Hi, I’m Crystal! I founded Crystal Clear Exams to make actuarial learning approachable, engaging, and — well — crystal clear.

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I studied Mathematics at Johns Hopkins University (B.A.) and Math Education at Harvard University (M.Ed.), and spent several years teaching math at the high school level and tutoring everyone from pre-K students to GMAT candidates. Teaching was incredibly rewarding (and occasionally stressful!), but it gave me a lifelong appreciation for the power of clear communication and creative explanation.

 

After leaving teaching, I transitioned into the actuarial field, starting in retiree health consulting. Like many entry-level actuaries, I was just excited for any opportunity — and I’m so glad I landed where I did.

 

Consulting exposed me to a wide range of actuarial applications and an amazing group of mentors. Plus, I got to work in healthcare, which I loved, and in New Jersey, which is well-known to be the greatest place ever.

 

I earned my FSA in 2015 and later moved into predictive analytics, which paved my road to modelling in P&C, and then data science, taking me to my current role working with an InsureTech firm. Crystal Clear Exams was started shortly after I completed my FCAS in 2017.​

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Through Crystal Clear Exams, I combine my passion for education with my actuarial experience to create study materials that go beyond memorization — helping students truly understand the “why” behind every concept.

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— Crystal Garcia, FSA, FCAS