CAS Profile: Anthony Bustillo, FCAS

I’m an FCAS who has worked in insurance and consulting for over 30 years. I was a math major with an actuarial science concentration at the University of Michigan. Go Blue!

Where do you work and what is your position?

I am currently the Chief Risk Officer and Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management at Safety National (a Tokio Marine company) in St. Louis.

Why did you decide to become an actuary?

I was able to use math in a practical application… And it pays well coming right out of college!

What parts of the profession do you love the most?

You don’t realize how much of your everyday life revolves around risk and decisions you make. Because of that, I like being able to collaborate with others in trying to explain that to people — especially with numbers — without boring them too much!

What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received?

Continuously learn and do not burn bridges. The actuarial community is relatively small, and people and relationships drive it. You’d think it was numbers that drive our value, but it’s actually being able to explain numbers that gives actuaries value.

Why would you recommend a career in the P&C insurance industry to current college students?

You get to work on real-life risk scenarios. Anything you think is hot or trendy usually has some property/casualty insurance aspect to it. Or at least us P&C actuaries like to think it does!

What can students and early professionals do now to prepare for a career in the industry?

Learn much more than what’s on exams. Network and be intellectually curious. Consider that the job and position you have now will change and evolve and be ready to take on something new.