The Elite Forum

The Big Three Plus One => General Chat => Topic started by: Lovins on August 28, 2008, 12:34:00 am

Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Lovins on August 28, 2008, 12:34:00 am
I finally landed a full-time actuarial position! (actuarial is mathematical/risk management for the n00bs (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Ftongue.gif&hash=7cfc888ebd66cf455a55fd5e124ee8267da91148) )

Pointe Benefit Consultants in St. Clair Shores, MI. They design pension plans for small businesses. I will be sort of an actuarial assistant to the president of the firm. Starting salary $38,000/year, 2 weeks paid vacation, full health insurance coverage and more. Extremely laid back office atmosphere too. Workday is 8:30-5 so I'll still have evenings (and weekends, when Stephanie's nice (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Fwink.gif&hash=4979046fbfc7ed25a03644bf608e503c4aa73f0f) ) to keep at the GE.


Going in tomorrow to meet the other employees, they're taking me out to lunch, which will be my 4th free meal from them including the interviews (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Fsmile.gif&hash=1adea417e08e9042f9ce1a5426616bf29f2ca20e) I start next Tuesday full time, then in October they're flying me down to Jacksonville, Florida for a week of training. Pretty cool, since I should get to party with Adam on the side then! YEAH!



Out of the bingo hall and into real life FINALLY! Took me 8 months from graduating college (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Feyes.gif&hash=332c6dfb5489a00ccf0ea41c1466df8bbde388d9)

Oh btw my avatar is a picture of me in my car right after my first interview with this company.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Jimbo on August 28, 2008, 12:53:00 am
I'll be making that kind of money the second I turn 21, except driving a big semi all over the country! ($58K after only 5 years or so), damnit Eddie we both rule! No but seriously great job, you obviously have a lot more potential than me and I hope the years of schooling pays off!
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: PerfectTaste on August 28, 2008, 01:44:00 am
Awesome Eddie! I was really happy when I finally got my job permanent, full-time. Welcome to the "adult" life!
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: AZ on August 28, 2008, 04:35:00 am
Congrats Lovins (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Fsmile.gif&hash=1adea417e08e9042f9ce1a5426616bf29f2ca20e)
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Wouter Jansen on August 28, 2008, 04:58:00 am
converted to euros / 12, you get paid quite a bit more then I do, though we also have like 1/4th of our salary going to taxes and I'm glad here we have 25 days that I can take off and get paid for.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Henning Blom on August 28, 2008, 05:35:00 am
Congrats Lovins! (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Fhappy.gif&hash=7b9cd982f9a41f9aefcd7ea74682d5f1e4caf4c6)
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: PerfectTaste on August 28, 2008, 06:12:00 am
Quote from: Wouter Jansen
converted to euros / 12, you get paid quite a bit more then I do, though we also have like 1/4th of our salary going to taxes and I'm glad here we have   25  
  days that I can take off and get paid for.



I get almost as much as Lovins moneywise but I can also take 25 paid days off.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: AZ on August 28, 2008, 06:42:00 am
Yeah, though Sweden got the highest income taxes in the world, 30-33% of the salary, we've got more than 2 weeks vacation.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: PerfectTaste on August 28, 2008, 06:46:00 am
Quote from: AckeZ1989
Yeah, though Sweden got the highest income taxes in the world, 30-33% of the salary, we've got more than 2 weeks vacation.



Yeah, that truly sucks! (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Ffrown.gif&hash=9bb8520656650a7c2457ae0ae2ee8996e4109fd6)
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: l337 on August 28, 2008, 08:31:00 am
lol tax
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Lovins on August 28, 2008, 02:21:00 pm
Yeah the 38,000 is before taxes, and I believe we lose about 25% also (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Feyes.gif&hash=332c6dfb5489a00ccf0ea41c1466df8bbde388d9) still triple what I was making at the bingo hall though lol
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: SupaOdin on August 28, 2008, 05:43:00 pm
Nice work Lovins!
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Matis on August 28, 2008, 07:49:00 pm
YEAH! awesome job Eddie. Yeah finally glad to hear all of this and the anticipation of you texting me after you got out saying you got the job! good stuff though and I'm sure you'll have lots of fun doing what you want and im sure you'll get bonuses and extra incentives for doing well which we all know you will. I just hope after im done i'll get a job in less then 8 months....c'mon you know you want to work the bingo hall weekends (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Fwink.gif&hash=4979046fbfc7ed25a03644bf608e503c4aa73f0f)

and yes we'll have to try to work something out later when you go for training. just leave the HIV infected javelins at home :-P (insided joke...no one has HIV)
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: octoinky on August 28, 2008, 09:44:00 pm
Actuary!! make smart moves, you'll be making well over $100K in your 30s.


I've still got a year left, master in statistics. I hope to land my first job around 60K :-X

congrats, let us know what its like in the real world!
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Wouter Jansen on August 29, 2008, 07:01:00 am
what should I be making as a programmer in holland? any ideas? my work has like no pressure but since it's first year I started on a low salary and I don't know what I can ask for whilst staying reasonable/realistic
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: dragondragon18 on August 29, 2008, 02:21:00 pm
Congrats on getting an actuarial position after 8 months. It took me 3 years (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Ffrown.gif&hash=9bb8520656650a7c2457ae0ae2ee8996e4109fd6). I'm surprised you accepted an actuary position at 38k though, since thats a lot lower than the average starting salary. Oh well, experience early on is better than salary anyway.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Lovins on August 29, 2008, 03:33:00 pm
What average starting salary do you know of? I always read it was around $40,000, so having only one exam passed and no prior experience, I'm fine with 38 for now. I was practically getting to the point where I would've even taken an unpaid internship to gain experience, luckily I didn't have to take that route.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Worlds-One on August 29, 2008, 06:52:00 pm
Good news eddie, congrats on the new job bro
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: PDplum on August 29, 2008, 07:02:00 pm
Quote
"$38,000/year, 2 weeks paid vacation, full health insurance coverage and more"
just xe.comd that = £20,862.00


I'm a lowly accounts assistant second worst salary at my company and im on £21,000. No uni or college qualifications. Full health insurance and 4 1/2 weeks holiday.

Never realised how different things were in america
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Neo on August 29, 2008, 07:07:00 pm
Direct currency conversion doesn't work like that Plum, especially with the market like it is now.

A few years ago $38k US would have been $82k AUD here, but now it's about $40k AUD. Doesn't mean he's making half of what he would have a few years ago.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: octoinky on August 29, 2008, 09:53:00 pm
Plum, you can't generalize like that, even parts of america are vastly different. Picture america like europe, and states like EU countries, lol - its practically that different. 38K you can live off of in some states - others you'd barely be able to survive. Spending power is important, not just conversion!


Actuary one exam? I thought you had to pass 2 to even get your foot in the door!


What I heard here in CA, starting was in the 40s, but quickly climbs to 60s after a couple of years, and well into the 100s as you continue to pass exams. Like 200-300K/year with fellowship, probably more consulting like drag does than your pension plans.


38K first job and with full benefits will be plenty though, I think thats fantastic especially because actuary you have so many opportunities to keep moving up.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: NathanStinson on August 29, 2008, 11:14:00 pm
You got a full time job, but did you.... almost kiss a girl?!
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Jimbo on August 29, 2008, 11:48:00 pm
Yeah in WI $60,000 houses do exist, and are livable! In California, $60K buys you a storage unit.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Scrambler Fanny on August 30, 2008, 06:06:00 am
^true story, but Wisconsin, despite its flatness, is a very nice place!
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: dragondragon18 on August 30, 2008, 02:32:00 pm
Some survey I saw from like 2002 said the average starting with 0-1 exams was 40k-55k. Of course that doesn't take into account cost of living, so i'm sure if you factor that in, they gave you something equivalent to the average.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Soft-Hedwig on August 31, 2008, 01:22:00 pm
"He's got a daytime job, he's doing alright!"
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: RWG on September 02, 2008, 01:29:00 am
University is stupid and pointless.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: octoinky on September 02, 2008, 01:50:00 am
I was under the impression you needed 2 exams to even be hired. We have courses at uni to prepare for both probability and finance and are recommended to take them right away :-X. I didn't!
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: RWG on September 02, 2008, 02:00:00 am
it's ok octo. University and the like (ie: exams) are all bullshit anyways!

though congrats to Eddie! May this be the start of a great career with loads of money and living the good life (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Fsmile.gif&hash=1adea417e08e9042f9ce1a5426616bf29f2ca20e)
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Jimbo on September 02, 2008, 11:57:00 am
What's a bum like Eddie going to do with money anyway? Probably buy a lot of beer and hookers and die early! (see, maybe it's better to not have a good job, 'eh?!)
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: RWG on September 02, 2008, 12:42:00 pm
I think Eddie would save up and buy a big house and then also a kickass beachfront cottage with lots of Ski Doos and ATVs and the like and have massive parties with everyone from miles away and just kick it real cool. And then when his kids are 16-20 he should let them go up there all summer and party as well. At least that's the intelligent thing to do.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Infil on September 02, 2008, 02:57:00 pm
Congrats Eddie!

I still have to figure out what I'm going to do at the start of 2009.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Lovins on September 02, 2008, 07:26:00 pm
Lol Ryan (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Fwink.gif&hash=4979046fbfc7ed25a03644bf608e503c4aa73f0f) Well first things first, I'm gonna want to get my own place asap, then from there, maybe a newer and faster Mustang next spring? Mine's 10 years and 107,000 miles old now.

But yeah, first day went pretty good, learned a lot, really nice people there.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: RWG on September 02, 2008, 07:32:00 pm
heh, my Regal is 14 years old and with 225k on it but is the most ballin dopemobile of all my friends' fleet. I might be upgrading to a 1976 Pontiac Lemans soon though (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Fhappy.gif&hash=7b9cd982f9a41f9aefcd7ea74682d5f1e4caf4c6)

How much older are you than me? Is it really only 3 years? Shit's gonna get real for me real soon (https://forums.the-elite.net/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ezboard.com%2Fintl%2Faenglish%2Fimages%2Femoticons%2Fpimp.gif&hash=c1cb7402a9c48c855e0ae214b65a01e3a1566cf0)
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: Lovins on September 02, 2008, 07:42:00 pm
I'm 23...aren't you 19?
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: RWG on September 02, 2008, 07:53:00 pm
yeah I just turned 19 though I usually tell people I'm 17 which is probably more accurate.
Title: Got a full-time job
Post by: mikerspd on September 03, 2008, 12:04:00 am
Congratulations!  I had considered Actuary for a profession as math rules, but for some reason that never happened.  I thought I heard that entry actuary positions were higher than that, though it may have been just average actuary wages (regardless, you'll be making sick pay soon).  Any pay is certainly sweet for the experience (vs unpaid internship), and getting in is the important step.  Good luck!