Happy New Year!
Hoping to get some advice from people in the actuary field or at least people who know more about it than I do (since I know very little other than the exams I've studied for).
I've been considering becoming an actuary since I started college in 2009, but never committed to that route. I majored in stats and econ and graduated magna cum laude. Took a job immediately out of college as an entry level statistician / risk analyst and moved less than 2 years later to a job pretty much as a SAS programmer.
Right now I'm just trying to gain as much experience as I can in whatever may be interesting to me to keep as many doors open as possible. But being an actuary just seems right to me. I passed P in the Summer of 2014 and FM last month and looking to take MFE by the end of this year. I'm sure this seems like a slow pace to take the exams, but this hasn't been my sole focus, and I passed both on first attempt (thansk to TIA).
Anyways, what I'm hoping to know is:
(1) If I start to apply for jobs after passing MFE, what could I expect to be doing as an entry level actuary? Would it be fulfilling / challenging work, or spreadsheet/reporting type tasks? I read a bit of pessimism on here from people in entry level jobs so that's why I ask.
(2) What type of salary would I likely be looking at? I'm currently making in the mid 60s, which seems to be around the salary for someone with 2-3 exams and NO experience. Could I be looking at more since I have some (almost) relevant work experience, the same, or less since I'd be a career changer?
(3) When would be the optimal time to make the move if I were going to do it? 3 exams, or 2/4?
Thanks for taking the time to read this post and for any advice you can provide. I don't know anyone in the actuarial field, so I figured this was my best best to hopefully get some good insight from people who know. Sorry if any of these questions make me sound ignorant; I pretty much am as far as this goes.
Hoping to get some advice from people in the actuary field or at least people who know more about it than I do (since I know very little other than the exams I've studied for).
I've been considering becoming an actuary since I started college in 2009, but never committed to that route. I majored in stats and econ and graduated magna cum laude. Took a job immediately out of college as an entry level statistician / risk analyst and moved less than 2 years later to a job pretty much as a SAS programmer.
Right now I'm just trying to gain as much experience as I can in whatever may be interesting to me to keep as many doors open as possible. But being an actuary just seems right to me. I passed P in the Summer of 2014 and FM last month and looking to take MFE by the end of this year. I'm sure this seems like a slow pace to take the exams, but this hasn't been my sole focus, and I passed both on first attempt (thansk to TIA).
Anyways, what I'm hoping to know is:
(1) If I start to apply for jobs after passing MFE, what could I expect to be doing as an entry level actuary? Would it be fulfilling / challenging work, or spreadsheet/reporting type tasks? I read a bit of pessimism on here from people in entry level jobs so that's why I ask.
(2) What type of salary would I likely be looking at? I'm currently making in the mid 60s, which seems to be around the salary for someone with 2-3 exams and NO experience. Could I be looking at more since I have some (almost) relevant work experience, the same, or less since I'd be a career changer?
(3) When would be the optimal time to make the move if I were going to do it? 3 exams, or 2/4?
Thanks for taking the time to read this post and for any advice you can provide. I don't know anyone in the actuarial field, so I figured this was my best best to hopefully get some good insight from people who know. Sorry if any of these questions make me sound ignorant; I pretty much am as far as this goes.
Trying to figure the best route if I go Actuary...