The Beginning
Roots in Zimbabwe
I grew up in Zimbabwe, where I first fell in love with numbers. Resources were limited: slow internet, shared textbooks. But I held on to the dream that maths could take me further than my surroundings suggested.
Ubuntu with Numbers
Demystifying the Path to becoming an Actuary
Hi, I’m Kuda. I share my journey from a math student in Zimbabwe to an actuarial analyst and ASA, now working through the FSA (Investment track). My mission is to show you that with grit and numbers, anything is possible.
Current role Actuarial Analyst · ASA
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- Years on the journey
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- SOA exams passed
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- Community mentored
Important notes
A Student-First Promise
This platform is built to help students find clarity, confidence, and community.
Free Resource Hub
This site curates free, publicly available resources from across the web to support student learning.
Independent Voice
Any tips, notes, or opinions here are personal and do not represent any employer or organization.
Made for Students
Everything here is student-centered and designed to make the actuarial journey more accessible.
The receipts
Every pass. Every fail before it.
I failed exams on this road too. That part matters. Here’s the full journey, kept current, with a public timeline you can verify.
My SOA Exam Journey
ASA, Associate of the Society of Actuaries · Next stop: FSA, Investment track See public timeline ↗
64%
- P Probability Passed
- FM Financial Mathematics Passed
- FAM Fundamentals of Actuarial Mathematics Passed
- SRM Statistics for Risk Modeling Passed
- PA Predictive Analytics Passed
- ASTAM Advanced Short-Term Actuarial Mathematics Passed
- APC Associateship Professionalism Course Passed
- INV 101 Investments, FSA Investment Track Upcoming
Ubuntu with Numbers
“I am because we are.” Every free resource here exists because someone crossed before you.
The lessons, the scholarship database, the pods, the mentorship. All of it is the bridge being kept open. Walk it, then hold it open for the next person.
The narrative
From Zimbabwe to the World
A timeline of risks taken, exams passed, and lessons learned along the way.
The Transition
Crossing Oceans
Leaving Zimbabwe for the US Midwest meant new culture, new winters, failed exams, and lonely seasons. Instead of giving up, I started messaging actuaries on LinkedIn, and those conversations became internships.
The Professional
Building the Future
Today I work as an actuarial analyst: building models, working with data, and helping teams understand risk. Out of this journey, ActuaryKuda was born: the guide I wish I’d had.
“I am because we are.”
The Spirit of Ubuntu
The on-ramp
Where are you starting from?
The right first step depends on where you stand. Pick your path: each one routes you to the right guide, the right tool, and your first exam.
Student
Still in school
Which exam first, how to fund it, and how to land internship #1.
Choose this path Career changerSwitching in
From teaching, finance, or engineering into actuarial: the realistic route.
Choose this path InternationalStudying abroad
F-1, CPT/OPT, H-1B, and finding employers who actually sponsor.
Choose this path African studentStarting from home
Local bodies vs. SOA/IFoA, exam centers, fees, and scholarships that reach you.
Choose this path Data projects
I don’t just talk about numbers.
Simulation, diaspora fintech, and community analytics. Built in public, because showing the work is the whole point.
World Cup Monte Carlo Simulator
A tournament simulator that plays the World Cup ten thousand times, Poisson-driven match models and probability distributions for every path to the final.
- Python
- Monte Carlo
- Pandas
Remittance Cost Tooling
Comparing the real cost of sending money home: fees, FX spreads, and settlement time across the corridors that matter to African families.
- TypeScript
- FX data
- Open APIs
Exam-Journey Analytics
Anonymized community study data: hours logged vs. pass outcomes, sitting-order patterns, and where candidates actually lose time.
- R
- ggplot2
- Survey design
Content on YouTube & Spotify
Watch & Listen
Deep dives into actuarial concepts, career advice, and transparent conversations about the industry.
Social proof
Endorsements
Feedback from the colleagues, professors, and friends I’ve had the privilege to walk this path with.
Mental dexterity defines Kuda. He adapts, learns, and leverages failures to fuel his professional success. His growth mindset turns every challenge into an opportunity.
Kuda excelled academically, passing more actuarial exams than any previous student, but his service set him apart. He mentored high schoolers and led campus organizations with unwavering dedication.
Kuda transitioned from a peer to a pivotal mentor, guiding me through exams and scholarships. His direct support and referral led to my first internship.
Kuda reached out as a freshman with a methodical, quantitative approach that stood out immediately. His initiative to build a resource platform reflects exactly the leadership our industry values.
From sharing resources to our 2nd-place case competition win, Kuda's mentorship was vital. He connected me with professionals who helped me secure an internship.
As a mentor and a friend, Kuda's wisdom and character speak to his love for people. A bona fide leader with a humble perspective, intelligence and compassion at the same table.
The professional bodies
Know the organizations
The societies and foundations that credential, fund, and support this profession, bookmark the ones on your route.
SOA Society of Actuaries North America · Life & Health Visit ↗ CAS Casualty Actuarial Society North America · P&C Visit ↗ IFoA Institute and Faculty of Actuaries UK & Global Visit ↗ ASSA Actuarial Society of South Africa South Africa Visit ↗ ASZ Actuarial Society of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Visit ↗ CIA Canadian Institute of Actuaries Canada Visit ↗ IABA International Association of Black Actuaries US & Global Visit ↗ TAF The Actuarial Foundation Scholarships & Outreach Visit ↗
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