Strengthening Our Board
The Society of Actuaries (SOA) is continually improving how we operate to be well-positioned for the future. The SOA Board of Directors (Board) established a Task Force to evaluate Board governance, review leading practices, and gather member feedback. In response, the Board approved three separate proposed changes that reflect member feedback. During the 2026 Board elections, FSAs voted on each one individually.
2026 SOA Bylaws Results
After a thorough and thoughtful voting process, eligible FSA voters approved the SOA Bylaws proposals reducing the Board size from 18 to 12 members and separating the roles of Board President and Chair. For a proposal to pass, two-thirds of voters had to vote in favor of it.
Below are the vote totals for each proposal:
| Proposal | Percentage That Voted in Favor | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Shift from an 18- to a 12-person Board | 74.6% | Passed |
| Separate the roles for Board President and Chair | 84% | Passed |
| Up to 2 ASAs with 10+ years membership can serve on the Board | 54.5% | Not Passed |
Stay tuned for more information about the implementation of the approved SOA Bylaws changes.
How Members Benefit
Our profession faces a rapidly changing environment, and we must adapt and respond. While leading practices for association governance have evolved, the SOA’s governance processes haven’t materially changed in many years.
Strong Board governance is critical to the SOA’s long-term growth and future success. The proposed SOA Bylaws changes were intended to provide:
- A Board structure that fosters in-depth discussion and rigorous debate, allowing the SOA to more rapidly address emerging opportunities and challenges
- Effective Board leadership supported by clearly defined leadership roles
- Leadership that reflects our growing membership and includes valuable perspectives
Inside the Process
Following the SOA Bylaws vote in October 2025, the SOA Board moved forward with enhancements to its processes that strengthen Board governance and do not require a member vote. Additionally, the Governance Implementation Task Force reviewed member feedback and conducted additional research to better understand member preferences.
Based on this input, the Task Force developed revised proposals for Bylaws amendments. In March 2026, the Board approved moving the recommendations to a member vote and in June 2026, the proposals were approved as three separate ballot items during the 2026 SOA elections, and in September, FSAs voted to reduced the Board size from 18 to 12 members and separate the roles of Board President and Chair.
