Mission

The Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (“ABCD”) was established in the bylaws of the American Academy of Actuaries to strengthen the adherence by members of the five U.S.-based actuarial organizations to the recognized standards of ethical and professional conduct.

Primary Functions
    • Respond to requests from members of the five participating U.S.-based organizations for guidance regarding professionalism.
    • Consider complaints about possible violations of the Code of Professional Conduct (“Code”).
    • Investigate apparent violations of the Code and conduct fact-finding hearings, when appropriate.
    • Counsel actuaries when appropriate.
    • Recommend discipline, when appropriate, to membership organizations. (Membership organizations determine whether to impose discipline, using their own procedures.)
    • Conduct educational outreach efforts, which include making oral presentations and writing magazine articles.
    Structure

    The ABCD consists of a Chairperson, two Vice Chairpersons, and six other members. They are appointed to three-year terms by a Selection Committee, established in the Academy bylaws and chaired by the Academy President. The Selection Committee appoints ABCD members in such a way as to ensure that all practice areas are adequately represented. Read the Selection Criteria for choosing members of the ABCD.

    Jurisdiction

    The ABCD’s jurisdiction to investigate alleged violations extends to the actuarial practice of the five U.S.-based organizations’ members in every country. By virtue of agreement between the five U.S.-based organizations and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA), the CIA has jurisdiction to investigate actuarial practice of the participating organizations’ members in Canada; similarly, CIA members’ actuarial practice in the United States can be investigated by the ABCD.

Up to Code

This regular column in Contingencies highlights the ABCD’s work and important professionalism issues.

The College Reunion: The Value of Sharing Success Stories

January/February 2024
by Cande Olsen

Clearing Up Some Misunderstandings

November/December 2023
by Albert J. Beer

A Lifetime of Professionalism

September/October 2023
by Richard Kutikoff

HAL the Actuary?

July/August 2023
by David Driscoll

When to Say ‘No’

May/June 2023
by William Hines

That’s So Meta

March/April 2023
by Shawna Ackerman

Tattoos and Ponytails

January/February 2023
by Tammy Dixon

A Fine Mess

November/December 2022
by April Choi

Our Resilience

September/October 2022
by David Driscoll

Conflicts of Interest and Codes of Conduct

July/August 2022
by Godfrey Perrott

Mythology and Actuarial Professionalism

May/June 2022
by Albert J. Beer

Risk to the Actuary

March/April 2022
by Richard Kutikoff

A Million Little Things

January/February 2022
by John Schubert

Where Do You Practice?

November/December 2021
by William Hines

Who Knows 14?

September/October 2021
by Deborah Rosenberg

How can we help you?

Ask for guidance.

Did you know when actuaries need help with thorny professional problems, they can ask an ABCD member for informal advice?

Ask Us

Learn about the complaint process.

How do you complain to the ABCD about an actuary's conduct? What happens once a complaint has been made?

Learn More

Request a speaker.

ABCD members make educational presentations at actuarial seminars and clubs, regulators' meetings, and elsewhere.

Contact Us