# Timeline for FM Questions

**URL:** <https://community.goactuary.com/t/timeline-for-fm-questions/2186>\
**Category:** (FM) Financial Mathematics\
**Created:** [February 28, 2021, 7:16am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/timeline-for-fm-questions/2186 "2021-02-28T07:16:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pengbuzz](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pengbuzz](https://community.goactuary.com/u/pengbuzz)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 7:16am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/timeline-for-fm-questions/2186/1 "2021-02-28T07:16:54Z")

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I always have to draw a timeline for understanding and solving problems on annuities. It takes too much time and I know I have to solve a problem in 5-6 minutes.

For those who have taken FM, in what types of problems should I omit drawing timelines? In what cases should I keep on doing it?

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**Author:** ![esa2k](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@esa2k](https://community.goactuary.com/u/esa2k)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/timeline-for-fm-questions/2186/2 "2021-02-28T17:22:11Z")

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Always draw a timeline.  
Just become more efficient using breaks to jump time periods, (10 - \> 30), etc.  
Once you become familiar with the difference between exponents of your time period and discount/interest factor you’ll become more proficient at drawing timelines.  
A properly drawn timeline that takes 30 seconds could help you avoid another 3 to 5 minutes resolving the problem if your answer is off.

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**Author:** ![pengbuzz](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pengbuzz](https://community.goactuary.com/u/pengbuzz)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/timeline-for-fm-questions/2186/3 "2021-06-29T13:42:28Z")

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been 3-4 months but thanks to your suggestion! i fully agree to draw a timeline especially for problems involving (unusual) annuities

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**Author:** ![Ankith\_Sherman](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/ankith_sherman/32/89344_2.png) [@Ankith\_Sherman](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Ankith_Sherman)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/timeline-for-fm-questions/2186/4 "2026-08-28T19:50:22Z")

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I absolutely agree with esa2k here, even tho drawing a timeline takes an extra couple of seconds, it saves you minutes in case your answer is wrong, in whichc case you’d have to redo it.

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**Author:** ![SpaceLobster](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/spacelobster/32/38216_2.png) [@SpaceLobster](https://community.goactuary.com/u/SpaceLobster)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/timeline-for-fm-questions/2186/5 "2026-08-28T20:54:31Z")

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It’s real folks.