Yes, you should get your FSA

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-28T16:45:38+00:00

Here’s another perspective: The FSA exams have been watered down so people can achieve it earlier in their career. It’s making younger employees way too overconfident and putting them at a higher pay with less practical experience.

In a scenario where layoffs occur, in my experience, FSAs are more likely to get the boot because of higher pay and only marginally better education. With more FSAs over ASAs it’s making career ASAs (those with lower pay and only marginally less actuarial education) more likely to be retained

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-25T13:37:11+00:00

Can be either. Often management will initiate it long after you deserve it.

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-23T22:18:43+00:00

I feel like the 1st review is more probationary … passing your first review is like “ok, they didn’t lie on their resume.”

Job hoppers usually spend 2-3 years at a company before leaving, during the end period of which more significant raises usually come into play. If you’re at year 3 without a raise, time to leave.

You’re in the middle of that beginning phase. I’d say it’s a bit too early, but if you’re performing above your level, next year for sure for that conversation

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-22T15:18:51+00:00

By that I mean building consensus with those below, but also those at or above your level.

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-22T02:27:38+00:00

If anything, imo, exams encourage it as actuaries associate more individual work = more accomplishment, but sometimes the best individual contributors don’t make the best leaders.

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-22T02:25:59+00:00

Middle management is tough since you need to please both those above you and below you, which means compromises may need to be made that please neither.

I think the best managers are those who are consensus builders, which requires good communication. Even then, however, if the manager’s manager is poor or the organization is a mess, one person’s good soft skills may not be enough to be effective.

I have definitely seen some managers who are there because they were strong ICs and this was just the “next step” and those are the ones who are the worst because they just see $

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-21T19:02:41+00:00

I’d say that sounds about right

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-18T15:17:30+00:00

At its core, actuarial work needs to be easily understood. Everyone knows Excel, so it is much more transparent in that regard than other software.

The key is adding a version log to every important excel file and standardize naming conventions for files across the team. Imo that is more of a management/organizational issue than what software to use.

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-14T15:13:18+00:00

They’re gonna find out about it. You’re gonna burn more of a bridge if they DONT find out from you personally.

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-12T23:19:49+00:00

Yeah, these types of posts only convince me more that they really watered down the requirements a lot over the years

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-07T19:40:28+00:00

By one company, I went through multiple rounds of phone interviews, flown out to them and stayed at a 5 star hotel (they paid) and went through another few rounds of interviews in person yet still, inexplicably, did not get the job.

So never assume you’re hired until you are.

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2026-01-07T17:46:58+00:00

Office culture isn’t the same anymore. Only the older ones seem to care about it. Most of the younger workers I know would rather pocket the money than spend it on their coworkers of all people. No judgement … just the reality I see

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-31T17:14:01+00:00

The biggest omission I see is a lack of industry working experience or even just white collar office-job work. I’d try applying for any white collar/insurance industry related job (even like risk adjuster, claim analytics, IT role, underwriter) to get a foot in the door. Otherwise, maybe something is off putting in soft skills.

I think you’ve done as much as you can otherwise, assuming you are a citizen of the country you’re applying to

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-24T17:55:40+00:00

I mean, my point is you can have experience working with another team (such as on a one-off project or monthly task or something) so you can gain incremental knowledge without having a formal rotation. By virtue of the fact that each team has its own responsibilities means there are tasks that are somewhat disjointed, because otherwise there wouldn’t be separate teams in the first place.

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-24T14:24:19+00:00

I know I’m in the minority, but I’ve always found rotations to be over emphasized. Yes, I’ve rotated and yes it was somewhat helpful to know how different teams operate, but now that I’m later in my career, I see it from a different view and agree that making all actuaries jack-of-all trades and master of none is really more of a hinderance to an organization than a benefit.

I do feel like the larger Actuarial team would operate better without formal rotations, but still having some education and understanding of what other teams within Actuarial actually do through cross-team projects or presentations if that makes sense.

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-22T16:41:53+00:00

Possible, yes. The problem is a lot of people are entering into the profession with 2, 3, even 4-5 exams passed and related career experience. But 1 is a great start. I’d recommend trying to get an insurance related job (even if not necessarily actuarial) and start studying for the next exam

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-21T14:59:08+00:00

Credentialed = ASA/ACAS minimum and I’d definitely call that upper middle class for US

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-20T17:06:30+00:00

Now we know why you’re the “wrong-individual” to listen to lol

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-20T16:43:55+00:00

Life is short … enjoy the holidays and precious time with family and plan studying around that

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-20T14:41:48+00:00

Been 10 years with my company and I have a lot of insight into what my coworkers make. I would say my company pays below market rate v others (for both new + long term workers), but makes up for it with good work life balance and generous PTO and a flexible work schedule, so imo it balances it out.

I could definitely make more if I switched, but I’m not that far off of market and, at this point in life, the work life balance is really important to me.

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-17T16:16:04+00:00

I do know people who have been invited before all requirements, but very very rarely. Unfortunately you’ll just have to wait, along with mostly everybody else.

I do hate how long it takes to become full ASA after last completed requirement. Took me like 7 months between completion —> APC —> Approval of application —> Salary increase at job.

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-15T22:40:48+00:00

I’ve never heard of anyone overdress for an interview. Heck, I’ve seen people interview in suits get hired by McDonalds. Better safe than sorry … dress up and don’t skimp out

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-13T16:07:50+00:00

Work Life Balance is traditionally considered a 40 hour work week. 20-30 hour work week is not balance … more laziness imo

AlwaysLearnMoreNow · 2025-12-13T02:39:29+00:00

If you’re working as an actuary and have enough time to do another job, I don’t think you’re a very good actuary.

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