(Part 2) Top products from r/actuary

software developer here. I use sql every day and its an integral part of the majority of the software i work on. That said i would NOT recommend w3schools for sql. w3schools is a great "reference" site for html,css, and sometimes javascript. Meaning it has a lot of information but isn't the best place to learn sql but a good resource once you know it. also w3schools has slowly but surely fallen behind its former glory.

I'd recomend picking up one or more books off amazon. With sql its important to have a database set up to help you learn. if you already do i'd go with: http://www.amazon.com/SQL-Nutshell-OReilly-Kevin-Kline/dp/0596518846/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1318654308&sr=8-16. O'reilly makes a large number of computer language related books and its going to take you step by step through learning sql. If you don't have a database set up already and are not sure where to begin then go with: http://www.amazon.com/Language-SQL-Access-Relational-Databases/dp/143545751X/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1318654308&sr=8-12. the first chapter(s) are devoted to installing and setting up either Microsoft Sql Server or MySql (and maybe oracle sql developer too) the three most popular database systems used. then its going to walk you threw, step by step, the one you choose.

I'll add im not an actuary so i cant make to many assumptions on what you already know and what you don't but as a software developer find some hands on resources to teach you is definitely what i'd recommend, and there are lots of good and cheep books on amazon to help you do that.

Lastly you may want to post this question on r/programming or r/sql or something like that explaining your situation and they might have even better recommendations.

As a fresh graduate, you are not expected to know in-depth what an actuarial consultant does. You will just be supporting credentialed actuaries for the first few years.

More helpful to you would be something that improves your interview skills. I have used this book 60 Minutes & You're Hired and found it to be pretty useful.

Econometric Models and Economic Forecasts by Pindyck & Rubinfeld was pretty useful for regression analysis and time-series models. A few of the required textbooks for the FAP modules were also pretty interesting, especially Segal and Brown & Lennox.

Superforecasting has been on my "get to soon" list since I got it last Christmas. It just got a nice nod in the latest CAS magazine.

Along the probability/math lines, other books I've enjoyed are:

• How Not to Be Wrong
  
• The Drunkard's Walk
  

Good luck. For CT1 I suggest doing a lot of past papers (this goes for any of the CT exams tbh) and perhaps this textbook: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Mathematics-Finance-Stephen-Garrett/dp/0080982409

I'm sure you can find older editions of that one for much cheaper, but old editions may lack some of the material from the later chapters on financial derivatives (futures, forwards, swaps and options etc)

A month is also a tall order, but CT1 is quite simple, so it's manageable if you allocate time well.

Ideally want to read this: http://www.amazon.com/The-Emergence-Probability-Philosophical-Probabilistic/dp/0521685575/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377487517&sr=8-1&keywords=the+emergence+of+probability

Sadly the only university in my city lost their accreditation since they couldn't pay a competitive salary.

I lucked out because my Statistics professor is insanely qualified. (Ph.D in Mathematics and Ph.D in Statistics) So our Stats course covers MGFs and the derivations of all the theorems. Pretty much every question in this book: http://www.amazon.ca/Mathematical-Statistics-Applications-Dennis-Wackerly/dp/0495110817

Thanks a lot for the response. The thought of taking on something of this magnitude with no real life mentor-ship is really daunting.

Did you purchase the exact textbook mentioned in the syllabus, with the ISBN: 978-0134083278? Because I found a cheap rental on amazon for ~$70 but it doesn't exactly match the ISBN.

I passed on the 23rd, so what exam is next? IFM? Can I skip out of order and take the short-term then the long-term? I took an MFE class using Hull's Book in 2017, but would that work for IFM?

https://www.amazon.com/First-100-Numbers-Bright-Baby/dp/0312513763/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1475133211&sr=8-3&keywords=baby%27s+first+numbers

https://www.amazon.com/4th-Grade-Reading-Comprehension-Success/dp/0375430032

^you need this

For VBA, I cannot recommend any of the books by Walkenbach highly enough, such as: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Excel-Power-Programming-Spreadsheets-Bookshelf/dp/0470475358/ref=la_B000APG96Y_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406291315&sr=1-5

Excel VBA Programming for Dummies is where I started, and it covered everything I ended up needing. It's only $10 bucks, so there's minimal risk if you think it sucks ;)

Against The God: the remarkable story of Risk- Outlines the history of probability theory and risk assessment through the centuries

https://www.amazon.com/Against-Gods-Remarkable-Story-Risk/dp/0471295639/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475105434&sr=1-1&keywords=against+the+gods

When Genius Failed - A narrative of the spectacular fall of Long Term Capital Management, a hedge fund which had on its board both Myron Scholes AND Robert Merton (you will recall them from MFE)
https://www.amazon.com/When-Genius-Failed-Long-Term-Management/dp/0375758259/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475105453&sr=1-1&keywords=when+genius+failed

Black Swan/ Antifragility- A former quant discusses the nature of risk in these controversial and philosophical books. Some parts of this book are actually called out and shamed in McDonald's Derivative Markets, one or the both of them are worth reading

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Swan-Improbable-Robustness-Fragility/dp/081297381X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475105478&sr=1-1&keywords=black+swan



Godel, Escher, Bach- Very dense look into recursive patterns in mathematics and the arts. While not actuarial, it's obviously very mathematical, a must read.

https://www.amazon.com/G%C3%B6del-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/dp/0465026567/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475105497&sr=1-1&keywords=geb

Endurance- This was recommended to me by a pure mathematics professor. Again, not actuarial, but more about the nature of perseverance though problem solving(sound familiar). It's about Shakleton's famous voyage to the south pole.

https://www.amazon.com/Endurance-Shackletons-Incredible-Alfred-Lansing/dp/0465062881/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475105520&sr=1-1&keywords=endurance+shackleton%27s+incredible+voyage