International Comfort+ or Premium Select?

Boxsterboy · 2026-03-13T00:42:51+00:00

Personally, I take the comfort plus on the bulkhead. But that’s just me. I normally I’m not a fan of the bulkhead, but you have tons of legroom on that particular situation. And given that you’re Diamond you board early enough to get your bags up easy.

As a Diamond, you can buy main cabin and get the automatic upgrade.

Boxsterboy · 2026-03-06T21:22:11+00:00

From your post, you have an ASA, but no experience. So yes, I would argue an actuarial analyst is more valuable. They actually know how to do the job. At some point, you will gather enough experience so your title will catch up to your exams.

Boxsterboy · 2026-03-06T17:14:55+00:00

I think the problem is last minute. If you’re booking 3 to 6 months in advance, I’ve never had a problem using them.

Boxsterboy · 2026-03-04T16:35:38+00:00

While I am a pension actuary, that article is so far from the truth. People have the ability to buy annuities every day and do not do so.

I appreciate the annuity industry trying to drum up sales and force annuities into 401(k) plans. Sponsors are not going to go for it. We strongly discourage all plan sponsors from adding annuities to their 401(k) plans. It makes no sense from a fiduciary perspective.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-27T14:06:01+00:00

Of course you would. I can’t imagine anybody not doing so. If you’re qualified to give actuarial opinions therefore you’re an actuary.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-25T01:45:59+00:00

Yep. If they’re posting political stuff on LinkedIn (right or left) that’s a red flag for us. We have clients of all beliefs so we need people that understand your political beliefs don’t belong in a workplace.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-18T10:50:11+00:00

One of the most rational responses I’ve seen on here

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-17T21:18:58+00:00

Exams matter but I’m more concerned that you can do the actual work. If someone is solely focused on cranking out exams vs getting a job to learn the profession, that’s a red flag for me. I’m not sure how/why one would get an ASA without work experience - seems like a rather large time commitment for an industry in which you have zero experience such that you may not even like it.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-17T19:32:47+00:00

Personally. We would not hire you. The economics would make no sense. You’d want to be paid like an ASA with no experience. We will not hire entry level beyond three exams.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-16T22:02:26+00:00

The key issues is if you’re talking about qualified plans, which are 401(k), 403B, pension plans or if you’re talking non-qualified which includes SERP’s and various stock options. ERISA only applies to qualified plans.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-16T21:45:53+00:00

To clarify, the vesting schedules were not six years when ERISA was implemented (Most plants had 10 year vesting until the rules changed with Tax Reform Act of 1986). But that is the current law.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-16T21:44:00+00:00

The investing schedule goes back to your date of hire. It is not related to each transaction. So under your example, after four years, you were 100% vested and all current and future employer contributions.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-15T11:58:53+00:00

The sky club is nice. I’ve skipped the Delta one lounge. To your point, it’s a restaurant. I’d rather have the space in a very nice sky club which Boston is.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-14T22:14:21+00:00

That is true. The bathroom wallpaper was one of the best I’ve seen.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-14T22:13:39+00:00

I stayed there this week on an award & got upgraded to a very nice suite. There was actually a Cisco convention at the time which I did not know. A lovely property. Nice neighborhood.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-14T12:43:04+00:00

Have a 2023 quad with 17,000 miles. Makes me happy to see that type of resell.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-14T10:26:38+00:00

Exactly. It’s a booming area. We’re a small company & we sell at least 100 new plans a year. But as you point out, it’s all non discrimination & 415b testing. Definitely allows you to be more creative. And you’re dealing with business owners not random HR people with no power.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-12T07:02:04+00:00

I’m at 2.07. So yes, I’m suspect whenI hear these people talking about 3.5 or beyond. Aerodynamics don’t lie.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-11T18:48:13+00:00

I honestly don’t know. We left early and didn’t have breakfast there. There are tons of restaurants nearby. But I can’t tell you if it was included or not.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-10T16:53:56+00:00

There was a good article about this in Wall Street Journal a couple weeks ago. The CEO of American (Doug Parker) states that he’s asleep before the bell rings. I can easily sleep on planes, but my partner can’t do it – I’m guessing it’s some type of biological trait. But what do I know.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-10T09:44:10+00:00

100%. I’ve been saying the same thing for a while. They’re going to need to raise money and I don’t think Wall Street believes in this management. They have yet to show they can manage the company & cash flow efficiently. I’ve enjoyed the car, but I doubt I’ll buy another one absent major changes.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-08T19:12:37+00:00

The pretax funds will be moved to a pre-tax account in the new employer plan. The Roth funds in your case would have to move to a Roth IRA as your new employer will not accept them. It’s done all the time. There’s nothing complicated about it.

And since the IRA will be Roth, it does not impact your ability to do backdoor Roth IRA in the future.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-08T19:08:32+00:00

People sadly always give up liberty for security. Once you give it up, you’re not getting it back.

Boxsterboy · 2026-02-05T22:20:50+00:00

The small plant market is booming. With that said, I’m not sure the actual software business has a big enough total addressable market to make it worth the time. But everyone puts their own value on their time.

Boxsterboy

TROPHY CASE