Actuary -> Financial Planner & Career Coach

Hi, I'm Anika Gupta and I've had a very interesting journey so far with plenty of ups and downs, and curve balls!

How I chose to become an 'Actuary'
When I was pursuing my graduation in Mathematics from Lady Shri Ram College, my father wittingly asked me, 'Anika, what is 2+2?' I replied, 'I can make it whatever you want it to be' and he laughed. He knew my acumen since my school days and suggested I pursue Actuarial Science- a pretty difficult course. 

Being a 'Career Coach' was destiny
I started looking for actuarial opportunities in my final year of graduation. Only 2 companies came for on-campus recruitment so I applied through other avenues too. I even visited companies to share my resume. I was quite confident to get a job soon; I had excellent grades, a glorious resume and decent communication skills but..... I faced 9 rejections. 

At this point in life when I saw my friends get job offers, I felt the need for a mentor who could guide me to kickstart my actuarial career. 

I was truly fortunate to get selected for a consulting actuarial analyst role in one of the biggest consulting firms in UK. After gaining quality experience, I chose to pursue an unconventional path and guide others to navigate through their careers. 

So far my experience and network within the actuarial fraternity has been really helpful for both students and working professionals to get jobs and steer through challenging situations.

From Qualified Actuary to Financial Planner
Based on my experience, 60% of people aren't an expert when it comes to managing money. When I started earning, I saved all of my money in my bank account earning a decent rate of interest. My father suggested I invest in stocks so I purchased a few but I was not really 'managing my money effectively'.

This was a turning point in my life. With the help of my father, I set up my company iQuant to provide personalized financial planning services. Today, I'm proud to achieve 3x returns (compared to bank interest rate) for my clients by investing in appropriate mutual funds and insurance products.

My expertise in risk management truly helps me get an edge over other traditional financial planners.