Switch from Pension to ??????

[AC]

I have read comments that were posted in reply to Bobby's posting on the 'Switch from Pension to Insurance', and here is what I have to ask: is all insurance work boring or are there aspects of the work that are just as interesting and fast paced as pension consulting but don't require u to put your social life on hold?

I am thinking about changing jobs due to a long commute. The only actuarial work that I can find close to home is in an insurance company. My first job (an internship of 2 yrs) was for an insurance company, and I was bored out of my mind. When I graduated from college, the only job interviews I was interested in dealt with pension consulting. I have been working in the field for over two years and have passed the first two actuarial exams.

Any recommendations that anyone can offer would be very valuable.

[DW Simpson]

<small>Quote: is all insurance work boring or are there aspects of the work that are just as interesting and fast paced as pension consulting but don't require u to put your social life on hold?</small>

http://www.beanactuary.org/lifeonjob/ask/ includes some good examples of insurance actuaries doing interesting, fast-paced things, and most of them do work more regular hours.

I switched from Insurance to Pension becuase I needed a change but I've often wondered about going back. The hours were certainly better and it was much easier to get out and study. I'm more challenged in the consulting environment, but my exam progress has suffered at that expense. so depending on your goals at this point in your career, switching might work out well for you.

[The Mister]

<font size=2>Whenever I see a link to http://www.beanactuary.com, I read it as "Bean Actuary", like it's a kind of bean counter position, but you do the counting stochastically.

As a recruiter, that has handled searches in all areas of the actuarial profession, I don't think that you can make a generalization about which area is more interesting or challenging. It really depends on each opportunity, each company and most importantly each manager. If you were bored during your internships, your manager clearly wasn't giving you enough challenging work. That does not mean that challenging work could not have been assigned to you. Most actuaries do find their work challenging/interesting, regardless of field. Your goal is to shorten your commute and maintain a high level of responsiblity and challenge. I suggest that you explore all actuarial options that get you closer to home. Ask the right questions, however. Make sure that you feel comfortable with the expected responsibilities. You may be surprised.

[AC]

Thank you for your comments.

D.W.Simpson Webmaster, I did get some insightful information from the website u recommended, but it seems that the actuaries who offered their advice started in insurance and remained in insurance throughout their career. Am I missing something?

[AC]

Tom_Miller, I will try to keep an open mind in my next job search. Thank you.

[DW Simpson]

<small>Quote: it seems that the actuaries who offered their advice started in insurance and remained in insurance throughout their career. Am I missing something?</small>

Sorry, AC, I meant to point out that I was mentioning it more just as a good collection of examples of how insurance can be as 'interesting and fast paced as pension consulting', not that the quoted actuaries necessarily have a perspective on pension consulting versus insurance. - Claude

[Troy McClure]

On 2002-01-31 14:43, The Mister wrote:
<font size=2>Whenever I see a link to http://www.beanactuary.com, I read it as "Bean Actuary", like it's a kind of bean counter position, but you do the counting stochastically.

Agreed! You would think they could have seen that and picked something else!

[Elisha]

I wonder if we could get Claude and Tom Miller to start fighting each other for our attention.