Dentist vs. Actuary

[JPevzner]

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Hey guys,
My friend's dad is an actuary and although I don't know exactly what he makes, I know he's in the top tax bracket (>250k). I was really suprised by this because all he has is a bachelors degree from Binghamton University with a major in Actuarial science. I'm not sure how old the dad is but I'm guessing mid 40's. Works fairly regular hours (50 or so per week). Additionally, I found this salary survey: http://www.dwsimpson.com/salary.html Seems pretty awesome. I was surprised to find that one can have such a high earning potential with only a B.S. Although, I'm already set on dentistry, this seems like a preety sweet gig without the additional time and money investment of dental school.

 

[HupHolland]

Do you have any idea what it takes to be an actuary? The effort to earn a B.S. in Actuarial Science surpasses every other college major.

Also, consider the nature of what a actuary does vs. what a dentist does. The fields are polar opposites. I don't think comparing length of education and salary should ever be parameters used to compare these two seeing as though they are so different.

Hup

 

[Ostracized]

Yeah, I'll still take dentistry. If numbers and sitting in a cubical are more your bag, consider actuarial science.

 

[wjdghks]

Becoming an actuary also requires much more intelligence, those exams are very very hard and if you are not gifted in math, you have little chance of passing.
Dental school is just pure memorization, anyone can do it with effort.

 

[aphistis]

Do you have any idea what it takes to be an actuary? The effort to earn a B.S. in Actuarial Science surpasses every other college major.

Also, consider the nature of what a actuary does vs. what a dentist does. The fields are polar opposites. I don't think comparing length of education and salary should ever be parameters used to compare these two seeing as though they are so different.

Hup

Perfectly said. 👍

 

[JPevzner]

Do you have any idea what it takes to be an actuary? The effort to earn a B.S. in Actuarial Science surpasses every other college major.

Also, consider the nature of what a actuary does vs. what a dentist does. The fields are polar opposites. I don't think comparing length of education and salary should ever be parameters used to compare these two seeing as though they are so different.

Hup

I honestly do not have an idea about the specific difficulties of majoring in Actuarial Science but do you really think its harder than a biology degree plus dent school?

 

[HupHolland]

I honestly do not have an idea about the specific difficulties of majoring in Actuarial Science but do you really think its harder than a biology degree plus dent school?

It's hard to say. Obviously, as far as years of formal education, college + dental school takes the cake. However, in order to become an actuary, in addition to the B.S. and all the prelim exams, you must work for 3 years full-time doing actuarial work. Then you need to take more exams.

But in your original post you say, "all he has is a bachelors degree..." My point is that becoming an actuary is more than getting just a bachelor degree.

Hup

 

[dl9006]

you make it sound like having bs in actuarial science + passing all the exams required is easy.

i heard many ppl don't pass the exams and never do.

you have to be very intelligent to be be an actuary.

 

[Doc Smile]

Hey guys,
My friend's dad is an actuary and although I don't know exactly what he makes, I know he's in the top tax bracket (>250k). I was really suprised by this because all he has is a bachelors degree from Binghamton University with a major in Actuarial science. I'm not sure how old the dad is but I'm guessing mid 40's. Works fairly regular hours (50 or so per week). Additionally, I found this salary survey: http://www.dwsimpson.com/salary.html Seems pretty awesome. I was surprised to find that one can have such a high earning potential with only a B.S. Although, I'm already set on dentistry, this seems like a preety sweet gig without the additional time and money investment of dental school.

It sounds like you are concerned with the $$$$ signs on your paycheck and not the detail of the work. My friends dad is a garbage man and only has his highschool diploma and makes >80K a year. . . Is that something you want to do? Not me. No sir.

 

[Saddleshoes]

Hey guys,
My friend's dad is an actuary and although I don't know exactly what he makes, I know he's in the top tax bracket (>250k). I was really suprised by this because all he has is a bachelors degree from Binghamton University with a major in Actuarial science. I'm not sure how old the dad is but I'm guessing mid 40's. Works fairly regular hours (50 or so per week). Additionally, I found this salary survey: http://www.dwsimpson.com/salary.html Seems pretty awesome. I was surprised to find that one can have such a high earning potential with only a B.S. Although, I'm already set on dentistry, this seems like a preety sweet gig without the additional time and money investment of dental school.

I can tell you one of my high school friends became an actuary and I became a dentist. If you pick any personality attribute, any innate talents, any god given mental proclivities or any other inborn tendency, except a love for basketball, you would find that Paul and I are exact opposites.

My point here is you might make a great actuary OR you might make a great dentist but I think the two careers are mutually exclusive based on WHO and WHAT you are.

 

[The Hammer]

Becoming an actuary also requires much more intelligence, those exams are very very hard and if you are not gifted in math, you have little chance of passing.
Dental school is just pure memorization, anyone can do it with effort.

Oh yes, pure memorization will give you all of the hand skills necessary to pass dental school. Whereas math has nothing to do with memorization. Are you a troll or are you really this dense?

 

[aphistis]

I honestly do not have an idea about the specific difficulties of majoring in Actuarial Science but do you really think its harder than a biology degree plus dent school?

I *do* have an idea, having watched a significant other spend four years doing it. I promise you it is much, much, much harder than getting a biology degree.

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

Acting, no question.

 

[DDMess]

50 hrs/wk is not fairly regular that is putting in serious overtime or weekends....10 hrs a day with no weekends

 

[wjdghks]

Oh yes, pure memorization will give you all of the hand skills necessary to pass dental school. Whereas math has nothing to do with memorization. Are you a troll or are you really this dense?

The hand skills can be taught to a monkey, it's not something that requires intelligence. Congrats on missing my entire point and confirming the notion that you don't have to be intelligent to get in to dental school. I'll let you have the last word.

 

[476515678234896]

Oh yes, pure memorization will give you all of the hand skills necessary to pass dental school. Whereas math has nothing to do with memorization.

There are many forms of math. Some are rote memorization but those are usually remedial. Higher levels of math require a lot of creativity and "outside the box" thinking.

 

[aphistis]

Oh yes, pure memorization will give you all of the hand skills necessary to pass dental school. Whereas math has nothing to do with memorization. Are you a troll or are you really this dense?

The hand skills can be taught to a monkey, it's not something that requires intelligence. Congrats on missing my entire point and confirming the notion that you don't have to be intelligent to get in to dental school. I'll let you have the last word.

In light of this additional information, my vote is definitely for troll.

This definitely does not exclude being dense, but it's hard to tell given the florid nature of the trolling.

 

[aphistis]

There are many forms of math. Some are rote memorization but those are usually remedial. Higher levels of math require a lot of creativity and "outside the box" thinking.

I think Hammer realizes this. S/He was being sarcastic.

 

[The Hammer]

 

[The Hammer]

In light of this additional information, my vote is definitely for troll.

This definitely does not exclude being dense, but it's hard to tell given the florid nature of the trolling.

Yep I'm going with troll as well.👍

 

[The Hammer]

I think Hammer realizes this. S/He was being sarcastic.

I'm a He and yes I was being very sarcastic.😎

 

[The Hammer]

When an actuary can make enough off of one case to buy one of these like I did I may reconsider my choice of going into dentistry

Ok to be totally truthful it was two cases in April 2007 that allowed me to go and buy this with cash

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

Nice Buick.

 

[sfoksn]

Nice Buick.

LOL

 

[lemoncurry]

LOL

👍

 

[476515678234896]

👍

👍👍

 

[476515678234896]

👍👍

👍👍👍

 

[The Hammer]

Nice Buick.

yeah that was the one thing I didn't really like about it. The engine, suspension and drivetrain were awesome and truly world class. The interior however made me feel like I was in a rental car. It had a great stereo but it didn't have an ipod dock😡 And every time I saw somebody else in a new vette they looked like they had just jumped the fence at the retirement community. But sweet tiny baby Jesus that thing was fast. With the exception of some NASCAR cars I've ridden in it was by far the fastest car I've ever driven or ridden in. And believe it or not the insurance was less than half of a supercharged Cobra that I had before. I sold the ZO6 in 2009 and bought a new M5

 

[476515678234896]

😴

 

[The Hammer]

😴

That's good, you already have that "I am intimidated by other dentists who are more successful and better than me" envy thing going on. Most docs don't get that until they are out in private practice a couple of years. Keep up the good work, that type of mentality is exactly what will keep you struggling to be third rate. Maybe you will eventually mature enough and see how detrimental that is to you and your practice, get over it and move right up to the top. I hope so because God knows there are already too many docs with that same problem

Oh yeah let me go ahead and post your witty and clever rebuttal

I'm guessing either a 🙄 or 😴😴

 

[476515678234896]

That's good, you already have that "I am intimidated by other dentists who are more successful and better than me" envy thing going on. Most docs don't get that until they are out in private practice a couple of years. Keep up the good work, that type of mentality is exactly what will keep you struggling to be third rate. Maybe you will eventually mature enough and see how detrimental that is to you and your practice, get over it and move right up to the top. I hope so because God knows there are already too many docs with that same problem

not sure how you got all that from one smiley face 🙄

 

[The Hammer]

not sure how you got all that from one smiley face 🙄

sorry. On the internet it is hard to tell if your 😴 was about the thread overall or my post. If I misinterpreted your emoticon then I apologize 👍👍

 

[476515678234896]

sorry. On the internet it is hard to tell if your 😴 was about the thread overall or my post. If I misinterpreted your emoticon then I apologize 👍👍

 

[JPevzner]

When an actuary can make enough off of one case to buy one of these like I did I may reconsider my choice of going into dentistry

Ok to be totally truthful it was two cases in April 2007 that allowed me to go and buy this with cash

👍 Are you a gp or specialist? how long did those cases take you? do you think your overall situation is an exception?

 

[The Hammer]

👍 Are you a gp or specialist? how long did those cases take you? do you think your overall situation is an exception?

I'm a GP and my situation was the exception but I am not exceptional. What I mean by that is I was a very average dental student. I had very average skills and knew nothing about running a practice. But instead of just accepting that or being afraid of exposing my lack of knowledge I sought out everyone who knew some technique or skill that I wanted to learn and pestered the crap out of them until they showed it to me. I have always gotten 100 or more hours of good CE a year since I graduated from dental school. And let me tell you quality CE is not cheap. And it didn't come overnight. I started practicing in 1993 and it wasn't until about 2003 that I started doing full mouth restorations. By that time I was a Pankey Scholar and had worked with Frank Spear at his office. I had also spent several years learning from Jim Pride how to run my office and manage my staff and patients.

The thing that I want to get across to you guys in dental school when I show the car I drive or talk about how much money I made is if I can do it, you can too. I remember all too well being in dental school and watching my debt grow and grow and thinking "what the hell am I doing here? My friends are all out making the big bucks and I'm going to be working at a denture mill for the rest of my life." Well I just want you all to know that ain't true. If you want to be the best you can do it if you are willing to put the time, money and tears to get it and most importantly if you can get over the fear of someone finding out that you don't know everything about dentistry. I have never been afraid to look stupid by asking a question if I thought that the answer would be something I could put to use.

 

[JPevzner]

I'm a GP and my situation was the exception but I am not exceptional. What I mean by that is I was a very average dental student. I had very average skills and knew nothing about running a practice. But instead of just accepting that or being afraid of exposing my lack of knowledge I sought out everyone who knew some technique or skill that I wanted to learn and pestered the crap out of them until they showed it to me. I have always gotten 100 or more hours of good CE a year since I graduated from dental school. And let me tell you quality CE is not cheap. And it didn't come overnight. I started practicing in 1993 and it wasn't until about 2003 that I started doing full mouth restorations. By that time I was a Pankey Scholar and had worked with Frank Spear at his office. I had also spent several years learning from Jim Pride how to run my office and manage my staff and patients.

The thing that I want to get across to you guys in dental school when I show the car I drive or talk about how much money I made is if I can do it, you can too. I remember all too well being in dental school and watching my debt grow and grow and thinking "what the hell am I doing here? My friends are all out making the big bucks and I'm going to be working at a denture mill for the rest of my life." Well I just want you all to know that ain't true. If you want to be the best you can do it if you are willing to put the time, money and tears to get it and most importantly if you can get over the fear of someone finding out that you don't know everything about dentistry. I have never been afraid to look stupid by asking a question if I thought that the answer would be something I could put to use.

👍👍👍 Awesome post! thanks for sharing!

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

I'm a GP and my situation was the exception but I am not exceptional. What I mean by that is I was a very average dental student. I had very average skills and knew nothing about running a practice. But instead of just accepting that or being afraid of exposing my lack of knowledge I sought out everyone who knew some technique or skill that I wanted to learn and pestered the crap out of them until they showed it to me. I have always gotten 100 or more hours of good CE a year since I graduated from dental school. And let me tell you quality CE is not cheap. And it didn't come overnight. I started practicing in 1993 and it wasn't until about 2003 that I started doing full mouth restorations. By that time I was a Pankey Scholar and had worked with Frank Spear at his office. I had also spent several years learning from Jim Pride how to run my office and manage my staff and patients.

The thing that I want to get across to you guys in dental school when I show the car I drive or talk about how much money I made is if I can do it, you can too. I remember all too well being in dental school and watching my debt grow and grow and thinking "what the hell am I doing here? My friends are all out making the big bucks and I'm going to be working at a denture mill for the rest of my life." Well I just want you all to know that ain't true. If you want to be the best you can do it if you are willing to put the time, money and tears to get it and most importantly if you can get over the fear of someone finding out that you don't know everything about dentistry. I have never been afraid to look stupid by asking a question if I thought that the answer would be something I could put to use.

Yeah, I agree, thanks for breathing some life in here. 👍

 

[The Hammer]

Yeah, I agree, thanks for breathing some life in here. 👍

I think that sometimes when I post about what I've done that people either think that its total BS or that I'm trying to look like a big man with the dental students. Its neither, I just want you dental students to know that if you apply yourselves to your practice like you have been to dental school that life can be pretty sweet. So hang tough

 

[JPevzner]

Does anybody know if the actuarial fellows that are making 300k+ work crazy hours or whether its the standard 40 hr workweek?

 

[dmd87]

principals can make 1m+. better believe these guys work rough hours for that kinda money.

 

[newyorkblork]

Good post by Hup.

 

[JPevzner]

I would appreciate some more comments from knowledgeable folks about the lifestyle of the fellows.

 

[pvdude]

When an actuary can make enough off of one case to buy one of these like I did I may reconsider my choice of going into dentistry

Ok to be totally truthful it was two cases in April 2007 that allowed me to go and buy this with cash

If you don't mind me asking, what were the cases?

 

[The Hammer]

If you don't mind me asking, what were the cases?

One was a full restoration of the lower and an implant supported titanium hybrid on the top


The other was a full mouth with ortho and implants.

Both cases were in the mid five figures and both people paid in cash😀

 

[Oracle DMD]

One was a full restoration of the lower and an implant supported titanium hybrid on the top


The other was a full mouth with ortho and implants.

Both cases were in the mid five figures and both people paid in cash😀

like a boss!😎

 

[The Hammer]

like a boss!😎

I think I showed you the before photos of one of them. It was the patient named Calvin who owned his own auto repair shop.

These aren't great photos but this is what I was working with

Can you say train wreck?

 

[Guy Smiley]

I think I showed you the before photos of one of them. It was the patient named Calvin who owned his own auto repair shop.

These aren't great photos but this is what I was working with

Can you say train wreck?

How about the after photos?

 

[ToldYouSo]

How about the after photos?

Yeah I'd love to see an after photo also!

 

[dentaldawg32]

First of all for, Actuary. An actuary helps a business or corporation, such as an insurance company, assess risks and predict trends so that the company can issue cost-effective policies to its clients. And then for Dentistry, A dentist is a doctor of dental medicine or a doctor of dental health. He has a bachelor's degree in science and has also graduated from dental school, which is an additional 4 years of college.

Cool story, bro. Also, I love your sig.

 

[The Hammer]

Yeah I'd love to see an after photo also!

I'm looking to see if I still have a disc that I saved some images on. When my wife and I divorced last year she reformatted the computer at my house and destroyed all of my photos that I had stored on it. I lost not only a ton of dental stuff but also photos of my family that can't be replaced. I did find some photos and I think this may be Calvin in his temps before I sent him to have implants placed. The reason that I know its before implants is I can tell that I have left some space under 8 and 9 (you can see space where the incisive papillae should be). Unfortunately none of my back up discs are labeled so its kind of hit or miss at the moment.