Abstract
This paper provides suggestions for preparing students to take the actuarial examination on financial mathematics, SOA/CAS Exam FM/2. It is based on current practices employed at Slippery Rock University, a small public liberal arts university. Detailed descriptions of our Theory of Interest course and subsequent Exam FM/2 prep course are provided along with suggestions for course scheduling and strategies for improving performance on the exam.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Richard J. Marchand
Richard J. Marchand received a B.S. degree from Clarion University of Pennyslvania in Mathematics with a certification in mathematics secondary education. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics at the University of Virginia and completed a three-year National Research Council PostDoc at The U. S. Military Academy at West Point. After acquiring the rank of Associate Professor at SUNY Fredonia where he received the William T. Hagan Young Scholar Award, he accepted a position at Slippery Rock University (SRU) of Pennsylvania where he has taught for the past 11 years. Dr Marchand has won distinguished teaching awards from SRU and the MAA Allegheny Mountain Section. He also received the MAA Allegheny Mountain Section Mentor Award. In the 2011–2012 academic year he held the position of Distiguished Visiting Professor of Mathematics at the U. S. Air Force Academy. His current research interests include the control of partial differential equations and mathematical pedagogy. He has been teaching actuarial mathematics for 14 years. When not involved in mathematical pursuits he enjoys spending time with his family, coaching youth sports, hunting, fishing, gardening, and pond management.