Double credentialed actuaries

[regan842967]

How common are actuaries that are both FSA and FCAS? I'm still in college and have never had an internship, so I have no clue.

[Brad Gile]

Originally Posted by regan842967

How common are actuaries that are both FSA and FCAS? I'm still in college and have never had an internship, so I have no clue.

A search of the SOA membership directory reveals that there are, at present, 31 such illustrious individuals.

Edit to add: When I started in 1969, the number of double fellows was pretty close to the current 31. These people, several of whom I know, are rare gems.

Brad

[Buru Buru]

Originally Posted by regan842967

How common are actuaries that are both FSA and FCAS? I'm still in college and have never had an internship, so I have no clue.

I'm guessng that it is very rare, but I think that there might have been a few people who have both on the AO. The person would most likely have extensive experience in either the SOA or CAS side and then decide to switch to the other and take more exams in order to get credentialled on that side. It seems highly unlikely that someone would want to torture themselves like that, especially since the 2 designations are kind of mutually exclusive in their value to most jobs.

[Buru Buru]

Originally Posted by Brad Gile

A search of the SOA membership directory reveals that there are, at present, 31 such illustrious individuals.

Edit to add: When I started in 1969, the number of double fellows was pretty close to the current 31. These people, several of whom I know, are rare gems.

Brad

Yeah, what Brad said. I was composing my answer while Brad beat me to posting.

[Westley]

Originally Posted by Buru Buru

especially since the 2 designations are kind of mutually exclusive in their value to most jobs.

Important point. Many aggressive young college grads want to be doubled, just cause it sounds cool. Very little practical value, usually.

[Wag, the Dog]

Originally Posted by Brad Gile

A search of the SOA membership directory reveals that there are, at present, 31 such illustrious individuals.

Edit to add: When I started in 1969, the number of double fellows was pretty close to the current 31. These people, several of whom I know, are rare gems.

Brad

and only 26 of them have been officially diagnosed with OCD.

[regan842967]

Originally Posted by Westley

Important point. Many aggressive young college grads want to be doubled, just cause it sounds cool. Very little practical value, usually.

This is actually more or less what I was thinking. So would it be accurate to say most of these guys have switched to P&C after becoming an FSA, and vice versa? I don't know why else anybody would put themselves through such exam torture. I mean, I plan on eventually having a life as an actuary.

[JTBenson]

I am currently pursuing my FSA. I received my FCAS 5 years ago. I currently work in both areas. I started out in P&C, switched to Group, went back to P&C and now am working in both L&H and P&C.

If I passed 8G, I will have only one exam left (FAP #1). And yes, I am crazy. No, I don't have OCD. Why am I doing it? Combination of personal and professional reasons.

[Maine-iac]

It's not that common, because it's only useful in certain limited circumstances. I did it because I switched from health to P&C. I went to work for a P&C company with no actuarial staff prior to my hiring, so I needed a disciplined way to insure that I was up to speed on the P&C side of things, since no P&C mentors were available. The exams seemed the best way to do it.

And no, I don't have OCD either.

[Salzmann]

I know 3 of them in addition to Maine-iac. I worked for one who came into the company as an A&H actuary but migrated to working on other lines of business, so he decided to take the CAS exams. He spent the rest of his career in P&C and is now retired. The other 2 were FSAs first but now work in the P&C area.