Hi I am trying to decide between SA5 and SA6. Here is my approach so far: - I am not in the UK and i am not working in any actuarial field, so i am not following recent developements etc and i have no any experience in any subject. - The core reading for SA5 is much bigger. This might imply that there are more points to be gained (from studying the core reading) in the SA5 exam rather than in the SA6 exam. - Given that my weak point is experience/following recent developments, i am thinking to start studying SA5 (if there are indeed more points to be gained from the core reading, this will increase my chances). Can you please comment on the above? Is the above thinking correct, or do you think that both SA5 and SA6 exams have pretty much the same number of points to be gained from bookwork (in which case i prefer to take SA6 which i find more interesting)? Many thanks for your help.
SA5 or SA6 Hi In the past I have always agreed with your analysis. SA5 has core reading which is examinable and gets you some marks. SA6 has very little copre reading and has always been about current issues in the investment consulting arena and is quite hard to pass if you are not up to date with these issues. So I would recommend SA5. Recently I must admit, the SA5 exam has had less marks for core reading and this has been associated with a falling pass rate. So its a tougher call now, but on balance I would still say that if you are not in consulting or fund management, dont do SA6 - rather do SA5. Hope this helps
Hi Colin and Mseng. I think I am in the same boat as mseng. I, too, think the subject matter of SA6 is more interesting than that of SA5. I am not currently working in any actuarial field, but have worked for a large general insurance firm. I do try to keep up with current issues, by reading journals , publications like The Economist, and using other sources. Are there other ways to gain sufficent insight into the current issues that would apply to SA6, so hat the SA6 exam would be "passable" for an outsider?. Thank you.
Hi Canuck_Act I am not aware of any other ways to gain more insight. My understanding so far is that experience can really make the difference. Sorry i cannot help. Mseng
SA5 or SA6 Hi Sorry - I didnt spot this post coming in or I woud have replied a bit earlier. SA6 is a tricky one to plan your studying for. The exam is on topical issues or current discussion points in the investment consulting and fund manager research field. It can cover almost anything from general issues to specific trades. Very hard to know where to look unless you are in the industry. SA5 has a lot of core reading which regularly gets examined in application style questions. It is probably the one for someone not working in the investment consulting area. But its not impossible if that is where you want to go, but these would be my views. Hope they help.
I work in Life insurance and do things like ALM, Solvency 2 etc. I have never worked in pure asset management but I am give SA6 a go, I will keep reading around the field as Investments is an area of my specific interest, does anyone think I'm going suicidal? I don't even work or leave in the UK, I have never even seen UK! Help will be appreciated.
I am wondering which companies recruit actuaries with SA5 or SA6? Won't the finance/asset management companies hire quant specialists or may be MBAs in finance? And how does the course for SA5 differ from that of SA6 on a high level?
