Special, professional development program explores emerging topics in the insurance industry and actuarial profession.

Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, Inc. (Pinnacle) today announced the program for its eighth annual Pinnacle University, a joint continuing education partnership of Pinnacle and several Midwest universities.

The Pinnacle University initiative was created in 2013 as a way to give college students exposure to existing and emerging issues facing the insurance industry and real-world experience in managing projects, collaborating with a team and delivering a professional presentation.

“Our firm is especially proud of our Pinnacle University program,” Pinnacle Managing Principal Joe Herbers said. “It represents our commitment to the future of the actuarial profession and to the next generation of actuaries who maintain the program’s relevance and ensure its perpetuity.”

To prepare for Pinnacle University, actuarial students from colleges and universities in the Midwest work with Pinnacle’s professionals over the course of several weeks to research a topic of actuarial- and insurance-related significance. At Pinnacle University, teams present their findings and a panel of credentialed actuaries from Pinnacle, insurance companies, schools and other organizations will critique and discuss the conclusions, content and execution of the presentation. The event, normally held at Pinnacle’s home office in Bloomington, will be conducted virtually for invited attendees.

Topics at this year’s Pinnacle University will include, but not limited to, usage-based insurance, machine learning and a hypothetical insurance product for professional baseball organizations.

“Dozens of actuarial professionals have participated in Pinnacle University over the years,” Pinnacle Senior Consulting Actuary Erich Brandt said. “Those alumni have progressed with really exciting and rewarding careers as actuaries. We’re proud of their work at Pinnacle University and congratulate them on their ongoing contributions to the success of our industry.”

Pinnacle University alumni have gone on to work for Pinnacle, global insurance providers, companies and consulting firms across the country.

“We’re grateful to all the students and panelists that will participate in this year’s Pinnacle University,” Brandt, who helped create Pinnacle University, said.

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