DP Roll Call

[Bühlmann]

2,000 pages baby! Oh yeah...:exams:

Count Bühlmann in for this one.

[cincinnatikid]

I've already got the books from CSP, so I guess I've got no good excuse not to. Count me in.

[Guy Smiley]

Sounds like fun....

[That Goblin]

I want to hurt myself.

[The Head Detective]

Aww what the heck! You talked me into it!

[Bühlmann]

Sweet, I gots my Final Assessment homies wit me for this one. So you are all health suckers too huh? :) Any of you work in Medicare?

[Sellout]

Wasn't sure what to do with all my time after CSP, thanks!

[Bühlmann]

Wasn't sure what to do with all my time after CSP, thanks!

haha...you went from not knowing to giving it all back to the SOA!

[The Head Detective]

So you are all health suckers too huh? :) Any of you work in Medicare?

Yep, I work in Health but I've only had a peripheral involvement with Medicare (not that big of a sucker :)).

[kriztofer]

I don't know what to think about this exam...

[So Tired]

Sounds like fun to me. I'll start studying Friday night after finishing up CSP.

[leslie]

2 days left for CSP and DP in Novemember.

[KnightsPG]

Count me in!

[That Goblin]

Where do I start?

[dec]

Where do I start?

Open your book and start reading :tup:

[Sweet Pea 11]

I'm in for DP in November...

...and Medicare bids in May!

[radix]

In for both.

[Guy Smiley]

Anybody know a good place to buy the Canadian Handbook of Flexible Benefits? All of the other books appear to be available on actuarialbookstore.com and actexmadriver.com, but not that one.

[dec]

Anybody know a good place to buy the Canadian Handbook of Flexible Benefits? All of the other books appear to be available on actuarialbookstore.com and actexmadriver.com, but not that one.

http://www.fgbooks.com/

[Rainson]

Anybody know a good place to buy the Canadian Handbook of Flexible Benefits? All of the other books appear to be available on actuarialbookstore.com and actexmadriver.com, but not that one.

I'd wait a bit on buying that one. The SOA received reprint permission from the author to include the chapter from that book that was on CSP as a study note. They may do the same for DP. That may be why the actuarial bookstore doesn't carry it.

[Bühlmann]

...and Medicare bids in May!


Can I cry on your shoulder? :(

[Tests]

Bids in June, DP on Nov 1, MAAA NAIC blanks seminar/exam Nov 5-8

[MarsLasar]

I'm in. But first I need to show up to the firing squad that is CSP on Friday. My chances of passing are slim to say the least.

Then I need to hammer out the Final Assessment.

I will be studying for DP starting in June I think. I am really glad I went through CSP this time (even if I don't pass). I have learned a great many lessons on my CSP shakedown. Written exams are far more different than I thought.

[JMCOOP]

Count me in for this one.
However, I was having trouble sleeping last night and a few pages reading about LTD took care of that. This is going to be a brutal six months.

[Bartlet4America]

Bids successfully removed me contention with CSP, but I plan on taking my vengeance on DP.

Any word on if CSP will ever be offered in the Fall session?

[wat?]

Any word on if CSP will ever be offered in the Fall session?

Probably not. Course 5, 6 & 8 were administered once a year throughout their lifetimes, mainly because of the time & effort it takes to come up with the questions for this exam.

[leslie]

I'm in. But first I need to show up to the firing squad that is CSP on Friday. My chances of passing are slim to say the least.

Then I need to hammer out the Final Assessment.

I will be studying for DP starting in June I think. I am really glad I went through CSP this time (even if I don't pass). I have learned a great many lessons on my CSP shakedown. Written exams are far more different than I thought.

I am on the same boat. I don't know how I am going to survive the full 6 hours knowing that I am going to fail. :( Howeve, I am glad that I have given it a try at the least.

[Golden Monkey]

I am in for the Nov DP. Plan to start reading from June 1st.

[Santa's Little Helper]

I'm in too. Yeah!

[ntcounts]

while this may be new to everyone (kind of) besides just looking at the study note and starting from the top and then just read, read, read is there any better plan of attack like

read books x and y and study note z first
then books a and b and study note c second etc...

or maybe a timeline in that if you start june 1 by mid july you should be through readings x, y, and z

i'm really just looking for any type of plan of attack beyond what i mentioned at the start of this so that i can give myself the best chance at this

also any info on what type of preparation is needed to a written exam or a link to another thread would be helpful... obviously it seems like you would need more of a general knowledge rather than a detailed account of everything, but just want to make sure that if i start with just read, read, read tactic that I am at least reading with the right frame of mind as far as comprehension is concerned...

when can we sign up for this?

[ntcounts]

i found rainson's at http://www.geocities.com/graspmanuals/StudyAides.html

this helps immensely!

does anyone know of any plans for a seminar? anyone have any preference on the actex flashcards vs. the MATE flash cards or other?

[Bühlmann]

I'll go to a seminar if there is a good one available. My thinking is that DP is less new than CSP material and so there's a better chance at a decent seminar cropping up.

[Swiper]

I see that The Infinite Actuary is going to have one, but the guy that is going to do it just got his ASA and MAAA in 2006. I don't know if I would be comfortable learning material from someone who hasn't even passed the exam yet (or it's equivalent - 8G, 8M?)

[Mare15]

I'm in. I'm still waiting for my FA results, but I'm pretty much planning on tackling this sucker in November. Good luck studying all!

[ntcounts]

I see that The Infinite Actuary is going to have one, but the guy that is going to do it just got his ASA and MAAA in 2006. I don't know if I would be comfortable learning material from someone who hasn't even passed the exam yet (or it's equivalent - 8G, 8M?)

not saying they don't have it, but would u mind posting a link to where this is?

[Swiper]

I saw it here, and asked who would be teaching it. I didn't see anything on their website yet.

http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/showthread.php?t=108155

[wat?]

I saw it here, and asked who would be teaching it. I didn't see anything on their website yet.

http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/showthread.php?t=108155

I'm going to assume you found his credentials in the SOA directory.

Are you sure he hasn't passed its equivalent? Not having your FSA is not proof that you haven't passed (or as usually is the case with manual writers, aced with a 10) a Course 8.

[dec]

Not having your FSA is not proof that you haven't passed (or as usually is the case with manual writers, aced with a 10) a Course 8.

Agreed. He could have the FAC left to get his FSA or other small pieces to be completed.

[Bühlmann]

I don't really care what grade they got on an exam. People who got 10's may or may not be good teachers and that's what I care about. If this dude is very experienced and is a knock 'em dead teacher, great. If not, forget about it.

I looked up his credentials and there is nothing there that suggests anything to me. He's the CEO of a company whose website has nothing to do with actuarial exams and contained an ad for Phoenix University. Not judging or anything, just saying that I much need more info before I sign up.

[saahu5]

I'm in for DP in November. I won't start studying until June, though, since I just took CSP last Friday and have to complete the FAP FA this month.

[Sgractuarius]

I'm in for DP. Waiting until June 11 to get rolling - might need a week of decompression after bids are due at 3am EST June 5th.

[Bartlet4America]

I'm in for DP. Waiting until June 11 to get rolling - might need a week of decompression after bids are due at 12am EST June 5th.

IFYP

Hopefully it won't matter. If it comes down to needing those three hours, just one week of decompression might not be enough.

[Gusstache]

IFYP

Hopefully it won't matter. If it comes down to needing those three hours, just one week of decompression might not be enough.

3 am EST is correct, isnt it? I thought bids are due at midnight west coast time. I'm in for DP. Just got my text books today. Ugh.

[Bühlmann]

Bids are due at 3am EDT (corresponding to midnight Pacific).

Just started reading for DP. Gonna be a long 5 months...

[cubedbee]

I'm in. :cry:

[Guy Smiley]

I'd wait a bit on buying that one. The SOA received reprint permission from the author to include the chapter from that book that was on CSP as a study note. They may do the same for DP. That may be why the actuarial bookstore doesn't carry it.

Does anyone else think it makes sense to wait? On CSP there was only 1 chapter from this book, but on DP there are quite a few. I rather think that they're not going to be able to remove the book from the syllabus (plus, the syllabus makes no mention of this possibility).

Also, what do people think about the fact that new editions of Group Health and of Individual Health Insurance are coming out in June? Does the SOA want us to have the new versions, or the old versions?

[cincinnatikid]

Also, what do people think about the fact that new editions of Group Health and of Individual Health Insurance are coming out in June? Does the SOA want us to have the new versions, or the old versions?

I checked the syllabus that was released, and chapter references on the readings (at least the Group Insurance text) appear to correspond to the current (4th) edition.

That doesn't mean that the SOA won't change the syllabus on a whim and ask a question about something that only appears in the new edition, but AS IT STANDS NOW it appears the new editions won't be on the Fall exam.

[Rainson]

Does anyone else think it makes sense to wait? On CSP there was only 1 chapter from this book, but on DP there are quite a few. I rather think that they're not going to be able to remove the book from the syllabus (plus, the syllabus makes no mention of this possibility).


That's a good point. With more than one chapter they may not include them as notes. I'll try emailing them and see if they know yet.

[Rainson]

I checked the syllabus that was released, and chapter references on the readings (at least the Group Insurance text) appear to correspond to the current (4th) edition.

That doesn't mean that the SOA won't change the syllabus on a whim and ask a question about something that only appears in the new edition, but AS IT STANDS NOW it appears the new editions won't be on the Fall exam.

I'm working on the manual based on the current 4th edition since, as you stated, the titles of the chapters listed on the syllabus correspond to that edition. I know when they went from the 3rd to 4th edition the numbering of the chapters changed. My guess is the same may occur with the 5th edition (e.g. Ch 4 in the 4th may be chapter 7 in the 5th). In that case, they would also need to change the syllabus to reference the new chapter numbers.

[Bühlmann]

A guy at my company emailed the SOA about the new editions. They said that they would look into it and update the syllabus with the pertinent editions in a week or so.
Any book that uses the phrase "Medicare + Choice" probably needs a new edition. :)

[The Head Detective]

They said that they would look into it and update the syllabus with the pertinent editions in a week or so.

As long as they release the update before Oct 28, that's cool with me. [/rimshot]

[markov]

hello everyone,

I will be taking the Group and Health Design and Pricing test in November with you. I'd like to be a part of the conversation about studying, notes, strategy, etc.

What does everyone think about this Infinite Actuary seminar that's being advertised here? Do we even have any other choices for a DP seminar? I haven't seen any.