Coaching Actuaries

What Coaching Actuaries does

Coaching Actuaries is an online actuarial exam preparation platform founded in 2009 by Dave Kester (FSA, MAAA) and operated under parent entity Salt Solutions, Inc. The company serves individuals pursuing SOA (ASA, FSA) and CAS (ACAS, FCAS) actuarial credentials, with course coverage spanning 17 individual exams across preliminary through advanced levels, including P, FM, FAM, SRM, PA, ALTAM, ASTAM, CP 351, INV 101, INV 201, GH 101, GH 201-U, MAS-I, MAS-II, Exam 5, and Exam 6U, plus VEE credit courses. The platform combines a Learn environment (manuals, video lessons, graded assignments) with a Practice environment built around the Adapt adaptive exam engine, anchored by proprietary readiness metrics Earned Level and Mastery Score.

The underlying technology stack is centered on adaptive learning: the Adapt platform dynamically generates practice questions calibrated to student proficiency, with Earned Level adjusting difficulty on a 0-10 scale and Mastery Score tracking performance on a 0-100 scale. Supporting features include CheckPoints (a personalized study scheduler launched September 2024 that auto-recalculates daily goals), Capstone Exams (coach-curated exam-replication practice), Section Reports (topic-level analytics), and discussion forums with coach responses within 2 business days. Course content is developed by credentialed actuaries (FSA, CERA, FCAS) drawn from firms including Milliman, State National Companies, and Gallagher RE.

The business model is direct-to-consumer subscription, with self-serve purchase on coachingactuaries.com offering access windows from 7 to 365 days. Pricing is tiered: Practice-only subscriptions at $195 for 180 days, and Learn Complete + Practice at $618 for 180 days (the most popular tier), with a Pass Guarantee on access periods of 180 days or longer. Distribution combines product-led growth (free trial, no credit card required) with channel partners including the inClass platform for university professors (155+ schools, 380 professors, 1,800 classrooms) and Campus Clubs ambassador program (160+ schools, 300+ ambassadors). Discounts apply to students (20-65%), developing nations (40-50%), military, and unemployed candidates. Since 2009 the company has supported over 120,000 students and operates from Clive, Iowa with 11-50 employees, funded entirely through organic growth without disclosed external capital.

Name

Coaching Actuaries

Legal name

Salt Solutions, Inc. (dba Coaching Actuaries, Inc.)

Website

https://coachingactuaries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coaching Actuaries is an online actuarial exam preparation platform founded in 2009, serving individuals pursuing SOA and CAS credentials across 17 exams. It combines adaptive practice technology (Adapt, Earned Level, Mastery Score) with credentialed-coach instruction, distributed direct-to-consumer via subscriptions and through university inClass and Campus Clubs channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Education / Actuarial Exam Preparation

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Higher Education Admissions & Placement Exam Prep (GRE/GMAT/LSAT/MCAT) (EDAGADAC)

Keywords

• Actuarial exam preparation
• Online learning platform
• Adaptive practice exams
• Professional certification courses
• Course management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Clive

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Exam Preparation Subscriptions: Subscription-based access to study materials with multiple tiers and access lengths ranging from 7 days to 365 days. Students pay for Learn and/or Practice modules with tiered pricing based on feature access.
2. VEE Course Sales: Validation by Educational Experience courses for SOA/CAS credits in Economics, Accounting, Finance, and Mathematical Statistics. Includes proctoring services with weekend options for $25 fee.
3. inClass University Platform: Free platform for professors with optional add-ons for students including manuals, video lessons, and Adapt exams. Revenue generated through student bundle upsells with exclusive discounts.
4. Merchandise: Coaching Actuaries branded merchandise sold through Shopify storefront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Coaching Actuaries provides online subscription-based study materials, video lessons, adaptive practice exams, and graded assignments for actuarial certification exams from SOA and CAS (preliminary ASA and ACAS exams through advanced FSA and FCAS courses), augmented by an adaptive readiness measurement system (Earned Level and Mastery Score) and expert-coach-led discussion forums. The company also offers free course management software (inClass) to university professors and operates a Campus Clubs ambassador program at universities worldwide.

Product overview

Coaching Actuaries is an online actuarial exam preparation platform offering a comprehensive suite of courses and tools across the SOA (ASA, FSA) and CAS (ACAS, FCAS) credentialing tracks. The platform operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on two primary environments: Learn (study materials, video lessons, and assignments) and Practice (adaptive exams via Adapt, Earned Level, and Mastery Score). Core course products span 17 individual exams/certifications covering preliminary through advanced-level actuarial credentials, including P, FM, FAM, SRM, PA, ALTAM, ASTAM, CP 351, INV 101, INV 201, GH 101, GH 201-U, VEE, MAS-I, MAS-II, Exam 5, and Exam 6U. Supporting products and features include inClass (a free course management tool for university professors), Campus Clubs (student ambassador program), LaunchPad (career exploration tool), CheckPoints (personalized study scheduler), Capstone Exams (exam-replication practice), Discussion Forums (coach-supported Q&A), VEE Proctoring services, Formula Sheets, Flashcards, Rapid Review Videos, and a Pass Guarantee. The platform also offers tiered discount programs for students, developing nations, military personnel, and unemployed candidates. Since 2015, the platform has supported over 120,000 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• inClass: Course management software platform for university professors to complement actuarial science curriculum, featuring auto-grading, question banks, and student performance analytics. Used by 155+ schools and 380+ professors.
• LaunchPad
• Campus Clubs
• VEE Courses

Products and services

• Exam P (Probability) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for SOA Exam P (Probability), covering general probability, univariate and multivariate distributions, and insurance/risk management concepts through video lessons, manuals, Adapt exams, Earned Level tracking, Mastery Score, and discussion forums. Targeted at aspiring actuaries sitting the SOA Exam P.
• Exam FM (Financial Mathematics) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for SOA Exam FM, covering time value of money, annuities, loans, bonds, and immunization with video lessons, manuals, Adapt exams, Earned Level tracking, Mastery Score, and Capstone Exams. Targeted at aspiring actuaries sitting SOA Exam FM.
• Exam FAM (Fundamentals of Actuarial Mathematics) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for SOA Exam FAM covering advanced financial mathematics including short-term and long-term coverage modeling, contingent payment models, and financial risks. Targeted at aspiring actuaries sitting SOA Exam FAM.
• Exam SRM (Statistics for Risk Modeling) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for SOA Exam SRM covering regression analysis, time series analysis, and unsupervised learning techniques essential for risk modeling. Targeted at aspiring actuaries sitting SOA Exam SRM.
• Exam PA (Predictive Analytics) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for SOA Exam PA focusing on predictive modeling techniques, data analytics tools, case studies, data preprocessing, model evaluation, and communication of results. Targeted at aspiring actuaries sitting SOA Exam PA.
• Exam ALTAM (Advanced Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for SOA Exam ALTAM covering advanced actuarial models for long-term insurance products including life insurance, annuities, and pensions, with modeling techniques and cash flow projections. Targeted at candidates pursuing ASA designation.
• Exam ASTAM (Advanced Short-Term Actuarial Mathematics) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for SOA Exam ASTAM covering models and techniques specific to short-term insurance products such as property and casualty insurance, risk assessment, ratemaking, reserving, and model selection. Targeted at candidates pursuing ASA designation.
• CP 351 (Asset-Liability Management) FSA Course Subscription-based online FSA-level course covering asset-liability management, investment strategy, risk management, and performance measurement across complex financial systems. Targeted at candidates pursuing the FSA designation.
• INV 101 (Portfolio Management) FSA Course Subscription-based online first course in the SOA Investment practice area, providing foundational portfolio management skills across major asset classes, portfolio construction, management, evaluation, and credit risk fundamentals. Targeted at candidates pursuing FSA in the Investment track.
• INV 201 (Quantitative Finance) FSA Course Subscription-based online second course in the SOA Investment practice area, covering quantitative and analytical skills for derivative pricing, hedging, portfolio management, asset-liability management, and product management including binomial trees and Black-Scholes frameworks. Targeted at candidates pursuing FSA in the Investment track.
• GH 101 (Benefits and Pricing) FSA Course Subscription-based online FSA-level course covering benefit product provisions, manual rating and underwriting, and employee benefit strategy in the Group and Health Insurance practice area. Targeted at candidates pursuing FSA in the Group and Health track.
• GH 201-U (Valuation and Regulation, U.S.) FSA Course Subscription-based online FSA-level course in the GH practice area (U.S.-focused path), covering reserving, statutory and GAAP financial statements, U.S. regulation, and government health programs. Targeted at candidates pursuing FSA in the Group and Health track.
• VEE (Validation by Educational Experience) Course Bundle Subscription-based online VEE credit courses covering Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Accounting, Finance, and Mathematical Statistics with proctored final exams administered via Zoom for SOA candidates worldwide. Targeted at actuarial candidates needing SOA VEE credits.
• Exam MAS-I (Modern Actuarial Statistics I) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for CAS Exam MAS-I covering discrete and continuous probability distributions, multivariate models, stochastic processes, and practical applications in insurance and risk modeling. Targeted at candidates pursuing the ACAS designation.
• Exam MAS-II (Modern Actuarial Statistics II) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for CAS Exam MAS-II covering credibility theory, linear mixed models, advanced statistical learning, and time series modeling for insurance and finance applications. Targeted at candidates pursuing the ACAS designation.
• Exam 5 (Basic Ratemaking and Estimating Claim Liabilities) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for CAS Exam 5 covering ratemaking and reserving techniques essential for property and casualty insurance, including methods for estimating claim liabilities and setting insurance rates. Targeted at candidates pursuing the ACAS/FCAS designation.
• Exam 6U (Regulation and Financial Reporting, U.S.) Preparation Course Subscription-based online preparation course for CAS Exam 6U covering U.S. laws, programs, and accounting principles shaping the P&C insurance industry, including rate regulation, solvency monitoring, NAIC Annual Statement, SAP, GAAP, and professional standards. Targeted at candidates pursuing the FCAS designation.
• inClass University Course Management Platform Free course management software platform for university professors, enabling assignment creation, auto-grading, and student performance tracking with CSV export, using a question bank aligned with SOA/CAS exam standards. Used by 155+ schools and 380 professors, with optional paid Coaching Actuaries add-ons available for students.
• Campus Clubs Ambassador Program University club partnership program offering exclusive Coaching Actuaries discounts, tools, and resources to actuarial clubs, with student ambassadors hosting tutorials and distributing discount codes. Spans 160+ schools across the U.S. and globally, with over 300 student ambassadors.
• Adapt Adaptive Practice Platform Standalone subscription offering of the adaptive practice exam platform that generates dynamic quizzes and practice exams tailored to student proficiency level, featuring Earned Level measurement, Mastery Score tracking, Section Reports, and Custom Quizzes from an extensive question bank. Sold as part of the Practice package and embedded within all exam preparation courses.
• LaunchPad Actuarial Science Exploration Platform Exploratory platform for prospective students to discover and learn about the field of actuarial science. Hosted at launchpad.coachingactuaries.com.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93.4% pass rate for Exam P students reaching Earned Level 5.5+
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CrushminorOthersAffiliate partner through which customers may view, purchase, or access Coaching Actuaries services. Customer data may be shared as needed to receive or validate purchases.
• Actuarial BookstoreminorOthersAffiliate partner through which customers may purchase Coaching Actuaries products. Data governance falls under partner's privacy policies when accessed through this channel.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party payment processor handling all financial transactions. No credit card numbers are stored by Coaching Actuaries; all payment information goes directly to Stripe.

Scale indicators14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Infinite Actuary (TIA): Direct competitor offering online actuarial exam preparation courses and practice tools for SOA P, FM, MFE, MLC, C, and CAS exams. TIA is the closest functional and competitive peer in the actuarial exam prep space.
• ACTEX Publications: Legacy publisher of actuarial study manuals, learning manuals, and exam prep guides for SOA and CAS tracks. Competes on content depth and manual-based study approach.
• ASM (Actuarial Study Materials): Longstanding actuarial study manual and Adaptive strategy guide provider for SOA preliminary and CAS exams. Competes in the same credentialing tracks with similar paper/manual and online study products.
• Mad River Books: Publisher of actuarial study materials with online learning modules for SOA exams. Targets the same candidate base with comparable study manual and practice exam offerings.

Emerging players

• Magoosh: Online test preparation company offering subscription-based adaptive study tools for GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and expanding into professional certifications—mirroring the product-led, self-serve GTM model Coaching Actuaries uses.
• UWorld: Adaptive learning platform for high-stakes professional exams (USMLE, CPA, CFA) with proprietary readiness tracking. Closely analogous in adaptive question-bank and predictive scoring methodology.
• AdaptPrep: Subscription-based adaptive practice platform for actuarial exams, leveraging adaptive question generation comparable to Coaching Actuaries' Adapt tool. Niche competitor targeting the same candidate pool.

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan Schweser: Established CFA exam prep arm of Kaplan, a global test-prep incumbent. Direct strategic peer to Salt Solutions' CFA preparation business and a model for verticalized professional credentialing monetization.
• Princeton Review: Diversified test preparation provider offering study materials and live/online courses across GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, and professional exams. Adjacent competitive presence in standardized exam prep with similar subscription and adaptive practice models.
• Wiley Efficient Learning: Publisher-backed online test prep for CPA, CMA, CFA, and other professional credentials. Competes on adaptive practice banks and structured study paths similar to Coaching Actuaries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coachingactuary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/coachingactuaries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coaching-actuaries
• Instagraminstagram.com/coachingactuaries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coaching Actuaries