Social Security

FINANCIAL REALITIES AND FUTURE OPTIONS 

Actuarial expertise is unique and necessary to understanding financial programs like Social Security. However, for a variety of reasons, although actuaries have been deeply involved in actuarial work on these programs, they are rarely visible and their work is often used by and communicated by others. We have an obligation, as a profession, to do a better job of communicating our actuarial perspective and analysis to the public, independent of political view or distortion, to strengthen the public understanding and debate.

Fortunately there is already an excellent tool, designed by the actuarial profession. The “Social Security Game” can be found at http://www.actuary.org/socsec.asp. The game helps the participant understand and work with possible solutions, including most of the often discussed possibilities. We urge you to take 10 minutes to play the game. If, after you’ve done so, and you think it was worthwhile, take a few minutes and e-mail the website information to your friends and family. If each of us understands the options and discusses our ideas on how Social Security could be strengthened, our elected officials are more likely to make appropriate decisions for our families and for our country.