Do you regret

[what the !@#$]

Originally Posted by Westley

...the net present value of payment of $1 for each of the next three years at 5% interest...

is that beginning of year or end of year payments?


In all seriousness...I don't exactly regret my decision to be in this career. There are other things I would enjoy doing but they certainly don't pay as well. Not that the pay is that phenominal, but it is good compared to some of my friends in other industries.

No doubt about it - the exams suck! once you get past them, which could be a couple years or more than ten years, you can enjoy life a little bit more. And as you progress in your career, you will find yourself doing less crunching and more managing, and hopefully, a little less stress too!

I am definitely an outgoing and talkative person. I found that in consulting, I can have a decent mix of the number crunching and the people interaction. You just need to speak up and let it be known what you would like, otherwise, it could be easy to be stuck behind your computer every day. In any case, hopefully, you will have great coworkers to play with every day...gossip, rubber band fights, paper ball games, etc etc etc.

GOOD LUCK whatever you decide to do!!

[mayreeh]

I was a PhD student about to start my thesis when I decided to drop out of the grad school game and try actuarial work.

Someone somewhere along the way gave me a piece of advice: to enjoy a career, you have to enjoy the people you would be working with. What I realized is that I really didn't like most of my professors and hardly any of my fellow students. When I interviewed with some actuaries to see what their jobs were like, I really liked them. They were real people with real interests. They seemed to enjoy what they did. (Of course, they had all volunteered to speak with students interested in the field, so one would assume that they liked what they did.)

Thirteen years later, I like being an actuary and have no regrets.

However, when I was leaving school, one of my professors tried to talk me out of being an actuary. He thought I should stick with the PhD route. Another professor pulled me aside and said "You are doing something that no one on the faculty has the guts to do. You are leaving the halls of academia to try out the real world. You can always come back if you want to. But go out there and give it a try. You may just find that you like it."

I'm not sure I would have tried it if he hadn't given me that speech - but he was right, I could always go back. I just found when I got my first job that I kind of liked what I did. Not as theoretical as what I did in school, but ENFP's make really good business people.....

[1SQ]

I think the profession itself offers many challenges and opportunities that go way beyond number crunching. The information we provide to management is invaluable in the decision making process. That said, do I regret entering the profession, yes. While I personally would like to earn the FCAS designation, I keep coming back to this: were the sacrifices endured by me and my family worth getting the ACAS? and no matter how many ways I look at it, the answer is always no.

Don't get me wrong, the profession is a noble one and I believe the CAS is filled with very talented individuals. Can you be just as successful doing something else? I think so.

[Wigmeister General]

Until very recently, I regretted becoming an actuary. Two things made it all worthwhile:

1. Working overseas, making beaucoup bucks virtually tax free, and living it up. )

2. The Rebel Forum, where I can bust on whomever I choose. (Of course, the downside is others bust on me. )

[Roasted Almond]

No regrets here, It seems like the common problem with those who regret to become an Actuary is the amount of personal & Family sacrifice that they needed to put into passing exams.

IMHO, its a wonderful profession IF you've started early, pass these darn exams as soon as you can, whenever you can (Atleast get through 1-4 while in college, if you know you are going to become an Actuary). Family responsibilities, kids, and all other factors do creep-in as one gets old. Ofcourse, there are exceptional cases who become Fellows in their 40 and 50's but I think they are more disciplined people than me :P

That being said, just mentioning that the above post reflects my own view of the field & you may find my views as useless as crap!

[The Drunken Actuary]

Originally Posted by Roasted Almond

(Atleast get through 1-4 while in college, if you know you are going to become an Actuary).

At least 1-4 in college? That calls for a poll.

[act777]

I think it would be hard to find a job if you have four exams coming out of college. They don't want to pay a four exam salary for someone with no experience.

[ExamHater]

Originally Posted by act777

I think it would be hard to find a job if you have four exams coming out of college. They don't want to pay a four exam salary for someone with no experience.

My company solved this problem by offering all college grads the same salary regardless of # of exams passed

[Wigmeister General]

Originally Posted by Roasted Almond

No regrets here, It seems like the common problem with those who regret to become an Actuary is the amount of personal & Family sacrifice that they needed to put into passing exams.

IMHO, its a wonderful profession IF you've started early, pass these darn exams as soon as you can, whenever you can (Atleast get through 1-4 while in college, if you know you are going to become an Actuary). Family responsibilities, kids, and all other factors do creep-in as one gets old. Ofcourse, there are exceptional cases who become Fellows in their 40 and 50's but I think they are more disciplined people than me :P

That being said, just mentioning that the above post reflects my own view of the field & you may find my views as useless as crap!

In courtesy to Drunken Actuary, this is one of the stupidest things I've ever read.

[Roasted Almond]

act777 wrote:

They don't want to pay a four exam salary for someone with no experience.

I didn't say that such candidates should look for a comparable salary with someone having 4 exams and same yrs of experience. They should start with and aim for an entry-level position. My post was not for those looking for bucks initially in their career (remember salary becomes comparable as soon as the skill level matches the number of exams) Infact, I meant to respond to those talking about personal and family dedication towards passing exams.

I think it would be hard to find a job if you have four exams coming out of college.

I don't think, unless the candidate is looking for a comparable salary that I just mentioned above. They person hiring you must know that they are investing MUCH less in you in terms of study time, seminars, exam materials etc. You will hopefully be an Associate after few years and will be in a great position to help your employer at that point. A fresh graduate with 1 exam under his belt sounds risky, as so many candidates at this level never make it thorugh. In b/w, 1-4 is NOT that un-common in Canada

Atleast for me, Its better not to study in my late 20's and early 30's than looking for money initially in my career.

The Drunken Actuary wrote

At least 1-4 in college? That calls for a poll.

Yup, the poll should also ask the Actuaries who "regret" being an Actuary.....Would they go for 1-4 in college if they have to do it again?

Ludwig Von Beethoven III wrote
In courtesy to Drunken Actuary, this is one of the stupidest things I've ever read.

You probably havn't read the last para- its my own personal view which may or may not be applicable to others, I think you should start readings the posts more carefully now, before replying