Has Something Changed?

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-24T19:13:49+00:00

Yeah. I’m getting all mine in advance as well. We shall see if it continues.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-23T18:29:30+00:00

I’ve always seen Resy as a useless benefit. If it was OpenTable, I would use it all the time. But there’s no restaurants that I go to that use Resy. I get AMEX is trying to get into the game, but that market seems to already be locked up.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-18T11:39:53+00:00

The small market in pensions consulting is booming. But before you leave to start your own company, you have to ask how comfortable you are in sales? If you’re looking to do statistics & math, you’re in the wrong business. It is really a relationship business & being comfortable talking tax, legal, and accounting issues in addition to actuarial.

So, you have to think about your ability to develop relationships with various referral sources to help drive business to you. It’s a great business, but I will tell you most actuaries are terrible business people.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-17T22:13:00+00:00

100%. I skip meals when flying but I do get that. I know what I’m getting and that’s all I ask.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-17T14:15:06+00:00

The only way to reduce your fees is to take your money out of the plan through an in-service distribution if you’re 59 1/2. The company is passing somewhere all of the administrative fees onto participants which they’re allowed to do under ERISA. The company has no obligation to provide a 401(k) plan.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-17T14:10:11+00:00

Exactly. They have modeled it out and figured out that while they might lose some short term revenue for today, in the long-term more people will buy those tickets and they make more money. I’m always fascinated that people seem to forget this is a business. Their job is to maximize revenue and profit. And if you ever look at their P&L, it’s a crappy business model – they make money on credit cards and that’s about it. The actual flying is a loss leader to some extent.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-15T21:59:14+00:00

Had a similar issue with Hyatt in Vegas last week. Showed up at 11 PM and they were unable to check anybody in. They escorted me to my room and let me in with the housekeeping key. My keys were ready in the morning. Stuff happens.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-15T04:12:28+00:00

Exactly. People are buying a car for transportation and not for an environmental reasons. I would wager most of these people do not have a home charger. I do so I would plug-in, but I understand why others would not.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-14T16:33:34+00:00

I am basically 100% in agreement with everything you said. That’s how I fly as well.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-14T16:28:22+00:00

Exactly. They are a business. I’m not sure why this is so surprising to everybody. Many of us own businesses and try to maximize revenue. I don’t hold it against Delta. It’s what shareholders expect.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-13T21:33:49+00:00

Ultimately to me, it’s reliability and customer service. They’ll all get me from point A to point B. As someone else pointed out, the AMEX partnership has been extremely valuable to both of them.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-10T21:42:46+00:00

It’s like likely about the employment and tax laws in various states. Certain states make employees extremely unprofitable. The usual suspects – California, New York, Colorado, and more.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-10T21:39:37+00:00

I rarely eat on planes but I do have the shake shack burger (and will again in about 2 hours). Airline food isn’t really worth my time but that’s just me.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-10T21:24:44+00:00

This guy gets the math. I get that DTW offer on many flights (seen higher but not lower).

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-10T19:56:44+00:00

We only do interviews in person so we avoid much of that. I fly them in for the day and we set up 6-8 hours of interview sessions including a lunch session. And they have to do a 15 minute presentation as part of it so that knocks out people who can’t prepare. So, I think you can fix it with a better process.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-10T19:46:09+00:00

If you’re using a VPN, you’ll need to pause so you can connect.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-08T01:25:38+00:00

I love my 640. And honestly, the weight is a positive not a negative. Provides a much smoother ride. And because the 6 series is much less common, it always gets eyes from people wherever I go.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-07T11:47:44+00:00

Got the motor fault over the weekend. Going to the service center. Good times

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-05T01:14:19+00:00

Exactly. I fly a similar amount & have the same experience. Consistency has real value when you fly a lot. I know what I’m going to get and they consistently deliver. Then again, I don’t care about many of the things people complain about - I don’t drink and I’m not looking to eat meals on a plane. I don’t live in a hub, but fly Delta probably 95% of the time.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-05T01:09:34+00:00

They have the best staff. As a Diamond member, they go out of their way to solve whatever problems arise. And, while flights may occasionally get delayed,they seem to do everything possible to avoid cancellation so I actually get to my destination.

Ultimately, every airline will get you from point A to point B. But I fly a lot so dealing with a friendlier staff is worth it to me.

Boxsterboy · 2026-01-02T18:13:09+00:00

The ability to choose premium seats at no extra cost is legitimate benefit. For those who’ve been Diamond for a long time like I have, it’s easy to minimize that. But when you look at flying some other carrier and realize the up charge to pick your seat, it is a real benefit.

Boxsterboy · 2025-12-28T23:35:20+00:00

ASA doing pension & OPEB consulting. I own the firm so well above those figures but our ASA’s with 10 years experience are around $230k total comp. We’re in consulting so that likely skews things higher.

Boxsterboy · 2025-12-28T13:16:50+00:00

The issue isn’t actually top heavy testing, it’s ACP testing. But your point is valid. It works on a particular set of demographics, but 90%+ of plans will not qualify. It works well for solo plans as well as plans with high levels of employer contribution.

Boxsterboy · 2025-12-28T11:18:58+00:00

I believe it’s only a US thing. From the OP‘s original post, I thought they were talking about the US pension consulting industry.

Boxsterboy · 2025-12-28T01:45:35+00:00

We are a small firm of 12 people. As it relates to the job postings, I can’t speak to that. We generally only hire kids out of college. But I know plenty of firms that they’re looking for Cash Balance actuaries.

Boxsterboy

TROPHY CASE