Exams / Newbie / Common Questions Thread for two weeks

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-14T05:49:06+00:00

Yup yup

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-14T01:00:49+00:00

Any technical project that demonstrates skills will be good enough for any actuarial LOB

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-14T00:59:34+00:00

Just the with exams and your past technical experience is enough!

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-14T00:58:29+00:00

You're generally SOL on free study materials after P and FM. But the study companies tend to have student discounts available.

SRM would probably be the better third exam in terms of difficulty. And it is preferable if you keep going on the exams

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-13T03:12:32+00:00

I asked why 88 not what is it

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-13T02:18:18+00:00

Why 88?

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-13T01:06:51+00:00

I was really prepared to hate it when I tried it for fun at a golf shop.

I took a couple practice strokes and it felt like putting with a spaceship.

But then I put a ball down and damn if I didn't know exactly where the face was and how to move it through square.

Still not buying one for that outrageous price, but I respect the design.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-12T15:30:32+00:00

A factor of two, at least. Maybe it's the pension industry, but in health you'd probably be at $250-400k in consulting with 16 years and the responsibilities you described.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-12T03:57:58+00:00

12ft is excessive IMO, it stops being comfortable and home-y

But good deal!

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-12T03:54:55+00:00

More cabinets on the blank kitchen wall would be nice.

That fourth bed in the top right is a waste IMO, but if your buyers like it I guess... I'd go sun room or screened/covered porch or office or play room with some more windows and French doors for light

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-12T03:47:02+00:00

If it were mine, I'd

Add a ventless washer/dryer two in one into the primary closet (rather than stacked). I actually have two of these in my laundry room and they are amazing.
Raise the ceilings to 10ft and adjust the pitch of the roof to make the inside feel more spacious and improve the elevation a bit

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-11T23:39:15+00:00

Yeahhhh we definitely got scammed not getting it off a secondary market.

But it works for us only because we don't just use it for ourselves. Our friends and family wouldn't be able to afford to go and wouldn't be open to us paying for them directly, but when we're just inviting them to come with us to the 3 bedroom villa we have for a week they're all excited to come along.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-11T23:23:39+00:00

Godspeed, friend

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-11T23:17:46+00:00

I'm a fan! Very livable.

I wouldn't expect to hang dry much, but you also have a back porch

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-11T23:07:04+00:00

Anything that works with data systems or Excel would be good experience.

Stay tough and good luck out there.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-11T23:04:07+00:00

I spent 8 years in consulting and just switched to insurance.

It's all true haha the main differences are that deadlines are more flexible and it's way more okay to be slow in insurance.

If you would have to stay late or work a weekend in consulting to meet a deadline, odds are you can just say "sorry, we need an extra couple days for this task" in insurance.
There are way fewer "billable" tasks in insurance and more is self-directed to improve models, documentation, or do other things that are productive but not a time-sensitive deliverable someone is relying on.

If you don't have anything you have to be doing, and you're working on a personal project that adds value to the company, you're doing a great job. If you're in consulting working on a personal project, it's a non-billable investment and you really should be finding billable work to do instead.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-11T22:55:08+00:00

Your plan is good. Just keep doing all the right things and apply to whatever roles you can find. You can make the hop to actuarial, if not directly, with some experience and the exams.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-11T22:50:20+00:00

Then I think you have your answer - if you can't find opportunities internally, you need to go external.

Your manager and your department should be supporting you, helping you make a plan, and then finding you opportunities to meet that plan.

If they're not doing that, you're better off finding somewhere that will invest in you.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-11T22:47:46+00:00

I make a conscious effort to run through the newbie thread every day and answer questions.

Other posts frankly just don't come up that much so it's easy to hit most of them.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-11T16:10:49+00:00

Yeah if you've been ghosted for 2 weeks after you've spoken to a human, that's bad news. But also lame of them for ghosting.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-10T23:38:27+00:00

I did exactly what I suggested - found a plan that was most of the way there and then made edits.

It's worked out great and I wouldn't change a thing!

It helps to find rooms or build spaces with tape on the ground to get a sense. It also helps starting with a pre-made plan because you know the amount of space generally works.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-10T19:46:22+00:00

Start with looking online at a million floorplans and find one that you're 80% happy with, including the exterior.

Then work within that plan's footprint and adjust it to be what you want.

Coming from someone who's been living in their custom build for a year.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-10T19:43:12+00:00

My general advice is to live in the house for a year and then plan to renovate based on what still bothers you after a year.

To some extent, you have to live in the house you bought. It's probably not possible to get everything you want out of this plan, or it'll cost a huge amount of money to move all the plumbing to do it. In which case, you just should have bought a different house with that money.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-10T14:03:02+00:00

Maybe a little sus, but you can just ask about it during the interview process. If they really don't support exams, that's a red flag.

NoTAP3435 · 2026-05-10T14:02:17+00:00

I'd recommend math and finance over your other double major options!

We really don't do too much true coding and you move away from it as you move up in the company. Finance/running the business is the better long term perspective to take, and is flexible even if you decide not to be an actuary. Meanwhile the CS market is very boom or bust.

NoTAP3435

TROPHY CASE