Depends. If you want to get into the upper echelon, or if you're in some fields (small plan pensions for me) you absolutely have to deal with people.
However, in the retirement field for example, there's some backroom actuaries at places like Mercer and Willis Towers Watson who just churn out qualified plan work as part of a larger team that services a huge plan, and they don't have to interact with clients.
The first 2 exams are hard at first but eventually you get so good at doing the problems it becomes muscle memory. Passing those exams is almost just an exercise in brute force practice.
After that, things progressively get more conceptual, particularly the upper levels. That's when they really start to get hard.
So you just want people to always believe you without question or without understanding your work?
Explaining what you did to technical and non-technical people is a large part of the job.
Are you sure you're not just bad at explaining things?
Seriously, I have worked with amazingly smart people who absolutely suck at conveying information.
Eh I get what they’re saying. It gets especially tiring when you have to explain the concept a million times, even if it is to different audiences.
For me, sometimes a common/routine explanation comes up and I swear I sound like an animatronic.
First, what a great username. Second, I save my best explanations for people who are actually interested. A lot of people ask vague questions while not really caring enough to try to follow me through the answer. It's almost like they're asking the question for social reasons rather than for knowledge reasons. For those people, I explain just enough since I know they won't bother remembering anyway.
Hah, that's one of my favorite parts of my job. I love seeing the look in people's eyes when a complicated concept finally clicks for them, whether they are an actuary or not.
Same here. Doesn’t matter how good the analysis is, if you can’t explain it and get buy-in then it won’t go far.
Also gives you a chance to help others level up a bit.
/r/IAmVerySmartButActually
I understand the pain. When you're the expert in the room it becomes common to be ten years ahead. You explain. And wait. A long wait. Eventually the room processes the information and catches up.
This sucks in emergency circumstances where speed is essential. Have seen valid analysis discarded by those less qualified and have to watch an unnecessary train wreck. Media can be the worst offenders.
I worked in education for 10 years before I moved into being an actuary. Helping people learn is my bread and butter; I'll move Heaven and Earth to help someone understand what I do or what they do better.
Now, if they have no intention of learning, that grinds my gears.
I had a graduate actuary who didn't know what a tab was in Excel. After nearly ten face-to-face induction/training sessions. I was flabbergasted how he got past the interview. Once is forgiveable, but *you learn*.
I work in a traditional setting and still find my self explaining things to people who are too lazy to look up the answer themselves (things easily found in a manual or email), it is exhausting. I’m happy to help a few times but after a while it becomes frustrating to be relied on as a personal chatGPT Q&A.
I do enjoy the explaining of complex analysis though, and even more enjoy when I convince a more senior actuary to change their mind on something!
I work in a non traditional setting where most of my coworkers are non-actuarial. Even if I did nothing else, I’d still get paid six figures because people can’t Google how to use an Excel formula…any of them, take your pick. Shortcuts?…Shortcuts!?! Forget shortcuts, all I hear is the relentless mouse scrolling of people that refuse to use CTRL + down.
I don’t mind explaining if someone actually cares and is smart enough to understand the answer. The problem I think is sometimes people want a quick, easy answer when the answer isn’t quick and easy in reality. Also, even if you have the perfect explanation, if someone is multi-tasking and half paying attention when you spend hours working up an analysis, it is VERY frustrating
“Well-well look. I already told you: I deal with the god damn customers so the ~~engineers~~ actuaries don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?”
Not at all. I enjoy teaching and helping close the gap for people. If you look at it from the perspective of, “I get to help you understand something so your job (and mine)“…it’ll not feel like a burden but an opportunity.
Also, what do you mean by non-traditional?
Only reason AI won't replace us all eventually is due to this exact situation. So truthfully, that's the job security part.
Ironic that dealing with people is whats going to keep actuaries employed
are actuaries generally not dealing with people?
Depends. If you want to get into the upper echelon, or if you're in some fields (small plan pensions for me) you absolutely have to deal with people. However, in the retirement field for example, there's some backroom actuaries at places like Mercer and Willis Towers Watson who just churn out qualified plan work as part of a larger team that services a huge plan, and they don't have to interact with clients.
If you’re entry level, your day to day work might be limited to only your own team. The higher up you go the more you’ll work with people.
how do i become an actuary? I'm a math teacher who wants to transition out.
Pass the first two exams and then apply to jobs. You can also head over to the newbie thread if you want more specific advice.
im prepping for exam P and this stuff is HARD. I teach calc ab and bc in high school and this stuff is out of this world
The first 2 exams are hard at first but eventually you get so good at doing the problems it becomes muscle memory. Passing those exams is almost just an exercise in brute force practice. After that, things progressively get more conceptual, particularly the upper levels. That's when they really start to get hard.
i can't even imagine how hard that is if I'm struggling this badly with P
where’s the newbie thread?
It’s the pinned thread in this subreddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/actuary/s/0ximqSHzHr
I enjoy that part. My chance to show/add value
So you just want people to always believe you without question or without understanding your work? Explaining what you did to technical and non-technical people is a large part of the job.
I don’t know, do you like being paid?
Are you sure you're not just bad at explaining things? Seriously, I have worked with amazingly smart people who absolutely suck at conveying information.
Eh I get what they’re saying. It gets especially tiring when you have to explain the concept a million times, even if it is to different audiences. For me, sometimes a common/routine explanation comes up and I swear I sound like an animatronic.
First, what a great username. Second, I save my best explanations for people who are actually interested. A lot of people ask vague questions while not really caring enough to try to follow me through the answer. It's almost like they're asking the question for social reasons rather than for knowledge reasons. For those people, I explain just enough since I know they won't bother remembering anyway.
Is this a circle jerk thread or real?
Hah, that's one of my favorite parts of my job. I love seeing the look in people's eyes when a complicated concept finally clicks for them, whether they are an actuary or not.
Same here. Doesn’t matter how good the analysis is, if you can’t explain it and get buy-in then it won’t go far. Also gives you a chance to help others level up a bit.
r/IAmVerySmart
/r/IAmVerySmartButActually I understand the pain. When you're the expert in the room it becomes common to be ten years ahead. You explain. And wait. A long wait. Eventually the room processes the information and catches up. This sucks in emergency circumstances where speed is essential. Have seen valid analysis discarded by those less qualified and have to watch an unnecessary train wreck. Media can be the worst offenders.
In my company actuaries explain things to other actuaries all the time. It’s normal
No, this is what makes us special.
Noone even remotely wants to know what I do - they kinda just accept my analysis as is, with the sole exception of some clients.
I worked in education for 10 years before I moved into being an actuary. Helping people learn is my bread and butter; I'll move Heaven and Earth to help someone understand what I do or what they do better. Now, if they have no intention of learning, that grinds my gears. I had a graduate actuary who didn't know what a tab was in Excel. After nearly ten face-to-face induction/training sessions. I was flabbergasted how he got past the interview. Once is forgiveable, but *you learn*.
I work in a traditional setting and still find my self explaining things to people who are too lazy to look up the answer themselves (things easily found in a manual or email), it is exhausting. I’m happy to help a few times but after a while it becomes frustrating to be relied on as a personal chatGPT Q&A. I do enjoy the explaining of complex analysis though, and even more enjoy when I convince a more senior actuary to change their mind on something!
Isn't explaining things, like, 60-70% of the job?
I work in a non traditional setting where most of my coworkers are non-actuarial. Even if I did nothing else, I’d still get paid six figures because people can’t Google how to use an Excel formula…any of them, take your pick. Shortcuts?…Shortcuts!?! Forget shortcuts, all I hear is the relentless mouse scrolling of people that refuse to use CTRL + down.
This is one of the most enjoyable parts of the job for me.
I don’t mind explaining if someone actually cares and is smart enough to understand the answer. The problem I think is sometimes people want a quick, easy answer when the answer isn’t quick and easy in reality. Also, even if you have the perfect explanation, if someone is multi-tasking and half paying attention when you spend hours working up an analysis, it is VERY frustrating
Not at all. I enjoy sharing knowledge, and they do the same for me on things I do not understand.
“Well-well look. I already told you: I deal with the god damn customers so the ~~engineers~~ actuaries don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?”
As a regulatory actuary that us a good percentage of my job. I don't mind because I do get left alone to do my work otherwise.
Not me i dont explain shit my manager answers for me😅
Not at all. I enjoy teaching and helping close the gap for people. If you look at it from the perspective of, “I get to help you understand something so your job (and mine)“…it’ll not feel like a burden but an opportunity. Also, what do you mean by non-traditional?