Actuaries' Survival Guide: How to Succeed in One of the Most Desirable Professions [Paperback]

Fred Szabo (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0126801460 | ISBN-13: 978-0126801460 | Publication Date: March 8, 2004 | Edition: 1

This unique book is a guide for students and graduates of mathematics, statistics, economics, finance, and other number-based disciplines contemplating a career in actuarial science. Given the comprehensive range of the cases that are analyzed in the book, the Actuaries' Survival Guide can serve as a companion to existing study material for all courses designed to prepare students for actuarial examinations.

* Based on the curricula and examinations of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS)
* Presents an overview of career options and details on employment in different industries
* Provides a link between theory and practice; helps readers gain the qualitative and quantitative skills and knowledge required to succeed in actuarial exams
* Includes insights from over 50 actuaries and actuarial students
* Written by Fred Szabo, who has directed the actuarial co-op program at Concordia University for over ten years

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I found this material to be the most helpful thing for anyone contemplating an actuarial profession. The early material motivates and familiarizes a person with the profession in a casual but real way. The middle material
gives a person the tools to plan and attack a program to pass the exams. The latter part of the book gives great guidance on job opportunities...Bravo to both the book's concept and realization."
- Murray Lieb, New Jersey Institute of Technology


"The book is extremely well written. Actuaries need good communication skills and this book provides an excellent example of such skills at work."
- Charles Moore, Kansas State University

Book Description

The first career guide for actuarial students and beginning professionals

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 1 edition (March 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0126801460
• ISBN-13: 978-0126801460
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #664,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Strong in a few areas, but some serious gaps..., February 3, 2006

By 

S. P. Walker IV - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Actuaries' Survival Guide: How to Succeed in One of the Most Desirable Professions (Paperback)

As someone interested in making a possible career change into the actuarial profession, I purchased this book hoping to get a feel for the day-to-day job experience of an actuary, as well as get some basic information about career paths and professional organizations. A large portion of the book consists of responses a survey the author undertook; daily tasks, salaries, opportunities and such. These are very useful and are presented without "analysis" by the author, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. However, the book really has very little background information - differences (textbook at least) between different business areas actuaries are employed, or information about what distinquishes an associate from a fellow, etc.
Upon further research I also discovered that some of the information has become out of date, as the professional organizations have recently added some additional requirements for advancement.
Overall I did find this book of some use in understanding more about the "daily life" of an actuary, but with the lack of background info and some information becoming outdated I cannot recommend it at the $40 price tag it currently carries.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only worth buying if you dont have web access, February 24, 2006

By 

Actuary Student (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Actuaries' Survival Guide: How to Succeed in One of the Most Desirable Professions (Paperback)

This is a compilation of mainly everything you can read at the CAS and SOA websites. It's a colletions for FAQs that actuaries in the industry answered and some of the questions weren't answered well. The second half of the book discusses the examinations which is a little helpful but again you can go to the websites for that. This book was not worth the price I paid.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, August 22, 2004

By 

Chantal - See all my reviews

This review is from: Actuaries' Survival Guide: How to Succeed in One of the Most Desirable Professions (Paperback)

I am a research mathematician who has often wondered what my life would be like today, had I chosen to become an actuary. Now I know. Dr. Szabo's insider profiles of working actuaries are entertaining, informative, and comprehensive. I have enjoyed the accounts of the day-to-day activities of actuaries at their various levels of seniority, and have found it intriguing to learn how some of the underlying mathematical ideas and techniques can be discussed in a book of this type without assuming advanced prior knowledge. I highly recommend this guide to anyone interested in an actuarial career.