8I

[mayreeh]

I'm wondering how many others out there are already studying for 8I?

I'm halfway through the material and really fed up with Actex. Are there any other manuals out there now? I'm not talking about beginwork.net.... if it isn't out there today, it doesn't help me today. I'll be through all the material already with my own outline if I have to wait until July to get a manual.

Anyone out there like Dixie Chick who has stellar course 8 study notes that they would be willing to sell?

Someone has to put Actex out of business. :evil:

[GadgetGeek]

I'm plodding my way through the section D stuff (working backwards as I've started studying for this in 2000 and 2001, but started too late and got my refund). As I recall from 2000, Actex stunk. They just took bits and pieces of the old 300 & 400 level exam manuals and stuck them together. Some stuff was missing and some stuff wasn't even on the silly-bus. I decided to do my own outline, despite the horrendous amount of time it is taking. I've toyed with the idea of seeing if others want to work together on an "open-source" study guide.
The early start is a bit of a gamble, but with a 2 year old helping daddy study, it is a gamble I feel I need to make.

[actuary vixen]

Am I the only one not studying yet? I was going to study when they finalize the syllabus. I didn't want to order all the books only to find out that some of them aren't on it. My company might get mad. I really want to start studying!!!!

Any studying tips? This would be my first time taking it. Any help would be appreciated.

:wink:

[Healey]

Don't wait. The Atkinson book will be on there for sure since the SOA publishes it and makes a lot of $ from it. There is way too much material on this exam to wait. I passed it last year. YEA!!!!!!!
Me wise magic.

[Actuarybert]

I took 8I in 2001, and I agree that the Actex leaves something to be desired. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any better study manuals. I mainly just relied on my own outline. Writing the outline took quite a bit of time, but it definitely helped me to learn the material better.

As far as study tips, I would recommend starting early--there's a lot of material on this exam. Also, try to think about how the material applies to your company or your job. It's a lot easier to understand and remember the material if you can relate it to something that you do in real life.

[GadgetGeek]

Actuarial Vixen was concerned about ordering books that might not be on the silly-bus. There is quite a bit of stuff and can be hunted down from other sources, like ASPs, TSAs and some CIA notes.

[FSA Bound]

I am about 35% of the way through the material reading and taking notes. I am using the Actex by default as a guide. I have tried to stick with the Kotler, A&D, and Marketing for Actuaries books hoping that they will remain on the syllabus. Unfortunately, I now have to decide which notes to start reading. I may read the 3 reserve notes. That will probably take me to the release of the final syllabus. Other than that, I'm just glad to be on this pace and not having to cram for Course 6 in a week or so.

[GadgetGeek]

A link was posted yesterday to sharpwaterloo.com showing what may be the updated silly-bus. Comparing the seminar topic breakdown against the previous silly-bus (if I did it right), it looks like three ASPs are updated, nothing deleted and a new CIA note. All this is assuming that what sharp is posting is correct.

[mayreeh]

I'm just curious.... Am I the only one out there trying to pass this exam without any company sponsored study time?

[GadgetGeek]

Official Silly-bus is out on SOA website. Looks like 1 deletions (CIA - PADS), 1 reduction (less pages on CIA Dyn Cap Adeq test), and two additions, ASP 37 and CIA SOP - Valution of Liabilities.

As for getting study time, we get some, the question is whether or not it works out to take it. With continual downsizing, it becomes harder and harder to get my normal work done and study.

[Me]

Wow, you're on exam 8 and you don't get study time? I think I get 150 hours. (I'm at an insurance company.)

[mayreeh]

"Actuarial students" get study time. "Career ASA's" don't get study time. Never mind that as a "career ASA" I am taking exams and passing.

Bottom line is that I get paid more, I get a bonus, in return for which, I have to study on my own time.

Not really that bad. I study with a lot more dedication now than I ever did in the student program.