N. Shane Leib, FSA, MAAA
Actuary
Noblesville, IN
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Whether untangling a complex actuarial problem or navigating a trail through the woods, Shane enjoys finding a clear path forward. An avid backpacker, he has almost covered 1000 miles of the Appalachian Trail. He also spends plenty of time on the golf course, which means you can sometimes find him in the woods for an entirely different reason, looking for his ball.

Professionally, Shane is an Associate Teaching Professor and Director of Actuarial Science at the University of Notre Dame, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate actuarial courses and leads the university’s actuarial science program. His focus is on preparing actuaries with the technical skill to solve difficult problems and the soul to understand why they matter, with a little inspiration from Touchdown Jesus along the way. He also maintains an independent actuarial consulting practice focused on deferred and indexed annuities, including valuation, modeling, and regulatory matters.

Prior to joining Notre Dame, Shane spent more than 25 years in the insurance and actuarial technology industries, including thirteen years with GGY and Moody’s Analytics and leadership roles with Guggenheim and Forethought. His career has focused particularly on annuities, actuarial modeling, risk management, and using technology to bring clarity to complex financial problems.

Shane is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Council on Gift Annuities and as the organization’s actuary, contributing to its Rates and Regulatory and Strategic Committees. He earned two Bachelor of Science degrees from Indiana State University, one in Mathematics and one in Management Information Systems, along with a minor in Insurance, graduating magna cum laude.

Fun Facts About Shane

When did you secure your first charitable gift annuity?

I haven’t!? My role in the gift annuity world is a little different. I came to charitable gift annuities as an actuary, so I’m usually on the side of making sure the math works so that others can secure them. 

If your life had a tagline, what would it be?

Find a clear path forward, even when it isn’t the shortest route.

Whether it’s an actuarial problem, a trail through the woods, or an errant golf shot, the path forward isn’t always obvious or direct. I’ve learned that the shortest path isn’t always the best one, and that figuring it out along the way is often the most interesting part. Some of the best places I’ve ended up were never on the original route.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Taking something complicated and making it understandable. Whether I’m working with a client or teaching a student, I enjoy the moment when a difficult problem finally clicks and something that seemed overwhelming suddenly makes sense.

What is your favorite way to get in some exercise?  

Fitness for me is less about any one activity and more about staying capable enough to keep doing interesting things  I enjoy hiking and backpacking, especially when there’s a destination at the end of the day. I also enjoy strength training, wakeboarding, martial arts, cycling, running, and golf.