The ACDP (Actuarial Career Development Program) is a nine-month, structured rotational program built to launch careers in pension actuarial work, with mentorship, credentialed training, and real client exposure from day one. It’s Strongpoint’s answer to a critical question facing the retirement services industry: how do you develop the next generation of actuaries in a field that’s increasingly complex, increasingly important, and increasingly competitive for talent?

How the Program Works ⬎

The ACDP is structured around three rotations — each building on the last to give participants a complete picture of how pension actuarial work operates, from raw data through regulatory filings.

Rotation A (Months 1 – 3) Data & Foundation: Participants build the essential skills that underpin all actuarial work — census data scrubbing and reconciliation, trust accounting, Excel fluency, and introductory testing concepts. The accuracy and discipline established here carry through the entire program.

Rotation B (Months 4 – 6) Valuation & Compliance: Participants develop core valuation competency — Funding Target and Target Normal Cost calculations, accrued benefit calculations, Section 415 limit testing, and structured navigation of plan documents and IRS regulatory requirements.

Rotation C (Months 7 – 9) Reporting & Advanced Topics: Participants engage with regulatory filings and participant-facing deliverables: Form 5500 and Schedule SB, PBGC premium calculations, participant statements, plan amendments, and distribution packet preparation.

Learning By Doing ⬎

The ACDP is deliberately designed so participants are applying what they learn from day one, not sitting in a classroom. The breakdown:

50% On-the-Job Work: Applying actuarial concepts to active client work under experienced supervision.

30% Technical Training: Structured learning in actuarial systems, Excel & VBA, valuation methods, and compliance.

20% Professional Development: Communication, analytical reasoning, time management, and professional judgment.

Mentorship at the Core ⬎

Every ACDP participant is paired with a Primary Mentor who provides coaching, monthly one-on-ones, exam planning support, and career development guidance across the full nine months. Each rotation also has a dedicated Rotation Go-To, who is a senior team member who answers workflow questions and provides rotation-specific technical guidance.