The Decision Question This edition looks at how to show the actual experience (or new ultimate) versus the expected ultimate (previous ultimate) claims when the question is: Can I trust the reserving outcomes? Are predictions broadly calibrated or are there systematic bias? Audience: Management Default Practice Scatterplot with the expected / predicted ultimate on x-axis and the actual or updated expected on the y-axis. Each point typically represents a total reserve for a

This edition explores alternative views for link ratios that surface variability, structure, and influence more directly.

Development patterns are familiar territory for actuaries. We calculate them, review them, debate them — and then often leave them behind, summarised in a sentence or relegated to an appendix. The challenge is rarely how to produce link ratios or development curves. It is deciding when they deserve attention, how they should be shown, and when saying less is actually clearer . This edition focuses on that decision. Rather than introducing new chart types, it steps back to ask

In 2026, I’m creating 26 charts — one every two weeks — designed to help actuaries communicate with clarity, confidence, and visual precision.