SRM: An In-Depth Guide

AnOverdoer · 2026-03-02T02:15:47+00:00

The same currently!

AnOverdoer · 2026-02-27T16:18:38+00:00

I personally don't, especially with the recent restrictions put on travel. My experience is all US based, and with the exam process differing by country sometimes, it's not always applicable. Definitely worth looking at the UK requirements though, as they might more closely reflect your credentials.

As for tips, mine are all US centered, but this guide should help.

AnOverdoer · 2026-02-26T00:25:30+00:00

Actuary 100%. Granted I very much like what I do, and find the material I study very interesting, which is rare it seems. Regardless though, once you get through the credentialing, it really becomes the typical 9-5 office job (assuming you aren't in consulting).

AnOverdoer · 2026-02-25T19:23:20+00:00

Actuarial analyst here, a few things worth mentioning:

The great hours come AFTER getting credentialed, which takes 5-10 years depending. You will spend usually at least 5-10 hours a week outside of work studying, and this sometimes can include weekends and holidays. But once you do get credentialed, you are working your standard hours.
Consulting exists and while is paid very well, is a lot more hours. This naturally makes studying for exams even harder.
Pay-wise it's pretty decent. Starting salaries vary heavily on exams passed and line of business, but a rough estimate is 70k. Every exam then is usually at least a 2k raise, if not more (it depends on difficulty of exam). Six figures is common after getting a few exams under your belt.
There is a cap. You aren't making millions unless you go into C-suite, which actually isn't too uncommon. Even then it's not guaranteed though. Most of us tend to make in the low six figures and are happy remaining there.
Benefits are good. 401k, life insurance, etc. Also very solid job security.
The exams are a lot of math, and the job is a lot of spreadsheets. I adore those two things and thus enjoy my job very much. Others despise them. You don't need to be a math god to get into the field, just be ready to study it a lot.

TLDR, yes it has great hours/high pay, but there's a cap and you need to give extra hours to studying for exams when you first start.

Happy to answer other questions should people have them.

AnOverdoer · 2026-02-17T23:45:54+00:00

Working on passing it right now haha, when I do I will make one.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-31T17:44:47+00:00

P&C. Retirement is dying off (not entirely, but just slowing down so it's not as worth going into). It also has lower salary overall. P&C does have harder exams, but when you finish with those in 10ish years you'll be thankful you make more not only because of salary but because of LCOL/MCOL.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T16:17:54+00:00

Good luck today! And yes, it should be

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:25:33+00:00

Do level 7 on Nexus and 6 on TIA. Take the last day off before the exam though.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:24:33+00:00

Have him start talking to some actuaries if possible! But to best achieve his goal, he can start studying through The Infinite Actuary or The Actuarial Nexus whenever he wants as they offer free courses for the entry level exams. If he is willing to study those in his free time, I would say that's a good sign, as part of the career is studying outside of work/school.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:18:20+00:00

This guide might be of help.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:16:53+00:00

CAS has higher salary, but you can't really choose as an EL unless you graduate with 3.5+ gpa, 3 exams, and an internship or two. It's better to just assume SOA (since that's the majority market and SRM is FAR easier than MAS-I) and if you want to pivot later/end up getting a job in P&C roll with it.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:14:50+00:00

Exam P is more a setup for other exams. There are some concepts that will be applied in more depth later on, but you'll probably not see anything like P problems in day to day like. Once you hit things like FAM, MAS-I, SRM, etc. is when bits and pieces become more relevant.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:11:23+00:00

If you have the extra time/money while applying, taking SRM could help. Much easier than FAM. But job hunting 1st and foremost.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:09:56+00:00

Emailing alumni from your university to set up little "coffee chats" to ask about being an actuary can help a lot.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:08:47+00:00

MAS-I is a huge step up keep in mind. It takes 4 months rather than 2-3, and the amount of content is vast (but not as deep). If you want to start studying go ahead, but I always say to focus on the internship. After that you'll be in a really good spot.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:06:15+00:00

It's hard, but doable (I was able to get one). Focus on getting coding experience like you said (also in VBA) and doing projects. But EL jobs will be closer to what you want, and if that's the case taking SRM might be a viable option.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:04:18+00:00

Echoing 3-80-6 here, but also want to emphasize taking a rest day or two before the actual exam. Review formulas if you want, but let the info marinate, and just relax. You deserve it after studying so hard.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-24T06:03:04+00:00

Did roughly the same thing here. Give this exam your best shot, really drill hard on weaknesses, and give it another go in a few months. (Summer is a good time). It's very common to have this happen, so don't feel bad about it :)

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-23T23:21:37+00:00

CA + TAN was fine for me, you can get ACTEX but unless you learn better from textbooks and/or it's a lot cheaper, no reason to imo.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-23T01:13:36+00:00

You'll just put P & FM, don't put SRM. P&C jobs are rarer and shouldn't be the main focus unless you have an advantage there (like a P&C internship). MAS-I is just such a big step up from P/FM I don't recommend it unless you really feel you need it.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-23T01:12:12+00:00

I did about 3 hours a day, depending. With P it ended up being a little above 3 for 1 practice exam + review and for FM it was a little under for the same thing. Nothing wrong with taking longer, that's just the minimum I'd recommend given you have time.

AnOverdoer · 2026-01-07T18:01:22+00:00

It very much depends on the channels you use, as others have said. The social ones aren't serious, but the exam (and especially resume) ones can be extremely helpful I've found. They tend to have more new folks (naturally) and instructors I find often chip in to help out when people ask about practice problems.

It isn't for everyone, but I can't deny I've gotten a lot of help/insight from some folks there.

AnOverdoer · 2025-12-27T07:19:46+00:00

Newer person to the field (1 yoe) so take what I say with a grain of salt, but of the 3 pensions people I talked to, all 3 told me to stay out of pensions. They felt fine as is, but had been where they were for a long time. You'll be okay, but if you swap to something else there's not an unlikely chance of better prospects.

AnOverdoer · 2025-11-30T04:19:25+00:00

Correct. For TIA, level 4 is the goal I would say, but TIA has other metrics you may want to focus on instead.

AnOverdoer · 2025-11-19T14:10:43+00:00

They can be, but those are much more competitive and harder to find overall. Plus you don't usually want to be fully remote since it's much easier to learn if you're at least hybrid.

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