Within our team, innovation and societal impact are important drivers. The fact that this topic has recently received additional attention through the publication of the Dutch book De bermudadriehoek van talent: Hoe knappe koppen verdwijnen in betekenloze banen, written by an author with a similar background in econometrics, Simon van Teutem, underscores its relevance today. The book offers a critical reflection on several leading sectors and calls on governments to curb the waste of talent.

In this societal debate, the actuary has unfortunately not escaped criticism. David Graeber includes the actuary in his book Bullshit Jobs among the list of “professions whose negative impact would not be obvious if they disappeared tomorrow”. In the sidenotes, Graeber does acknowledge that there is sound actuarial work that genuinely makes a difference, but he argues that much of the work remains unnecessary.

Many actuaries will likely recognize that certain reports and PowerPoints exist that play no clear role in decision-making. Such tasks may be occasional, with their impact becoming visible only in hindsight. However, structural inefficiency and repetitive rituals that primarily drain energy can cause the positive impact of the actuarial profession to be overshadowed.

As a team, we have a clear perspective on this issue. An initial, often underestimated step is to explicitly examine the consequences of not performing certain tasks. An organizational culture in which “stopping doing something” is also seen as a success can create room for more meaningful application of expertise. Technological tools can help identify and address inefficiencies, but the ability to recognize when a task no longer adds value remains essential.

As actuaries with experience in the pensions sector, we can confirm that the Wtp is a good example of this. What can we let go of in the nFTK to create a more efficient and better workflow in the Wtp? This not only adds value to the organization, but also has an indirect impact on participants through lower pension administration costs.

Let us explore together how we can deploy our expertise in a way that creates more room for work that truly makes a difference. This creates opportunities for greater job satisfaction and greater impact for both the organization and its clients.