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Actuary of the future

Published on: 9 Nov 2017

Sam Wallace, UMACS, General Insurance.

How would your best friend describe you?
In a way that is best not committed to print.

What motivates you? 
Self-respect and the admiration of my peers. Also, a shock collar around my ankle.

What is your personal motto? 
Dream as if you’ll live forever, live vicariously and mainly through social media.

Name five dream companions to be stuck on a desert island with?
David Attenborough, to know which species of wildlife are beautiful and delicious. Elon Musk, for good conversation and maybe a driftwood rocket for escape. Mary Berry, for quality cooking and general delightfulness. Brian Blessed, for bawdy jokes and calling for help. Tom Hanks – he’s had practice and may like a more social experience.

What’s your most ‘actuarial’ habit? 
Using the Ogden tables to calculate how long my friends and loved ones have left to live.

Favourite Excel function?
The ultimate tag team: VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP. No matter the array, these heroes have you covered. 
 
How do you relax away from the office?
Nothing says ultimate relaxation like a delicious meal and a heaving stack of Core Technicals.

Alternative career?
Amateur taxidermist. 

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
I googled ‘Bad taxidermy’. 

If you could visit the past, who would you like to meet?
The guy who invented sliced bread. He has to know it’s his thing that’s still the best thing, apart from the other things which are the best thing since his thing.

Who would play you in a movie?
Tom Hanks. Not that he’s particularly similar to me, but he’s extremely charming and we bonded on the desert island.

If you could be anyone else, who would it be?
Any astronaut. Mentally fulfilling, unique opportunities, the whole package.

Do you know an actuary destined for greatness? You can nominate an Actuary of the Future by emailing aotf@theactuary.com