Society of Actuaries (SOA)

What Society of Actuaries (SOA) does

The Society of Actuaries (SOA) is the world's largest professional membership organization for actuaries, founded in 1949, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and incorporated as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit. The SOA delivers credentialing pathways through three core designations—Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA), Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), and Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst (CERA)—supplemented by Micro-Credentials for specialized skill recognition. Its primary customer segments are aspiring actuaries pursuing credentials through university-tied programs (over 200 UCAP institutions, CAE-recognized Centers of Actuarial Excellence, and a USA Student Ambassador Program) and practicing members maintaining their designations through continuing professional development, specialized communities (Health, Life & Annuities, Retirement, General Insurance, Investment & Risk Management), and volunteer leadership roles. Secondary stakeholders include employers of actuaries (insurers, consultancies, financial institutions, governments) that rely on SOA credentials as the standard for actuarial hiring.

The SOA's technology platform is digital-first and modular. Core systems include the public soa.org web platform for membership and education, the authenticated secure.soa.org portal for transactions, the engage.soa.org community and volunteer-management portal, and an online exam administration system with remote proctoring. Specialized tools include the Mortality and Other Rate Tables (MORT), Annuity Factor Calculator, Relative Risk Tool, Actuaries Climate Index, Longevity Illustrators, Experience Studies Pro, and the SOA Explorer research-discovery tool. The SOA Research Institute anchors the research portfolio, publishing the peer-reviewed North American Actuarial Journal and The Actuary Magazine, and operating the Actuarial Research Clearing House and a podcast network spanning Research Insights, Get Plugged In (InsurTech), and the main SOA Podcasts feed.

Revenue flows through four streams: recurring annual membership dues from ASA/FSA/CERA/Affiliate members, pay-as-you-go examination and education fees (e-learning, APC, FAC, VEE, micro-credentials), event registration fees across flagship conferences (ImpACT, Health Meeting, ReFocus, ValAct, MAP, Asia-Pacific Symposium), and publications/research revenue. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with university-tied candidate recruitment (UCAP/CAE/UEC), employer engagement through the Actuarial Directory, and innovation outreach via the InsurTech Office Hours program. As a private nonprofit, the organization is governed by its Board of Directors and is not owned by external investors; strategic direction is set by the membership and executed by a staff of 101–250 employees led by incoming CEO Clar Rosso (effective May 4, 2026), succeeding Greg Heidrich who served 19 years.

Name

Society of Actuaries (SOA)

Legal name

Society of Actuaries

Website

https://soa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Society of Actuaries is the world's largest professional membership organization for actuaries, providing ASA, FSA, and CERA credentialing pathways, proprietary research publications, and continuing professional development to actuarial candidates, practicing members, universities, and insurance employers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Schaumburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from ASAs, FSAs, CERAs, and Affiliate members. The organization has a membership dues structure and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) requirement for members.
2. Education and Examination Fees: Revenue from exam registration fees, e-learning module fees, Associateship Professionalism Course (APC), Fellowship Admissions Course (FAC), and other educational pathway fees. Includes fees for Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) and various micro-credentials.
3. Professional Development Events: Registration fees for major meetings and conferences including the ImpACT Conference, Health Meeting, ReFocus Conference, ValAct Meeting, Asia-Pacific Symposium, and other professional development events.
4. Publications and Research: Revenue from publications including The Actuary Magazine, North American Actuarial Journal (NAAJ), actuarial books, and potentially research report access or sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Society of Actuaries is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership organization that administers globally recognized actuarial credentials (ASA, FSA, CERA), provides formal examination and continuing education pathways, produces industry research through its Research Institute, and delivers professional development tools including mortality tables, calculators, journals, conferences, and online community platforms for actuaries worldwide.

Product overview

The Society of Actuaries offers a comprehensive professional ecosystem centered on actuarial education, research, and community engagement. The core offerings include three credential programs: the Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA), Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), and Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst (CERA), supplemented by Micro-Credentials for specialized skill recognition. The SOA Research Institute anchors the research portfolio with publications including the North American Actuarial Journal (NAAJ), experience studies databases (Experience Studies Pro, MORT), and actuarial calculators (Annuity Factor Calculator, Relative Risk Tool). The InsurTech Program facilitates innovation through partnerships with technology start-ups. Professional community tools include SOA Engage for networking, MentorLink for mentorship, and the Actuarial Directory. Publications span The Actuary Magazine and multiple podcast series. Together, these offerings support actuaries throughout their careers from education through advanced practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) Entry-level actuarial designation requiring completion of exams and VEE requirements, demonstrating foundational knowledge in actuarial science and risk management. Aimed at aspiring and early-career actuaries.
• Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) Advanced actuarial designation with specialized tracks in various practice areas including life and annuities, health, retirement, and general insurance. Designed for fully qualified professional actuaries.
• Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst (CERA) Specialized designation in enterprise risk management, providing actuaries with expertise in identifying, measuring, and managing risks across organizations.
• Micro-Credentials Digital badges and micro-credentials recognizing specific skills and knowledge areas within actuarial practice, complementing traditional designations.
• SOA Research Institute Research arm producing studies on mortality, longevity, retirement, health, AI/technology, climate risk, and diversity. Publishes the North American Actuarial Journal and maintains experience studies databases.
• Experience Studies Pro Premium research tool providing detailed mortality and other experience study data for actuaries, offering enhanced analysis capabilities beyond standard reports.
• Mortality and Other Rate Tables (MORT) Online database of actuarial mortality tables and rate tables used for calculations in life insurance, pensions, and other actuarial applications.
• Annuity Factor Calculator Web-based tool for calculating annuity factors used in pension valuations and retirement planning calculations.
• Relative Risk Tool Interactive tool enabling actuaries to analyze and compare relative risk across different populations or risk factors.
• Actuaries Climate Index Tool measuring climate change impacts on insurance and actuarial practice, providing data on temperature, sea level, and extreme weather patterns.
• Longevity Illustrators Tools helping individuals and professionals understand and project longevity outcomes for retirement planning and risk management.
• North American Actuarial Journal (NAAJ) Peer-reviewed academic journal publishing research on actuarial science, risk management, and financial topics relevant to the profession.
• The Actuary Magazine Magazine providing articles, interviews, and features on actuarial practice, professional development, and industry trends.
• SOA Engage Online community platform connecting SOA members for networking, discussion, and collaboration through listservs and community groups.
• Actuarial Directory Searchable directory of credentialed actuaries and actuarial firms for hiring and networking purposes.
• Major Conferences (ImpACT, Health Meeting, ReFocus, ValAct, MAP, Asia-Pacific Symposium) Flagship in-person and virtual conferences including the ImpACT Conference, Health Meeting, ReFocus Conference, ValAct Meeting, MAP Conference, and Asia-Pacific Symposium, providing professional development, networking, and continuing education.
• InsurTech Program Initiative bringing together actuaries and technology start-ups through events, networking, mentorship, and research to explore insurance technology innovation.
• MentorLink Mentorship matching platform connecting experienced actuaries with candidates for career guidance and professional development.
• SOA Podcasts (Research Insights, Get Plugged In) Audio content series featuring interviews with industry leaders, research discussions, and InsurTech insights for professional development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Actuary ranked 5th Best Technology Jobs, 7th Best STEM Job, 11th Overall in 100 Best Jobs (U.S. News 2026)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026The SOA released a report recognizing the Cayman Islands as a well-regulated international reinsurance jurisdiction with a robust risk-based supervisory framework overseen by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. This partnership highlights Cayman's regulatory and capital framework supporting U.S. insurers in managing risk and accessing international capital.
• Cayman International Reinsurance Companies AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026Endorsed the SOA's findings on the Cayman Islands as a key international reinsurance jurisdiction. The association represents reinsurance companies operating in the Cayman Islands and highlights Cayman's regulatory framework, including full collateralisation for U.S. statutory reserves.
• Insurance Managers Association of Cayman (IMAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026Part of the Cayman delegation attending ReFocus 2026 conference in Las Vegas to promote the jurisdiction's reinsurance sector. The delegation included officials from CIMA and industry groups engaging with US life insurance and reinsurance leaders.
• Cayman FinancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026Part of the Cayman delegation attending ReFocus 2026 to reinforce Cayman's role as a reinsurance hub with deep ties to North America. Highlights the jurisdiction's regulatory standards and sector expertise.
• Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint sponsorship of the Exam Support Program for candidates pursuing actuarial credentials. The CAS and SOA jointly offer this program to support diverse candidates in the actuarial profession.
• Willis Towers WatsonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContributed authors to the InsurTech: A Guide for the Actuarial Community report, providing consulting expertise on the InsurTech landscape for the actuarial community.
• MillimanminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMultiple engagements including contributions to research on actuarial technology, fostering innovation, and cyber risks. Conducted interviews and focus groups for the Fostering Innovation report.
• DeloitteminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContributed authors to the Emerging Technologies and their Impact on Actuarial Science report, providing consulting expertise on emerging technologies affecting the profession.
• Casualty Actuarial Society (Joint Risk Management Section)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded research on Cyber Risks in the Smart Home Ecosystem, demonstrating joint commitment to research on emerging technology risks in insurance.
• Actuarial FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization jointly running the Be An Actuary initiative and exam support programs. The Actuarial Foundation supports mathematical education while SOA supports career development through this partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/soactuaries
• GitHubgithub.com/Society-of-actuaries
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SocietyofActuaries
• Facebookfacebook.com/societyofactuaries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-of-actuaries
• Instagraminstagram.com/soactuaries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Society of Actuaries (SOA)