of Consulting Actuaries Lifetime Achievement Award 2008

Vision Statement:

The SOA's strategic plan is an outstanding road map for the next three years. I'm proud to have participated in developing it. My goal is to shine a bright light on the "knowledge" aspects of that road map. Individually and collectively, our profession's insights are ever more essential as we unravel the mess caused by missed and mismanaged risks.

Actuaries understand risk! It's time for us to assert a stronger presence as the financial world develops new risk-management paradigms. And it's time for the SOA to focus the actuarial image campaign on concrete, actionable, knowledge-based initiatives.

We should begin by expanding our research function - a principal activity of the SOA that has historically been underutilized. SOA research has expanded actuarial science and assisted actuaries world-wide with experience studies that enjoy unmatched credibility. We must build on our well-deserved reputation for unbiased rigor by supporting policymakers and others with outstanding analyses that bear on today's pressing issues. The American Academy of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries - and their important public policy initiatives - would be direct beneficiaries of such "current issues" research/analysis. This customer-focused collaboration would greatly strengthen our profession. The actuarial profession - and, in particular, the SOA - should be the leading source of research and analysis on financial risks. A past president of the SOA, Walt Rugland, hit the nail squarely on the head: "Ask an Actuary." That should be the basis of our image building!