Slackalacking

Overdue to post this update - I did indeed pass FM two weeks ago.  This was followed by lots of drinking Sunday evening (with my boss, my former boss, and other coworkers), and lots of drinking after work for the rest of the week.  The following week was a recovery week.

I was seriously considering prepping for the Halloween sitting of 3L.  I'd have to kill myself to be prepared in 2 months, but I think it would ultimately be worth it given that I'll save an exam come 2014 with the impending split of 3L by the CAS.  However, my boss sort of discouraged me in our last weekly meeting.  Though he didn't outright say not to, he emphasized how tough it would be and spent more time talking about the readings I and we had to do.  So though I got the manual for 3L, my new plan is to start casually studying now for MFE in March and 3LC/ST material for the May sitting, but to focus on the papers I have to read for work.  Maybe I'll knock out a VEE in the meantime.

Here are some quick reflections that may say more about myself/my company than life at entry level generally.  First, I find my company is super cheap when it comes to the exam incentives.  Now that I actually have a raise/bonus due, it turns out the newer revised (better) student program was not yet approved (though it was discussed with me in April when I was interviewing) and I will be getting the lesser rewards of the older program.  However, I can't get the raise/bonus until I get official notice of my passing FM, at which point the newer program WILL be past implementation!!!

Secondly, though I haven't seen more $$$ yet, I've been out spending it.  This weekend I'm away but I still went out and dropped some cash on new work clothes and shoes.  Actually over the entire past month I've been finding reasons to buy more outfits for work.  Also I've been stocking my house with better bourbon/beer and going out more.  I don't fit the cheap actuary stereotype very well.  I have to make a serious effort to reign in the spending and start saving/paying off loans!

I took an extra day off to make a 4-day weekend out of the holiday.  Visiting family where I grew up and spending time on the beach.  I'll be back to updating more regularly this week - actually, probably more regularly than I was before since I won't have a looming exam.

-FS

t=n-1

I now have 1 day until I write FM.  I feel like I have a pretty good shot, but not close to where I want to be.  Maybe a 70% chance of passing.  A few tough questions or failing to find a groove early on and I will definitely crash and burn.  I know the feeling from P, as well as the feeling when all the dominoes just seem to fall nicely as you go through the questions and your confidence increases with each answer.  I hope it ends up being the latter obviously.

Things that are still tripping me up include some of the long calculations involved with duration and the formula derivation type questions (which is a valid expression for...).  I'm pretty solid on bonds, TVM and such.  Derivatives strategies are hit or miss, but I think "miss" is mostly on the strategies you see less frequently (reverse cash and carry: sell the index, buy a bond with proceeds, long the forward I think...  though cash and carry I know you buy a tailed position I better go look these up again).

Tomorrow:  first thing in the morning is yoga class to clear my mind. Aside from that - I keep a special notebook with all the problems I missed due to more than a stupid/calculation error.  I'll probably go over and/or rework all of these, maybe do TIA quizzes on my weak areas, look at index cards and notes - no practice exams.  Have to take it easy and be fresh Sunday morning.

For my last 3 exams I've eaten fish the day before because I hear it is good for memory - but I also failed 2 of my last 3 sittings so....If you have any tips or rituals for the day before, please share =).

-FA

Finding Motivation

One week to go and I am really having trouble pressing on with more practice exams.  I boosted up my EL to 6.75 from about 5.7 with one good exam the other day, which is encouraging because of the gains being made but also deflates me when I run into questions that stump me with much higher frequency.  I just went to start a test, couldn't get an answer for 3 of the first 4 questions, said fuck it and scored the exam up so I could look at solutions.  I know if I took the real thing today you could predict my passing with a coin flip, so I need to get through these level 6 to 8ish questions now filling my practice tests.

For now though, I think I am about to goto the bar for a drink and food  Maybe take a nap and then do a test tonight before bed.   I wish I could hit reset on my exhaustion with these practice exams somehow.

Days til test: 6.5

Earned Level: 6.75

Tests completed: about 20

Epic People Study to Epic Music

No time for blog posts - here is 5 hours of epic study music.  FM in two weeks and I'm only at 4.75 earned level on ADAPT.