An actuary is a professional who is trained in risk analysis. Actuaries draw on mathematics, statistics, economics and financial theory to study risk and design methods to minimize its impact. In an insurance company, an actuary assesses the risk of certain events so that the company knows the amount of premiums policyholders have to pay and the amount of money to be set aside in reserves. While leaning on financial models and calculations, an actuary must also be sufficiently well-rounded to come up with creative solutions to business and financial problems. Many actuaries work in insurance companies, but there is broad demand for their analytic and statistical skills in fields such as investment management and consulting.
