Missing the FAC deadline by a few days

[8V boy]

I sent my Executed plan to be approved early in August. (7 PD credits had to be approved!)

I received a response from the SOA on October 1, 2007 saying that I was approved (shocking!)

A few days earlier, the SOA closed the registration for the November FAC.

Now I have to wait FIVE whole months before getting my designation which to me is not acceptable...

I'm thinking of writing a letter to the SOA to suggest a late December session.

I'm just wondering if anyone is in a similar situation. Let me know.

[Marian]

I would suggest asking to be put on the waiting list for the November FAC. Sometimes people have to postpone for variety of reasons. You could take one of those slots.

[persephone_ashes]

I sent my Executed plan to be approved early in August. (7 PD credits had to be approved!)

I received a response from the SOA on October 1, 2007 saying that I was approved (shocking!)

A few days earlier, the SOA closed the registration for the November FAC.

Now I have to wait FIVE whole months before getting my designation which to me is not acceptable...

I'm thinking of writing a letter to the SOA to suggest a late December session.

I'm just wondering if anyone is in a similar situation. Let me know.

late december? come on, enjoy the holidays and let others do so as well.

[SANDS]

Your circumstances are definitely unfortunate. It's on what side of the fence you are on.

For those who are still waiting on approval or still completing the PD, we are on the other side of the fence just happy about the ability to get PD approval.

I definitely would ask. There could be a situation if people ask that a December may not open up, but a FAC before March could.

The Society plans 4 facs a year, one per quarter.
I believe in order to keep the quality of the FAC up, they need time to prepare and blocks of hotel rooms must be set up in advance. Additionally, they are adding new requirements for the fac in 2008. So I see their viewpoint.

However, with the October 31, deadline approaching, I cannot even imagine how many FSAs will be approved in the next 4 months.

I would ask and see what they say.

[3rookie]

However, with the October 31, deadline approaching, I cannot even imagine how many FSAs will be approved in the next 4 months.I think that most people who needed PD as their final requirement got it done in time to go to a 2007 FAC. The extra day + presentation at the new FAC, along with waiting until March 2008 was enough motivation. I can understand how those who needed to wait until passing course 8 last fall (or this year's course 7) before starting PD might not have finished yet.

I await the crashing wave of counter-examples. :popcorn:

[SANDS]

my thoughts are that those in the pension field, needed to take EA exams in the spring. Plus I have lot of work responsibilities.

If I was in the insurance industry, I would have finished by now. as all spring would have been free........ I noticed a lot of posts from actuaries in the insurance industry who would not have had an exam in the spring

I absolutely was not free in the spring, in any way shape or form to complete PD.

others are waiting for PEC Requirements etc..., November EA exams etc

[3rookie]

Good point. Pensions don't exist in my little world. :danim:

[YinYang]

I await the crashing wave of counter-examples. :popcorn:[/QUOTE]


I sent my PD in early Aug & received my approval 1 week after the Nov FAC was closed. I'm pretty bummed that I have to wait until next March, but feel like I deserve it. It took me over 1 1/2 years to complete the project. If I waited this long, I can wait another few months. I know several people who were almost as lazy as me, I think the March 2008 FAC will be well attended.

[asdfasdf]

I sent my Executed plan to be approved early in August. (7 PD credits had to be approved!)

I received a response from the SOA on October 1, 2007 saying that I was approved (shocking!)

A few days earlier, the SOA closed the registration for the November FAC.

Now I have to wait FIVE whole months before getting my designation which to me is not acceptable...

I'm thinking of writing a letter to the SOA to suggest a late December session.

I'm just wondering if anyone is in a similar situation. Let me know.

My understanding was that the Septmber Atlanta session this year was alreay offered as overflow, best case they'll offer the next FAC a little earlier next year, perhaps February. The problem with that is I doubt they've really finalized the format of the new FAC, long story short don't let us stop you from writing the letter, also don't expect to see any action from it.

(And on the plus side, you're done, the longer you wait to get your letter the longer someone else has to sign things)

[8V boy]

I sent my PD in early Aug & received my approval 1 week after the Nov FAC was closed. I'm pretty bummed that I have to wait until next March, but feel like I deserve it. It took me over 1 1/2 years to complete the project. If I waited this long, I can wait another few months. I know several people who were almost as lazy as me, I think the March 2008 FAC will be well attended.

I know I was a bit lazy and I partially deserve what is happening...

My understanding was that the Septmber Atlanta session this year was alreay offered as overflow, best case they'll offer the next FAC a little earlier next year, perhaps February. The problem with that is I doubt they've really finalized the format of the new FAC, long story short don't let us stop you from writing the letter, also don't expect to see any action from it.

(And on the plus side, you're done, the longer you wait to get your letter the longer someone else has to sign things)

Well, I don't need to sign anything at my work.. the more I have to wait... the more the milestone bonus and raise have to wait...

[nkchench]

when I asked whether there's an opportunity to attend Nov FAC, the FAC's Reply:

Registration for the FAC session in November is now closed and all spaces are filled. At this time, there are no plans for another FAC session in 2007. The next FAC session will be in the first quarter of 2008 with scheduling information to be announced at a future date. Candidates who are eligible to attend a future FAC session will be contacted once the 2008 course schedule is complete.


so, we can suggest that they offer another FAC session in 2007 if all of us write mail to them?

[asdfasdf]

You can suggest they give you a cheque for a million dollars, that doesn't mean anything is going to happen

[toastmaster]

first quarter of 2008 with scheduling information to be announced at a future date.

i would guess that the scheduling information barely makes the 1st quarter deadline and that the first FAC is 3 months behind the original prediction. some people are going to be lucky if they get their FSA by June.

[toastmaster]

It is awesome to see the SOA reward everyone that worked under the 2000 system. We actually had to take a Course 5 and Course 6 instead of a joke of an exam. Let's face it. We completed our exam process JUST BEFORE the implemenation of policies that will reduce travel time like never before.

Kind of makes the whole thing a little anti-climactic. How much longer until an FSA comes with a box of Fruit Loops?

[SANDS]

When people "discuss" their FSA, note that pre-2000 candidates had to take about 26 exams to get their FSAs and many in the consulting world did not get the luxury of the study time provided to candidates today, nor seminars, nor internet knowledge.

No need to bring additional suffering to future FSAs but really an awareness that travel times are not fair to be compared between different phase ins.

[Milhouse]

I think that most people who needed PD as their final requirement got it done in time to go to a 2007 FAC. The extra day + presentation at the new FAC, along with waiting until March 2008 was enough motivation. I can understand how those who needed to wait until passing course 8 last fall (or this year's course 7) before starting PD might not have finished yet.

I await the crashing wave of counter-examples. :popcorn:

So usually I'm on top of these sorts of things, but what changes are being made to the FAC? I couldn't find any information in a brief search of the AO or through the SOA's website. Any help or links or other info would be appreciated.

[FattyMcGee]

It is awesome to see the SOA reward everyone that worked under the 2000 system. We actually had to take a Course 5 and Course 6 instead of a joke of an exam. Let's face it. We completed our exam process JUST BEFORE the implemenation of policies that will reduce travel time like never before.

Kind of makes the whole thing a little anti-climactic. How much longer until an FSA comes with a box of Fruit FROOT Loops?
IFYCereal

[3rookie]

So usually I'm on top of these sorts of things, but what changes are being made to the FAC? I couldn't find any information in a brief search of the AO or through the SOA's website. Any help or links or other info would be appreciated.Sorry, no link. But the 2008 FAC is scheduled to be a 2 1/2 day event, which includes a presentation piece. There probably is not a separate thread discussing this, rather it should be found in SOA documents explaining the exam transition.

[bdschobel]

I definitely would ask. There could be a situation if people ask that a December may not open up, but a FAC before March could. The Society plans 4 facs a year, one per quarter. I believe in order to keep the quality of the FAC up, they need time to prepare and blocks of hotel rooms must be set up in advance. Additionally, they are adding new requirements for the fac in 2008. So I see their viewpoint. However, with the October 31, deadline approaching, I cannot even imagine how many FSAs will be approved in the next 4 months....The November FAC will be the largest ever. No more room. We cannot and won't even try to have a December FAC (holidays and all). Depending on how many people complete PD and become eligible to attend a FAC (perhaps as many as 400 people!), we'll decide if adding FACs in 2008 is necessary. Right now, the next one after November is scheduled for March 2008, but that could change. Incidentally, we'll do five FACs in 2007.

Bruce

[Milhouse]

Sorry, no link. But the 2008 FAC is scheduled to be a 2 1/2 day event, which includes a presentation piece. There probably is not a separate thread discussing this, rather it should be found in SOA documents explaining the exam transition.

Thanks. I did find a brief mention of it here in the July 2006 Redesign Update:

http://www.soa.org/education/education-redesign/edu-education-redesign-detail.aspx

"Starting in November 2007, the Fellowship Admissions Course will be expanded to 2.5 days to accommodate a session on presentation skills, including presentations by each FSA candidate."

[3rookie]

Thanks. I did find a brief mention of it here in the July 2006 Redesign Update:

http://www.soa.org/education/education-redesign/edu-education-redesign-detail.aspx

"Starting in November 2007, the Fellowship Admissions Course will be expanded to 2.5 days to accommodate a session on presentation skills, including presentations by each FSA candidate."The only difference now is Nov 2007 FAC will be the "old" FAC.