Hey there! I’m Brea, an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA).
You probably found Etched Actuarial because you’re on the path to becoming an actuary. Or maybe you’re just considering the actuarial career and you’ve been doing some research.
Either way, I’m here to help! :)
Check out the links below for more information on the actuarial career, and how I can help you become successful in the actuarial field.
Hi! I'm really interested in trying to pursuit a career in actuary, however I have no past experience. I did maths when I was at school but never took it further, and I am currently in university in a completely different field (BSc Archaeology lol). With that being said, I am determined, so do you have any recommendations for textbooks, websites, youtube channels etc that could help me create a solid foundational maths and stats knowledge? I realise this is a big ask but your videos are really helpful!
I understand your concern. While a psychology degree is different, your success in actuarial science will depend more on your math skills, technical skills, and passing the exams. Many people have successfully made the switch. Exams are especially important since you are a non-actuarial degree holder. Therefore, I suggest that you still go through the proper process to make it easier for you to navigate your actuarial journey.
What’s the most important question you ask in an actuarial interview to make sure the company aligns with your work-life balance goals? Share your go-to queries or experiences!
I’m a long time educator with a psychology degree that’s done life and health insurance for 2.5 years and am now a Medicare advisor full time at All State. Want to stay in this industry but not in sales forever and have a strong desire/aptitude for data science or actuarial science. Just found your channel right now. Is it too late to make the transition having passed my mid 40s?
It sounds like you have a diverse background and a strong foundation to build on! It's never too late to transition into actuarial field, especially with your aptitude for data science. Many successful actuaries start later in life. Consider starting with the preliminary exams, and look into courses or certifications that can help bridge any knowledge gaps. Your experience in insurance and advising will definitely be an asset. Good luck on your journey!
I love your videos so much. They are so helpful. I wanted to get into these fields from a different career area after realizing I really enjoy this type of work. This helps me to see other areas out there that can help me transition. Also seeing how they are different helps me to really see where my goals align. Thank you so much for making the videos you do!
It's completely understandable to have concerns about AI. The good news is that the actuarial profession is evolving, not disappearing. Actuaries will always be needed for their analytical skills and expertise in assessing risk. AI can handle data, but human judgment is crucial for complex decision-making. Keep learning and adapting, and you'll be well-prepared for the future! :)
While a higher CGPA can be helpful, it's not the only factor employers consider. Focus on passing actuarial exams, gaining relevant experience, and developing strong analytical and communication skills. These can significantly improve your job prospects in the field. Keep working hard, and good luck!
Yes, you'll still be fine in university! If you're going to pursue a career as an actuary later on, you'll need a bachelor's degree. After that, you should complete all the necessary qualifications to secure an actuarial job. :)
I a m not a math teacher, but I always liked solving difficult math problems. I am a retired Firefighter/Paramedic. Most of the job required being a paramedic. One has to "think fast on their feet" i.e. quickly analyzing a 3 lead of 12 lead ECG on a patient to determine if they are having a heart attack (STEMI), or if a patient is in cardiac arrest, so that you can save their life. The skills that I learned on my own i.e quickly analyzing an ECG while in college, definitely translated to saving lives in the real world. Their are few things in life that one can do that are more gratifying than saving your fellow man/womans life.
Thank you for sharing. Your quick thinking and analytical skills in saving lives are truly inspiring. In actuarial field, we also use critical thinking and data analysis to solve complex problems and impact lives. Your experience highlights the value of these skills in any field. :)
Yes, actuaries are still in demand! :) You can watch this video to learn all the details and what you can do to become an in-demand candidate: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cWXEUOSZZFo.html
I like these teacher turned actuary examples because that's what I am doing and it is scary and slightly overwhelming but good to hear others doing it successfully and gives me that bit of inspiration and motivation to keep going!
I'm SO happy this was motivating for you! I totally understand feeling scared and overwhelmed about getting started, but I know you can do this. If you have any questions along the way, feel free to ask!! :) I'm rooting for you!
I have obtained my BSc in Actuarial Science, managed to land a job as a Business Intelligence Analyst(Yes, Power BI is used heavily). I want to be a Data Scientist/ Engineer in the end. Anyways, my guidance on the Power BI thing is to practice and with 1 year of experience I am still practicing. To be honest if you are coming from a non computing background then DAX may be your biggest challenge here, creating the visuals isn't difficult but creating the necessary measures required for certain required visuals may have you thinking for a while. Understanding row and filter context is also important. Udemy has some solid Power BI courses, I have personally taken courses created by Maven Analytics and Sean Chandler. Truth is it seem like most careers are getting more techy so you might even want to start learning some python. All the best guys.
Congratulations on clearing exams P and FM! Obtaining your bachelor's degree. Actuarial jobs often require more than just exam qualifications; they may also require specific skills or relevant experience. Consider gaining internships or relevant experience to complement your qualifications. But I'm just not sure about the process in India, you can reach out to your local actuarial organizations for guidance. :)
Another thing is that people who do pursue STEM degrees and have the math skills needed to become actuaries are going into data science, engineering, computer science, etc. I’m currently getting my associates in math and was planning on getting a bachelors in engineering but the engineering job market is so saturated and locally, an engineer with 5+ years of experience gets paid like 50-60k. Meanwhile, local actuary jobs are offering 110-167k for 5+ years of experience and only one actuary exam. For context, I’m in Southern California.
@@alexacosta2140 I have a degree in applied math and I am a commercial beekeeper. my farm can make like 120k a year and its nice living in a rural area. Its all an actuarial problem based on hive losses ,food consumption etc.
Even though tech jobs might not be as promising right now, the actuarial field is still thriving. Actuaries are essential in insurance, finance, and consulting because they are experts in analyzing risks and data. It's a stable career with good pay, ideal if you enjoy using math and stats to solve real-world challenges. Plus, the skills you gain in STEM will always be valuable. So, pursuing STEM degrees is a good idea if it’s what you truly want to do!
Hi! My expertise is with the actuarial environment in the US and Canada, so I'm not sure if it would be the same in India or not. I'd recommend checking with your local actuarial society to learn more. Sorry, I wish I could help more!
Definitely balance. I am a returning student, and parent, finishing my applied math degree at a UC. I'm taking probabilty but need to self study for FM
Balancing studies with parenting sounds challenging. So, I know that self-studying for FM alongside probability courses will be rewarding for your actuarial career. Best of luck with your studies!
Thanks you for this awesome content! And I have a question as well. i want to focus on casualty insurance in the future but i'm now starting to take examination of SOA from P and FM. Should i switch to taking exams of CAS now(there are still 2-3 years before i need to get a full-time job but I'm worried about whether it will affect my finding internship in casualty insurance company )
Thanks for your kind words! I understand your concern. It's great that you're already thinking ahead. Since you have a few years before you need a full-time job, you might consider switching to CAS exams if you're sure about focusing on casualty insurance. Employers in this field often prefer candidates with CAS exams. But, completing SOA exams won't hurt your chances for internships either, as they demonstrate your strong actuarial foundation. Go with what aligns best with your long-term goals. Good luck with your studies!
hey brea, i was looking at your article on actuarial science and why i shouldn't major in it and as i was sending this article to a friend i noticed that the embed link was strange. the image attached seemed to be of an email from someone named aaron, to you. just wondering, what exactly is that? i don''t see it anywhere in the article, and wanted to know whether it was meant to be attached. thanks!
Hey, thanks for reaching out! This was an old promo image, so we'll be updating it soon :) It's not specific to this article. I appreciate you letting me know!
If it is so hard, and doesnt pay as much as equally if not less hard like medical or banking, whats the attraction. Would it not be better to become a medic or investment banker? What makes the actuary so exciting vs those jobs that its worth so much wasted time resitting exams?
Many find the field exciting due to the unique blend of math, statistics, and business involved. Actuaries often enjoy solving complex problems, assessing risks, and making a significant impact on financial decision-making. If you love numbers and critical thinking, actuarial science can be very rewarding despite the tough exams. It's all about finding what you’re passionate about and what fits your skills best.
@@EtchedActuarial maybe right. Still, seems an easier life to get paid a fortune for swapping out old knees for artificial ones. And be nice to make peoples lives better while at it. Tricky one! Find your passion as you say!!
Are we going to talk about how a bunch of employers are using ai to go through resumes and by using key words you can brute force your resume to the top of the list by basically copy and pasting the job posting into your resume ? No?
Absolutely! This is a big issue with job hunting right now, but many employers have started using other tools to double-check for copy and pasting. I've added this to my list to make a future video on, so you can learn the best possible strategies!
Thanks for the video. I'm currently thinking of acturary, majoring Applied Mathematics and Stats . I think I'll double major with data science or economy. Which will be the better choice? And If I apply for double major, I'll have some busy schedule, so I want to prepare for Exam P , Fm before 2025 fall semester starts.(I want to have an intern jobs when semester ends from sophomore). Due to the placement exam, I got cal 1, 2 linear algebra waived.(Freshman now). Is this plan not a bad Idea? and from the sophomore spring semester, I'll start double majoring and interns or some extracurricular activities, so when I graduate, I'll have only two exams passed. Will it be okay?
A double major isn’t a bad idea! But I’m not sure if it’s your best option, especially if it’ll make your schedule busier. Your major is good on its own, and you’ll have more time for exams, internships, and extracurriculars! But at the end of the day, either option works. It just depends on what you prefer! :)
That's great enthusiasm! Taking Exam P as a high school senior is possible with solid math skills. Just make sure to review the syllabus thoroughly and practice past exam questions. Best of luck with your actuarial journey!
Studying for the exams is nothing, one chooses what they suffer for. The problem is seeing how despite passing 2 exams one is unable to land a single interview. Like, WHY.
Thanks for asking! I get why you're concerned. I believe ChatGPT creates problems based on common exam themes, so they should be pretty similar to what you'll see on the test. It's always good to double-check with your study materials, though.
