Actuarial career is highly dependent on your papers taken. Why you want to study actuarial science?

An off-topic question. What reference books (e.g Actex) do UTAR Act. Sc. student usually use for preliminary papers?

Yep, I agree that ASM is very informative material for preliminary exams. Thanks for your info.

Have been using ASM, Actex and some other material and they are very useful. I think these material should be suffice for preliminary exams. Thanks for your reply.

IMO, actuarial science program generally prepare its students for preliminary exams which are Exam P,FM,C,MFE and MLC (for SOA) or CT1-8 ( for IFoA) which isn't really relevant to knowledge crucial in investment banking such as portfolio management, equity investment etc. The preliminary exams of SOA emphasize on pricing financial derivative, insurance products, statistical methods for actuarial model (Survival, severity, frequency, aggregate model etc) and so on. However, upon fulfilling the ASA criteria, you can choose to proceed with Quantitative Finance and Investment (QFI) Track to obtain the FSA title.

Based on my observation on my course mate, many mistaken actuarial science as quantitative finance or investment banking. At the end, most of them end up with disappointment as the material in the preliminary exams aren't really what they expect. I think taking CFA exams, or taking and finance and investment degree might be more relevant if you were to venture into investment banking. However, I do have friend studying actuarial science but take CFA instead of SOA exams.

Taking SOA exams is a very tedious process which require a lot of time and hardwork. Think wisely before you choose. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

This post has been edited by Michael_Light: Feb 11 2016, 10:10 PM

Consider yourself lucky if you able to squeeze into the actuarial industry. Its not easy to enter actuarial field without connection.