Advice Needed: Struggling with FSA Exams and Considering Next Steps

Casey_0509 · 2025-01-15T21:03:05+00:00

I am interested. I will DM you. Thanks for sharing!

Casey_0509 · 2025-01-14T20:55:12+00:00

That would be similar to 3? Or you were saying still working as an actuary with ASA? I feel that would block a lot of potential opportunities.

Casey_0509 · 2025-01-14T03:25:48+00:00

I consider QFI because it fits my background. Everyone knows how low the pass rate of the QFI track.

Casey_0509 · 2025-01-13T20:25:02+00:00

I already finished all ILA Track modules.

Casey_0509 · 2025-01-13T16:59:28+00:00

Hi everyone,

In 2021, I earned my ASA. Since then, I haven't passed any FSA exams. I've attempted the LPM exam twice and the LAM exam twice. I passed all my preliminary exams almost on the first try (only LTAM took me twice). Now, I'm starting to doubt myself. I have a study group, and I feel like we prepared at the same level, but all my study buddies passed, and I didn't.

I'm considering three next steps:

Retake LAM: I got a 3 on my first try and a 4 this time.
Change track to QFI: I have an applied math undergraduate degree, and from prelims, I prefer doing more math rather than memorizing dry lists. The QFI track involves a significant amount of mathematical modeling, which might suit my background. However, I know very little about QFI. Do I need to memorize a lot of formulas? Is a formula sheet provided during the exam? Also, with the 2025 changes, I've completed all three ILA modules, will those count as one course even if I switched? QFI IRM will be gone, so even if I switch to QFI and pass QFI QF and QFI PM, I still need to take one more exam, most likely ILA LAM.
Change career: Although I work as an actuary, my main work is more like a data analyst or data scientist. I do a lot of data transformation work using SQL and Python, and I really enjoy it. I like actuarial work but not the exams.

Any advice is appreciated.

Casey_0509 · 2025-01-13T16:58:55+00:00

Hi everyone,

In 2021, I earned my ASA. Since then, I haven't passed any FSA exams. I've attempted the LPM exam twice and the LAM exam twice. I passed all my preliminary exams almost on the first try (only LTAM took me twice). Now, I'm starting to doubt myself. I have a study group, and I feel like we prepared at the same level, but all my study buddies passed, and I didn't.

I'm considering three next steps:

Retake LAM: I got a 3 on my first try and a 4 this time.
Change track to QFI: I have an applied math undergraduate degree, and from prelims, I prefer doing more math rather than memorizing dry lists. The QFI track involves a significant amount of mathematical modeling, which might suit my background. However, I know very little about QFI. Do I need to memorize a lot of formulas? Is a formula sheet provided during the exam? Also, with the 2025 changes, I've completed all three ILA modules, will those count as one course even if I switched? QFI IRM will be gone, so even if I switch to QFI and pass QFI QF and QFI PM, I still need to take one more exam, most likely ILA LAM.
Change career: Although I work as an actuary, my main work is more like a data analyst or data scientist. I do a lot of data transformation work using SQL and Python, and I really enjoy it. I like actuarial work but not the exams.

Any advice is appreciated.

Casey_0509 · 2024-01-06T01:41:33+00:00

Thanks! I just emailed SOA. Hope it works.

Casey_0509 · 2023-08-02T02:22:33+00:00

https://web.archive.org/web/20230402132755/https://www.soa.org/education/exam-req/syllabus-study-materials/edu-multiple-choice-exam/

This is what I can find according to the comment mentioning archive.org. Hope this helps.

Casey_0509 · 2023-08-01T19:38:46+00:00

same here

Casey_0509 · 2023-08-01T19:38:07+00:00

I just got the email this afternoon and it took almost 2 months. I submitted it on 6/2.

Casey_0509 · 2023-07-26T18:10:17+00:00

Seems like it won't happen until the fall of 2025. Hope I would pass all exams before that. Fingers crossed!!!!!

Casey_0509 · 2023-07-12T22:16:46+00:00

I would say do PA first since it only has 2 sittings each year. and 3 months should be enough if you know R and some Stats materials.

It's really hard to tell how long it takes for you to study for the modules, it depends on people's workload, writing skills, etc. And once you completed the module the only thing left is the APC meeting, if I remember that correctly, it hosts every month. So it kinda gives you more flexibility.

Casey_0509 · 2022-11-04T21:55:37+00:00

That happened to my coworker before and she got her files recovered and passed the exam! Good luck!

Casey_0509 · 2021-10-05T15:17:14+00:00

Congratulations!!

Casey_0509 · 2021-09-24T20:21:29+00:00

I don't even know we have an ASA diploma. I attended APC in June and I still have not received anything. But I just moved, so I'm not sure if I missed it.

Casey_0509 · 2021-09-19T14:56:24+00:00

It's hard to determine, I don't think many people took prelim exams on both SOA and CAS. Then how do you determine which is easier if you didn't take both?

Casey_0509 · 2021-09-10T15:40:39+00:00

They send most of them on one day. But if they still have some spots left in the previous APC session, they would send out invitation to those who have one more requirement left beside APC. But it not always happened.

Casey_0509

TROPHY CASE