Professor David Wilkie's Full Assessment of IFoA Membership Value

Published: October 6, 2025

If you're considering IFoA renewal (October 31, 2025 deadline), read this assessment from a very experienced and respected actuary first.

Professor Wilkie's Assessment

"It seems to me that the IFoA offers the ordinary members almost nothing. They get The Actuary magazine, which is available free online to anyone. They don't get told about the journals, British Actuarial Journal and Annals of Actuarial Science; they are available online, with difficulty, but members are told nothing about them.

There are very few free meetings, and they are not organised like the old sessional meetings, with papers available in advance and ample time for discussion, with the opportunity of dining clubs afterwards. There are some free webinars, but some have to be paid for.

Members also don't get informed about the International Actuarial Association or its sections, ASTIN, AFIR-ERM, IACA etc, so they don't join. They are not told about its conferences. The date for submitting abstracts for papers for the next International Congress of Actuaries in Tokyo in November 2026 has already passed, but few IFoA members would even have known about that. The Congress is listed under Third Party Events on the IFoA website, but since the IFoA is a full member of the IAA, and all its members are associates, it should be treated as an in-house event, as should the section colloquia.

In my opinion the IFoA is spending far too much on professional conduct and intruding far too much into members' lives. It should concentrate only on clear professional negligence, and any criminal or civil offences should be left to the official authorities. Thus the IFoA is wasting a lot of time and money, paid for by the very high subscription.

The INQA Group gives an opportunity for the ordinary actuary who is not in a reserved role (and therefore does not need IFoA professional certification) to remain in an actuarial body at far less cost."

This is not opinion from a disgruntled member. This is professional assessment from one of the actuarial profession's most respected voices globally.

You have less than 30 days remaining to renew IFoA without surcharge (October 31, 2025 deadline).

The Question:

Does Professor Wilkie's assessment match your experience of IFoA membership? Are you getting value for £400-£775/year?

INQA Group - The Alternative:

• ✅ From £65/year (+VAT if applicable) vs IFoA's £400-£775
• ✅ Proportionate regulation (not excessive conduct bureaucracy)
• ✅ Real member voice through Member Polls
• ✅ Information about IAA sections and conferences (exactly what Professor Wilkie notes is missing)
• ✅ Focus on professional value, not regulatory intrusion
• ✅ For actuaries not in reserved roles who have choice

The Smart Actuary's Remaining October Window:

1. Try INQA now - from £6.50/month (+VAT if applicable): inqa.group/membership
2. Experience what a member-focused professional body delivers
3. Compare Professor Wilkie's assessment with your own IFoA experience
4. Make informed renewal decision by October 31, 2025
5. No membership gaps, no regrets

Professor Wilkie has spoken. The question is: Will you listen?

Professor David Wilkie and INQA Group founder Patrick Lee have collaborated professionally for over 30 years. INQA Group provides professional actuarial membership for those not in reserved roles, offering effective member collaboration and networking under proportionate regulation at much more reasonable cost.