Career Strategy for BSc Actuarial Science

[derivativetrader]

Please give your honest opinions on the following couple of strategies,

Please note that all strategies start from BSc. Actuarial Science from LSE.

1. Actuarial Trainee from newly formed but rapidly growing actuarial practice. (big fish in small river)

2. Actuarial Trainee from well established top 4 actuarial firms. (here I will be a small fish in ocean)

3. Investment Banking (Corporate Finance / M&A) with top banks, names like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, etc.

4. Investment Banking (specialised industry group e.g. ALM for Pensions industry - might get sponsored for CFA).

For all these 4 strategies, should I do a Masters in Statistics (from Oxford, Cambridge, Ivy League US)?

Or should I rather do a MBA from Top 5 US schools - ofcourse that would be after 3-5 years of work experience?

I am 70% risk taker and 30% safer person.

LT plans are dynamic and tranferable set skills - not necessarily interested in insane amount of cash.

Want pretty stable career with flexiblity to move around and explore different areas within industry if any opportunity arises.

DT

[Actuary2B]

honest opinions?....mmmm....you're asking for way too much!

IMO

1)You may probably "learn more" initially in your career by working in a small firm.

2) Big firms might have rotation programs that could broaden your exposure to different Actuarial lines.

3)& 4) sorry, don't know. But If you paln to go for non-traditional Actuarial roles, your experience may OR may not be of little importance within traditional Actuarial work.

Assuming you're initially looking to get professional Actuarial qualifications first

If you're on IoA track, then you should consider going for MS Actuarial to get some more IoA exemptions. US MBA/MS don't give exemptions for U.S Actuarial exams so there is no point in getting involved in anymore academics on that side.

Hope it helps a little

[derivativetrader]

Thanks for your comments but looking for more opinions.

DT

[jafcbs]

Go the MBA route. More portability and more choices later on in life

Do the small growing practice choice since your long term personal and professional growth (in the long term) is directly linked to the level of responsibility you are trusted with. There will be lots of that with the small fish in a small river choice.

[Syed]

1) Forget the masters in statistics
2) Forget the MBA, low ROI if you want to stay an actuary, and if you want to go into general consulting...then dont sweat the FSA!
3) Be a trainee in a) field that you want, and b) company that you might want to go with if they extend an offer

[cpa_guy]

Do the IBanking for the first 3-5 years, pay your dues, get the big bucks, and ofcourse get the Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs name on your resume. Then do a top 5 US MBA, join some MC firm like Mckinsey, BCG etc and buddy you're set for life.