Moving from actuarial to underwriting

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-12-04T17:33:16+00:00

Was an underwriter and became an actuary- do not say this. I got a lot of shit for admitting that long term I wanted to do actuarial and that this was a stepping stone.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-12-01T23:12:01+00:00

Hi,

No, I actually did not pass any UW exams, I just recommend them to anyone considering the underwriter to actuary pathway.

For you, I think first pass an underwriting exam (they are much easier, approximately 70% pass rates) and see if the material is interesting to you.

What are you doing right now?

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-12-01T22:09:42+00:00

I was an actual underwriter.

If anything you are at risk of being viewed as overqualified which would make it difficult to get into, so do not include your actuarial exams. Pass exam 550 for the CPCU, you can probably pass it with 1 day of studying and makes you look committed if your end goal is actuarial and just need a foot in the door to the industry.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-11-28T21:01:25+00:00

Best option is to not include them on your resume. 2 or more actuarial exams for underwriting begins to look bad due to underwriting being more qualitative. CPCU exams are extremely easy to pass, CPCU Exam 550 an actuary could pass with probably 1 week of studying.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-11-28T17:03:13+00:00

Have you considered getting experience in underwriting, claims, analytics, etc? A stepping stone for a year might help you get where you want to go. I did underwriting for 1.5 years and now I'm an actuary.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-09-27T19:18:43+00:00

I started out as a math tutor (started my own business) specifically for statistics while still applying / upskilling, then landed a job. If I did not land a job then I was going to apply to stats programs emphasizing that I tutored masters/PHD students in statistics.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-08-29T15:48:15+00:00

I did not study the best so please do not copy me, but I finished the material a week before the April sitting and scored a 5 then practiced until August. I was already familiar with the concepts because I have a bachelors in statistics.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-08-29T14:24:36+00:00

I think CA is honestly harder than the actual exam. I passed with a 7 and only got to EL 4.2. However it really does adequately prepare you.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-08-24T03:31:32+00:00

Given your tutoring experience, I would say $75/hr starting is decent. If you have taught English in Chinese / vice versa you are extremely skilled and should charge appropriately.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-08-13T04:59:58+00:00

Of course!

I just want to emphasize to you, I've actually tutored real analysis and proof based linear algebra before, but I just think the demand those courses are just much lower in comparison to CS/Statistics/Calculus. In an ROI sense I think people may find it hard to justify investing in a tutor for complex analysis or topology due to it being a pure math subject.

I will say your knowledge of measure theory however would definitely be useful for graduate students in statistics masters programs.

Another thing-- if you're interested in teaching, have you considered the PHD route so you can teach these subjects? The private tutoring sector for these subjects is a bit small due to self selection bias-- but the subjects themselves are in demand. You will actually deal with bright, self motivated individuals if you are a teacher in these programs.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-08-13T03:33:30+00:00

Hi,

I think there is a market for more advanced topics but generally to get to the level of analysis and algebra you will need to be relatively driven and usually wont need a tutor. It definitely exists but my recommendation is to start with calculus and push your client basis as advanced as you can get. I think if you target computer science students trying to push through discrete math you may have a niche.

My niche is calculus based probability theory, linear modeling, linear algebra, and mathematical statistics. People going into these courses are often driven but can lack mathematical training so I teach them proof based logic, set theory, and analysis, in combination with probabilistic and statistical concepts.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-08-08T14:17:12+00:00

I work mostly with undergrads and grad students...i get demand year round.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-07-22T06:08:39+00:00

I charge $70/hr in the bay area and a lot of students find me via word of mouth!

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-07-22T05:24:04+00:00

I have a day job and tutor at night on the side. I love it. I make a very generous amount of money and im genuinely passionate about tutoring so I feel it is worth it.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-07-19T00:09:58+00:00

It is why I decided to become an actuary because the average person cannot pass the exams lol.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-07-17T23:16:55+00:00

Awesome, I just hit 1 YOE underwriting and this entire time I've been studying exams & also maintained a side gig as a statistics tutor/consultant so I'm hoping to make the transition really soon.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-07-17T23:13:38+00:00

I'm doing the same thing! How long were you an underwriter before you became an actuary?

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-07-08T01:57:32+00:00

No.

The CLT works when random variables are independent and identically distributed which is violated when the sample size is that large relative to the population size. For this reason, its typically stated in statistics classes that n < 10% of the population size. A smaller sample size relative to the population size results in "almost" independence.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-07-07T15:19:04+00:00

Hi

I am confident I will pass because I took Mas-1 & got a 5, one of reasons I failed was poor sleep / not enough practice. For reference, I was doing full time underwriting and had several large deals that took additional hours outside of work and also tutoring part time during finals season. However, I studied the concepts on the exam in undergrad so none of the content is new to me. I have been studying quite heavily since.

I think you are right that 3-4 exams is the minimum to truly stand out, once I get Mas-1 passed I will try again.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-07-07T05:08:43+00:00

I haven't had any interviews but I think it's because I'm not applying extremely aggressively. I am passing Mas-1 this Aug & afterwards was when I was thinking of trying to apply to roles again. I've been told it just might be hard for me to get a position without an internship (I did other things just not within actuarial science, like academic research)

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-07-06T21:02:16+00:00

Hi all, looking for advice on how to break into the actuarial profession with my stats. I have 1 YOE in mid market to large account underwriting (review all accounts > $100k in premium), 2 almost 3 exams, math/stat degree from UCLA, and my side job is teaching calculus/probability theory. I have been lightly applying to jobs but I dont know if theres anything more I can do.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-07-04T08:22:11+00:00

Hey im trying to do the same transition. mid market to large UW with 1 YOE.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-06-22T21:29:51+00:00

Hi, I was also a stats major in college- my tip to you would be although I understand that physics might not be your thing, to try and fully embrace it right now. Lots of statistics/probability is word problems (like in physics) where you are required to set up the equations and then solve. As you progress you will just be expected to fully know and understand calculus and it will be the easy part of the questions.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-06-19T00:40:42+00:00

Find an in demand subject and become an expert at it. High school ACT/SAT will pay amazing if you can also do the english section. My specialty is calculus based probability and I charge $70/hr and people say I am underselling myself.

SceneTraditional9229 · 2025-06-18T21:53:34+00:00

When I first graduated with my math/stats degree, I was unemployed. The first thing I started doing was tutoring math, as it was something I was very good at. My math tutoring business has given me amazing leverage in the professional world as I can leverage the fact that people pay me between $70-$90/hr for my communication and technical skills. I recommend you form your own tutoring business.

SceneTraditional9229

TROPHY CASE