Ken Fikes' CAS 6 Study Manual

[FatActuary]

Originally Posted by a lost fly

Sorry to nag for the next thing, but can we expect the Reinsurance study guide anytime soon?

Yeah, I have been going back and redoing the reserving sections again since none of the Reinsurance, Reinsurance Accounting or ERM sections are completed.
[rant]

It is a little frustrating that we have to wait for him to "complete" the study guide. Normally when you order a study guide, it is made clear to you how long you have to wait to receive it. I was shocked when I read in the most recent blog that the plan is to have everything completed by September 21st!!! WTF?!?! So our only guarantee is that we will receive all the material at least 5.5 weeks before the exam. I love the way he writes stuff up and the study guide is great, but it is not like the stuff is cheap. Some of us did pay for this out of our own pocket. Maybe it should be provided on a pay as you he goes system. They should charge us in proportion to the amount of material that is actually provided.

What is most frustrating for me personnally, is I bought this manual and study aid specifically for the Reinsurance and ERM sections. This is the area that I felt like I needed the most help with and it does not look like I will be receiving this information in a timely manner.
[/rant]

That being said, I will go back to loving the manual and following in lockstep with all other RF'ers.

[Smooth Verona]

Sorry for the pain. I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day. I plan on working on manuals all of next week to get things out there. Though I had a lot more ready for Part 6 than Part 5 when the sitting started, I am finding that 6 is taking me a lot longer.

All I can promise you is that I'm working a lot of hours, 7 days a week. Taping lessons takes me a really long time, but I'm trying to get quality material out as quickly as possible.

Ken

[GosuJohn]

Originally Posted by FatActuary

Yeah, I have been going back and redoing the reserving sections again since none of the Reinsurance, Reinsurance Accounting or ERM sections are completed.
[rant]

The study plan seems fine to me. I just completed Wiser.

[Commander Keen]

Originally Posted by GosuJohn

The study plan seems fine to me. I just completed Wiser.

Yeah, but you're different than everyone else. And if you're serious, you're not going to finish.

[FatActuary]

Originally Posted by GosuJohn

The study plan seems fine to me. I just completed Wiser.

The Infinite Actuary study Plan is great and I would love to keep with it. My only problem is that you cannot stick with the published study plan since the information has not been made available.



I am basing my timing of the weeks on the following comments in the syllabus:

Originally Posted by TIA

This is how I would attack it if starting the first week of July. So I would say that if you can get through Section A by the end of July, you would
be in really good shape.

Outline from the same PDF

Originally Posted by TIA

Weeks 1-5 (7/1-8/4)
Section A Actuarial Reserves

Week 6 (8/5-8/11)
Blanchard Accounting
Blanchard Premium
Myhr and Markham
FAS 5
FIN 14
FAS 60

Week 7 (8/12-8/18)
IASA
FAS 113
CAS VFIC
IFRS 4 Standard
IFRS 4 Basis

Week 8 (8/19-8/25)
Harrison
Clark

Week 9 (8/26-9/1)
Ludwig
Patrik
Steeneck

Week 10 (9/2-9/13)
DFA
CAS ERM
Slywotzky and Drzik

I assumed when I read this stuff prior to purchasing, that it meant that the video and the Manual would be available for review at least by the scheduled week. After stuff started moving slowly, I lowered my expectations to just having the manuals available in time for the given scheduled week of review. However, that has not happened either. We are now in middle of week eight and only the two smallest papers for week seven have manuals completed. That is not even mentioning the videos that are still back in the middle of week three.

Maybe I was mistaken, maybe the recommended study schedule was not meant to imply that the actual study aid would be made available to study at the given date. However, it would have been nice if that would have been states somewhere clearly on the website. You know something like:

We recommend reading this paper by week 2
Two week after that date, you might expect to receive the study manual associated with that paper.
One month after your initial reading, a video will be available to answer all your remaining questions.

If something like that would have been posted I would have known exactly what to expect and not be frustrated whatsoever.
Be that as it may, I am really happy with the product that I have received. Considering that a major aspect of this product is timing, I feel it has not the product that was promised.

[Bama Gambler]

FatActuary,

I am very sorry for your frustration. I wish there was more we could do, but Ken is honestly busting his butt to get quality stuff out. He is doing this full-time now. Murphy showed up about two weeks ago when Ken had some major computer trouble that set him back at least a week. Those are all fixed now and Ken is literally working around the clock to catch up.

Again I'm very sorry.
James

[FatActuary]

Originally Posted by Bama Gambler

FatActuary,

I am very sorry for your frustration. ....

Again I'm very sorry.
James

Apology accepted. I might have gotten a little carried away there...

[Bama Gambler]

Originally Posted by FatActuary

Apology accepted. I might have gotten a little carried away there...

Thank you! You certainly did not get carried away. Everyone at TIA has gone through the exam process. We know the exams are hard enough as is and the last thing you want to feel is frustrated with your primary study source.

We ran into a similar problem with CAS5 last sitting and we thought we learned from our mistakes. We convinced Ken to quit his job and do this full time. Plus he already had a good bit of the material done for CAS6. However, as I previously stated Murphy's Law struck again.

I sincerely believe by exam day you be completely satisfied with your choice of Ken's TIA online seminar. If you are not, then please let us know. We pride ourself in customer service.

Thanks again,
James

[GosuJohn]

Originally Posted by Commander Keen

Yeah, but you're different than everyone else. And if you're serious, you're not going to finish.

I have about the same amount of time I had for 5. I'll be fine.

[UCSDKID]

Originally Posted by Bama Gambler

Thank you! You certainly did not get carried away. Everyone at TIA has gone through the exam process. We know the exams are hard enough as is and the last thing you want to feel is frustrated with your primary study source.

We ran into a similar problem with CAS5 last sitting and we thought we learned from our mistakes. We convinced Ken to quit his job and do this full time. Plus he already had a good bit of the material done for CAS6. However, as I previously stated Murphy's Law struck again.

I sincerely believe by exam day you be completely satisfied with your choice of Ken's TIA online seminar. If you are not, then please let us know. We pride ourself in customer service.

Thanks again,
James

It is obvious that Ken is doing everything possible to complete the videos. In fact, it looks like he was scheduled to be the presenter for the reserving material at the Farmers Insurance Seminar but has canceled.

http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actu...ad.php?t=85339

By the way, I just registered yesterday for the online seminar. This is my first time using TIA (used ASM for first 4 exams). I must say that I am very pleased with the product. Keep up the good work guys!