DW Simpson Spring Newsletter – 2026
Welcome to Another issue of the DW Simpson Newsletter!
As spring brings a season of renewal and new opportunities, it’s an ideal time to reflect on growth, both within your organization and across your career. At DW Simpson, we see this as a time for companies to strengthen their teams and for actuaries to explore new professional paths in an evolving market.
In this Spring edition of our newsletter, we focus on the latest trends shaping the industry and ways in which actuaries can enhance their careers. Our Market Trends Report provides a comprehensive look at what’s driving the actuarial job market today, and whether you’re building out your team or considering your next career move, these insights are designed to help you stay competitive and informed. We hope this edition of our Newsletter provides valuable insights and inspires you to make the most of the opportunities this season brings.
DID YOU KNOW ?
Spring Facts for Actuaries
| Pollen spikes in spring can drive higher outpatient visits and prescription claims. | Increased outdoor activity can reduce some claims but raise accident-related visits. |
| Mortality rates generally drop in spring compared to winter, affecting life insurance claim projections. | People are more likely to schedule check-ups or vaccinations as winter ends. |
| Policyholders are more likely to review or update coverage in spring, impacting lapse and conversion rates. | Spring marks tornado, hail, and storm peak activity in many regions, impacting claims frequency. Snowmelt combined with rain leads to higher flood exposure. |
2026 U.S. ACTUARIAL MARKET OUTLOOK
Strong growth prospects continue for the actuarial market in 2026, outpacing the average across all occupations. This reflects the expanding demand for actuaries who can assess and manage risk in insurance, healthcare, finance, and enterprise risk functions.
As the modernization of actuarial work accelerates in 2026, a growing share of actuarial tasks are being powered by automation, data engineering, and machine learning frameworks. These trends indicate that actuaries in 2026 must combine traditional probability and statistics with data engineering, analytics, and technology governance skills to add value beyond routine analysis.
While compensation can vary by experience, certification, and industry, actuaries remain well-paid professionals in the STEM and financial risk sectors. Actuarial careers continue to be recognized among the top jobs in the United States based on job stability, pay, and prospects, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings through 2025.
Here are the major trends that are expected to shape the actuarial job market this year:
- Traditional sectors (life, health, property/casualty) will still drive the bulk of actuarial roles.
- Knowledge of AI/GenAI, cloud platforms, and data pipelines will differentiate candidates.
- AI and automation tools will not be replacing actuaries, but will be automating routine reporting functions
- AI tools will shift actuaries away from repetitive tasks and towards strategic and advisory roles
- Specialization – Actuaries with advanced modeling, machine learning, and risk governance expertise are in highest demand.
- General U.S. job gains slowed in 2025, but actuarial hiring should remain steady due to specialized needs in the insurance industry.
- Non-traditional roles will grow, with enterprise risk and analytics functions increasingly employing actuaries outside pure insurance contexts.
For more information, click below for our complete 2026 Market Trends Report.
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Spring Exam Season: Tips for Actuarial Students
For many actuarial students, spring means exam season. Whether preparing for exams from the Society of Actuaries or the Casualty Actuarial Society, candidates are balancing study schedules with work and life commitments. Successful candidates recommend building a consistent weekly study routine, practicing with past exam questions, and focusing on conceptual understanding rather than memorization.
DWS Salary Surveys
Our email campaign is set to start soon, and we hope that you will participate!
At DW Simpson, Spring means it’s time to start our yearly Salary Survey! Each year we conduct this survey of the actuarial industry to provide the most accurate and timely data available, making our Salary Survey the industry standard.
Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey when you receive the email!
Add your info to next year’s Salary Survey:
For more info on the Salary Survey, visit our blog:
Interview Preparation Guide
Our Interview Preparation Guide for actuaries is here to help you feel confident at every stage of the interview process. You’ll find practical tips, example questions, and insights from experienced actuaries who’ve been on both sides of the interview table.
A FINAL THOUGHT
Spring has a way of shifting perspective. For some, that may mean reflecting on whether their current role continues to offer the challenge, impact, or progression they’re seeking. For others, it may be an opportunity to consider how their teams are evolving, what skills are needed, and how future demands are taking shape.
Spring can be a subtle reminder to explore new directions and new opportunities.
FEATURED JOBS
Property & Casualty Insurance
Property and Casualty insurer seeks to expand their team by adding a Catastrophe Modeling Analyst III. This individual will gather data for catastrophe modeling, analyze the risks for data quality, and communicate the outcomes to the senior management team. The ideal candidate will have 6+ years of catastrophe modeling experience, knowledge of RMS and AIR, and experience working with large datasets. (#58311)
P&C client in the northeast has a great opportunity for an experienced Associate Actuary. This individual will contribute to strategic decision-making by supporting the reserving, pricing, data analytics, and enterprise risk management functions. The ideal candidate will be an ACAS or student actuary with 5+ CAS exams completed and 5+ years of actuarial experience. Must have experience in workers’ compensation, excellent communication skills, and familiarity with Python, R, SQL or similar tools. Experience with machine learning or predictive modeling frameworks is a plus. (#58280)
Life Insurance
Tech-driven insurance carrier has a great opportunity for an Associate Actuary, ERM. This individual will help lead the development & implementation of an industry-leading risk management framework, support financial projections, and participate in the integration of key new policies & frameworks. The ideal candidate would be an ASA or new FSA with 5 years of experience, preferably with annuity products (FIA, MYGA, RILA). Proficiency in R, Python and GGY AXIS is required. (#58166)
Time-tested company seeks a Consulting Actuary with deep subject matter expertise in individual life & annuity insurance products. This individual will be involved with various tasks including modeling & financial projections, analysis of experience studies & assumptions, valuation, and M&A transactions. The ideal candidate would be an ASA or FSA with 5+ years of experience, including a strong understanding of life insurance ALM and effective communication skills. Reinsurance experience is a plus. (#58221)
Health Insurance
Health client is in search of a Sr. Medical Underwriting Analyst, who will help drive pricing strategies & underwriting practices for level-funded products. In this role you will evaluate & assess health risk for prospective groups, and apply knowledge & analysis to determine eligibility, pricing, and coverage terms. The ideal candidate would have 4+ years in medical underwriting & financial risk modeling experience, a deep understanding of medical terminology, and experience launching a level-funded product. Strong Excel and analytical skills required. (#58312)
Health carrier seeking a talented Actuary who will serve as a subject matter expert on IBNR estimates and payor data files. Candidate will help investigate & analyze utilization & medical cost data in support of financial close, budget, and forecasting processes. The ideal individual will be an ASA with 5+ years of actuarial health experience, including a strong background in the IBNR process. Must have strong communication skills and advanced proficiency in VBA, Excel and SQL. (#58270)
Pensions
Actuarial consulting client is seeking a highly experienced & detail-oriented Senior Pension Consultant Actuary. This candidate will oversee a team of professionals and be responsible for ensuring that all pension-related deliverables are completed accurately and to the highest standards. The ideal individual would have their ASA, FSA, or EA credential, 15+ years of relevant experience, and excellent project & operations management skills. Experience with ProVal is a plus. (#58054)
If you would like to view a comprehensive list of our current jobs, click below:
Career Resources and Guidance
Our team is committed to providing comprehensive career resources and guidance to help actuaries at all career stages thrive. Whether you’re a recent graduate exploring entry-level opportunities or a seasoned professional seeking a Chief Actuary role, DW Simpson is here to support your career journey. For more information, visit our website at Actuarial Recruiting Firm – DW Simpson
CONNECT WITH US
Email: actuaries@dwsimpson.com
Phone: 1-800-837-8338
Phone: 1-312-867-2300
DW Simpson – Global Actuarial & Analytics Recruitment
1801 W Warner, Suite 203, Chicago, IL 60613