What's wrong with this profession

[Westley]

Originally Posted by BigMactuary,

Some of you suggested I look for a different profession. It woud take going back to college, whereas to get into this profession all it takes is one exam. You tell me you see nothing wrong with this!

I see nothing wrong with this. At least, not with respect to our profession - I can't comment for other professions.

[Westley]

Originally Posted by BigMactuary,

However your boss does care if you do pass exams because now you are a credentialed actuary from SOA and he/she never got beyond course 3. So now you'd be in trouble for showing promise.
.....
The consulting world has different rules. You take couple exams and thats it, literally. You tell me you see nothing wrong with this.

This is not how insurance consulting works - only pension consulting, if that. In fact, I find it hard to believe that even pension consulting works this way in general. I would have to guess that if your boss is intimidated by somebody that has credentials, he is in the minority.

[paranoid]

I'm sure this is true in some firms. I don't think it's universal. I certainly don't think exams are as critical to success as in a consulting firm, but at least where I'm at, the career path for someone who stops taking exams is much more limited than that of someone with letters.

[Cammy]

Originally Posted by BigMactuary,

Some of you suggested I look for a different profession. It woud take going back to college, whereas to get into this profession all it takes is one exam. You tell me you see nothing wrong with this!

A different profession does not require someone to go back to college. Then again, you are taking a personal and particular situation and generalizing it.

[FSAwannabe]

Originally Posted by BigMactuary,

Some of you suggested I look for a different profession. It woud take going back to college, whereas to get into this profession all it takes is one exam. You tell me you see nothing wrong with this!

Being that you don't want to go back to college I would suggest you run for president. But then again according to your standards being president is automatically a bad profession since you don't need even one exam to be elected (seems even worse than actuary).

Every profession has their required backgrounds, educations, skill sets etc.. Some are exam validated and some are validated in other ways. In the long run, if you are suited for that profession you will succeed if you aren't you will be weeded out. The degree of difficulty in entering the profession is not a valid indicator to the quality of the profession.

[The Drunken Actuary]

Originally Posted by oscar peterson

I imagine that one can not pass actuarial exams hungover.

I resemble that remark!

Regarding the rest of this topic: Are you people really concerned about this? Big Mac is all worked up because a couple biology majors he knows are planning to quit the actuarial profession when the economy gets better. This is really just too funny.

[oscar peterson]

So, BigM -- Have any of your views changed? Just curious...Take care.....

[oscar peterson]

You lack the energy to spar because you are hungover. Now go have a drink and come back once the DTs have passed.....Yeah, I mean, its amazing how pile-tackling takes place for what is, apparently, such a easily-contested viewpoint. Anyone out there agree with BigM?

[The Drunken Actuary]

Originally Posted by oscar peterson

You lack the energy to spar because you are hungover. Now go have a drink and come back once the DTs have passed.....Yeah, I mean, its amazing how pile-tackling takes place for what is, apparently, such a easily-contested viewpoint. Anyone out there agree with BigM?

I edited my post because I found the energy.

Anyone that agrees with BM probably got scared off.

[oscar peterson]

save one for me.........