CAS Profile: Melissa Huenefeldt, FCAS

Melissa Huenefeldt is a Career Changer.

Where do you work and what is your position?
Consulting Actuary, Milliman

In what field or actuarial concentration do you work in now?
Property & Casualty reserving for large deductible/self-insured organizations.

What job did you do or industry did you work in before becoming an actuary?
I double-majored in math & psychology, hoping to find a position in quantitative research.  After a year, I started on my master’s in applied math.

Why did you decide to change careers and become an actuary?
After I couldn’t find a position in my initial field of choice, I took a job with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.  After almost two years there, I had a friend send me a newspaper clipping for an Actuarial Specialist position at Missouri Farm Bureau. I got the position, and I started taking exams at the age of 26! (I finished my Master’s while taking exams).

What advice do you have for others who are considering a similar career change?
It’s never too late!  While a degree in actuarial science may have been nice, I feel like my circuitous path has made me a well-rounded actuary.