.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} How does it feel to return to Iowa?

I’m excited to be back in the state of Iowa, after living in Lincoln, Neb., in Cornhusker land, for 11 years. The first thing I did when I moved to Lincoln was to purchase a golf bag that had “Iowa Hawkeyes” all over it, a gold and black bag right in the middle of Big Red country. I got quite a bit of ribbing about that.

How did this opportunity come about with FBL?

Actually, there was a fair amount of change in my prior organization. I’m well-networked throughout the actuarial community; I actually spoke with a good friend of mine that I used to do business with over at Aviva (USA). He mentioned that there was the chief actuary position here at Farm Bureau; the next thing you know, I was having lunch with (FBL CEO) Jim Hohmann.

What attracted you to FBL?

I’m excited by the fact that there is a focus around the under-served middle market. A lot of organizations are chasing the high-end, affluent market. There are definitely growth opportunities here that attracted me to the organization. They have a nice exclusive multi-line agency proposition; there are real opportunities to cross-sell to property and casualty customers in life and annuities.

Is chief actuary a new position for FBL?

At FBL, a lot of the activities that you would think of that a chief actuary would be responsible for were disseminated throughout the organization. This was an opportunity, especially because I bring a fair amount of product background to the position beyond the normal valuation work. I think with our business strategy in 2010 and later, there is a fair amount (of emphasis) around growth.

Do you expect you’ll help develop new annuity products, like you did in Lincoln?

I think the answer is yes. I’m still getting my feet wet, but I think there will be contact with the senior product actuary, talking about ways we can differentiate, ways we can manage risk relative to the portfolio products we have in force today.

What are other goals do you have in your new role?

Initially, it’s to get to know the people. I sense a good Midwest culture here, and that’s what I grew up in, anyway. Everybody seems to want to make a difference. Beyond that, it’s a matter of getting very much ingrained in the product portfolios, understanding what’s already been developed from an enterprise risk management perspective and to build that out even further so that we’re recognized for the management of that function.

How has the recent financial upheaval changed the actuarial field?

I think companies are paying a lot more attention to risk management, and how from an enterprise perspective they can get their arms around all the risks. And certainly, other audiences – rating agencies, investors, etc. – are very interested in how companies are managing risks. I think if you’re not paying attention and putting something in place to assist in managing those risks, you won’t get high marks. I was pleased in seeing the activity that’s already taken place here. Farm Bureau is off to a great start to build the structures to manage those risks.

Charitable interests?

One thing my wife and I have done consistently is participate in silent auctions for the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society. My father passed away from a heart attack and my mother had cancer, so we tend to be involved in those charitable organizations.

What types of hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

I enjoy the outdoors; I’m an avid golfer. My wife, Annette, is an animal lover. She has a couple of quarter horses, and she enjoys that very much. So when we move here to Des Moines, we’ll be looking for some land to accommodate those two large animals. My wife and I do a lot of traveling. Some of our favorites include Australia; we’ve been there a couple of times. We just finished a trip to Ireland for my 50th birthday. And because we enjoy travel, we love wine. We visit the (California) wine country a few times a year.