The Actuarial Field

[churnbabychurn]

Funny comparing accounting to the actuarial field

why? Both ppl count

The best is when you tell someone "I'm an actuary" and they're like "oh, so that's just accounting with a little more school".

We audit. Basically foot columns and tie them to other footed columns. Occasionally send a confirmation or two. - pretty dumb stuff.

Tax is worse, they input numbers into boxes and the machine outputs numbers into boxes. That's it.


What do u guys do?

[henche]

We audit. Basically foot columns and tie them to other footed columns. Occasionally send a confirmation or two. - pretty dumb stuff.

Tax is worse, they input numbers into boxes and the machine outputs numbers into boxes. That's it.


What do u guys do?

Tax guys at the national offices, or who do deals or planning, have interesting work. At least the folks I work do.

[churnbabychurn]

Tax guys at the national offices, or who do deals or planning, have interesting work. At least the folks I work do.

Lawyers,
 For accountants its boring unless they are in transaction services, not the regular cyclycle, tax filing stuff that the accountant armies do.

[EJB]

Lawyers,
 For accountants its boring unless they are in transaction services, not the regular cyclycle, tax filing stuff that the accountant armies do.

People don't go into accounting because it's interesting...

As for actuarial, I still don't have an answer for that one.

[EJB]

Lawyers,
 For accountants its boring unless they are in transaction services, not the regular cyclycle, tax filing stuff that the accountant armies do.

I'm working w transaction accountants on a cool project. They deal w the addition, and when the math gets too tough, I help out w the multiplication.

[churnbabychurn]

I'm working w transaction accountants on a cool project. They deal w the addition, and when the math gets too tough, I help out w the multiplication.

Figured. For businesses the math is usually not that complex.
I guess the real math is with risk part.


Aren't there lucrative jobs for actuaries in finance/investment management though?

[EJB]

Figured. For businesses the math is usually not that complex.
I guess the real math is with risk part.


Aren't there lucrative jobs for actuaries in finance/investment management though?

For the skill set, yes, but they are even more back office, require advanced degrees, and slightly lower salary.

[SRM]

Am I the only one who finds working as an actuary deathly boring?

[Geshmak25]

Am I the only one who finds working as an actuary deathly boring?

Then you're not working for the right company.

[Geshmak25]

Then you're not working for the right company.

Gotta work for Zurich or E&Y, amirite EJB?

[SRM]

Why is it any less boring in different companies?

[EJB]

Gotta work for Zurich or E&Y, amirite EJB?

[Geshmak25]

Why is it any less boring in different companies?

Typically switching companies means different LOB, different insurance sector, etc. I've worked at 4 companies in 8 years, all pricing/reserving for different types of insurance with varying degrees of difficulty/complexity. If you find pricing one LOB/type of insurance is boring it doesnt mean something else wont interest you.

[EJB]

Why is it any less boring in different companies?

Because you could be doing very different things in different companies.

[EJB]

I've worked at 4 companies in 8 years

8 years??? Are you counting internships??? You're not that much older than me...

[Geshmak25]

8 years??? Are you counting internships??? You're not that much older than me...

 

[jj1000]

I know an actuary that worked for the government deciding on the odds of different chemical terrorist attacks after 9/11 and how many doses of atropine they should stockpile. And lots of other crazy stuff.

I think he moved into the private sector helping companies prepare for catastrophic events and what they need to have based on different risks.

Sounded like cool stuff to me.

[EJB]

I know an actuary that worked for the government deciding on the odds of different chemical terrorist attacks after 9/11 and how many doses of atropine they should stockpile. And lots of other crazy stuff.

I think he moved into the private sector helping companies prepare for catastrophic events and what they need to have based on different risks.

Sounded like cool stuff to me.

And I know an actuary that made $3m in the world series of poker. Also cool stuff

[farmbochur]

Here I thought I was the only actuary on the forums

[EJB]

Here I thought I was the only actuary on the forums

Ha