In this interview, Ryan Clark shares an inside look at his experience on the Model Steward Team at Pacific Life, highlighting how his work in financial modeling supports the company’s mission and drives operational excellence. Ryan discusses his career journey, the collaborative culture of his team, and the unique opportunities he’s found at Pacific Life—both professionally and personally. His story offers valuable insights into what makes Pacific Life a rewarding place to grow and contribute as an actuary.
 

When did you join Pacific Life, and what has your actuarial career path looked like?

I joined Pacific Life in November 2024 on the Model Steward team within Enterprise Modeling. I had some Prophet experience at my prior company – leading financial modeling of LTC risk transfer solutions and supporting LDTI model readiness – but I’ve learned more about Prophet in the 9 months I’ve been on this team than in my entire career before that.

While interviewing for the role, Shari, the hiring manager and my current manager, impressed me with her vision of the future state of Prophet modeling at Pacific Life and how the Model Steward team can bring that vision to life. Between the good vibes I got from Shari and the other interviewers – plus the opportunity to work with a team of experienced, talented Prophet modelers – accepting the offer and joining Pacific Life was a no-brainer. Today I am the Modeling Platform & Process Lead within the Model Steward Team in Enterprise Modeling.
 

How does your role on the Model Steward team contribute to Pacific Life's purpose?

The Model Steward team ensures the integration of quality model developments into the Prophet models in production. Because Pacific Life’s financial statements are based on the output of these production models – and because company leaders make key decisions based on those financial statements – it is critical we have a strong governance framework and tight controls around any changes that go into the models to ensure accuracy and reliability. Our efforts support the operational resilience of all teams that rely upon the results of our Prophet production models, which in turn help Pacific Life most effectively serve its policyholders. 
 

How has working in the Newport Beach and Omaha offices influenced your career journey?

Every chance I get to travel and work out of Newport or Omaha is a treat. It’s fun connecting with people in the office who I don’t interact with in my day-to-day work. In person it’s easier to learn more about what other folks at the company do, so every visit to the office I grow my understanding of how my role supports and connects to the enterprise.

I’m also a big fan of Pacific Life’s office floor plan. My prior company had an open plan arrangement with no assigned desks or privacy walls. It was challenging to create an in-office routine since no one had assigned desks. And the office lacked personality because no one could decorate their workspace. It felt more like working in a library than a workplace. I love how the 4^th floor actuaries in Newport Beach have decorated their desks – shout out to Kurtis and John who have two of the best decorated desks in the whole office (in my opinion).
 

What do you enjoy most about working as an actuary at Pacific Life?

I’ve worked at three different Fortune 500 companies as an actuary and Pacific Life has been my favorite by far. Pacific Life is a massive company, so you can work on a variety of products in a variety of roles. And since Pacific Life is a mutual company, decisions are made thinking about long-term stability instead of short-term market reaction. Pacific Life invests in its employees through strong benefits, opportunities to grow and stretch in your career, and access to cutting-edge technology. And it feels great to work for an ethical company that offers products that benefit society.
 

How would you describe the culture of your team and office?

The Model Steward team has a reputation as being one of the friendliest teams in the company. This culture of friendliness is essential because at times we are forced to say “no” to risky and non-scalable processes in our governance capacity. Rather than having a combative posture in these situations, our team culture fosters a collaborative and supportive stance to improve processes and solve problems. I love our team culture!

The Enterprise Modeling team is collaborative and supportive – everyone is eager to share their knowledge and upskill the rest of the team. We have regular cross-training sessions – recently a colleague gave an excellent overview of the Asset Liability Strategy (ALS) Library in Prophet that was the clearest explanation of that confusing library I had ever heard. Whether it’s Prophet, Python, or Product knowledge, the Enterprise Modeling team is full of people excited to share what they’ve learned.