PASS!!!

I did not update the blog (who am I kidding - this is a journal!) on the Friday the results were released, but it brought HUGE news. I passed my last SOA exam!! I was at work when I found out (just after 10:00am), and the first thing I did when I saw my number was throw my glasses off and cry a little bit. Not much, but probably enough that my next-door cubicle neighbours were probably wondering what was going on!

I spent the next two hours telling everyone I could, starting with the wife of course, who was honestly probably happier about it than I was! That's an important point actually. TANGENT TIME!

Ok, so everyone is obviously happy for you when you pass, but no one, NO ONE, understands the significance of a pass unless you're going through it yourself, or you are attached to someone who is going through it. A common saying among actuarial students is that the exams cost them friendships. This is true. It is difficult to maintain a consistent social life and have success with exams. Well, some people can - and these are people who should probably be professors as opposed to actuaries - but for the most part, social life (and therefore friendships) does suffer. Working by day and studying by night certainly put a strain on the relationship with my family. I live a few hours away from them, and could really never sacrifice a full weekend to not study and see them. It's an awful feeling, but I'm hopeful things patch themselves up now that I'm done exam writing.

Anyway, the next couple of hours after I saw I passed were spent telling everyone close to me the news. It was a great morning! The only thing that makes days like that better is when the people around you pass as well. Unfortunately, that was not the case for a couple of friends of mine who wrote the same exam. I treated them to beers after work that day. I know they'll get it soon though, and I can't wait to be on the receiving end of the beer when that day happens!

So my goal coming into this job at the start of 2010 came true. I passed BOTH of my FSA exams! It's unbelievable when I think about it! People in this office were generally successful. Definitely more passes than not. Hindsight being 20/20, coming here when I did was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

So what are the next steps? I'd really like to finish off my final FSA module and the DMAC (I completed the PRF Module just before Christmas) as soon as possible, but the PEC is being offered in June. Because I'm taking the Individual Life & Annuities track at the PEC (as opposed to my SOA track which was Group), my studying has to start very soon. After the PEC is over, then I'll finish up the SOA requirements and get my FSA. If everything goes perfectly, I'll be FSA/FCIA by year's end.

What a year 2010 was! Wedding, trips, passing exams......I don't think there will be a year quite like this last one!