Post: #1

I'm looking for some career related advice. I have some questions I'd like to ask you over PM.

Post: #2

(07-24-2014 01:59 AM)Valhalla Wrote:  I'm looking for some career related advice. I have some questions I'd like to ask you over PM.

Go to the wallstreetplayboys blog (a redpill view on finance), they have an "ask us anything" section if you don't find what you're looking for in their articles.

Post: #3

(07-24-2014 03:51 AM)Pantheon Dweller Wrote:  

(07-24-2014 01:59 AM)Valhalla Wrote:  I'm looking for some career related advice. I have some questions I'd like to ask you over PM.

Go to the wallstreetplayboys blog (a redpill view on finance), they have an "ask us anything" section if you don't find what you're looking for in their articles.

Agree - those guys know their stuff.

Rather do CFA, CAIA or the international accounting degrees than going to expensive college - unless you can get into a top-level MBA school and spend 120.000$+ on it.

Meaning: basically free community college + CFA + CAIA is superior to finance/economics majors in 98% of universities. There are a few other approaches. You also have to take into account that the wages in the field are not growing. Traders in the 80s and even 90s got paid a butt-load more than nowadays. The field has changed significantly and some IT guys doing automated trading systems are getting paid 7 digits instead of the hands-on guys of previous times.

But there are plenty of other opportunities left - Wallstreetplayboys are covering quite a few aspects and you can ask them personally as well.

Post: #4

"Finance related career" is a very large set. You should be more specific.

Post: #5

My data sheet on Accounting (link in sig below) could be helpful to you.

Post: #6

Agree on the CFA. Even better if you have a company that will pay for further education. Definitely research what licenses you're taking. Some are far better than others.

Post: #7

(07-24-2014 08:09 AM)Mike5055 Wrote:  Agree on the CFA. Even better if you have a company that will pay for further education. Definitely research what licenses you're taking. Some are far better than others.

CFA is the perfect example of a degree that is valued by companies while costing only the standardized tests & books - a ridiculous amount compared to the fact that it counts more than a standard MBA at a price-tag of 30.000-50.000$.

It costs you your time, energy & discipline. Do the CAIA in tandem and you have a big leg up.

If by finance you mean going into investment banking - otherwise go check out Cobra's datasheet.

Post: #8

I do agree that it counts more than a standard, sub-top 10/15 mba program. However any of those top tier mba programs open a lot of doors and build a lot of connections. It would help if the author clarified what area of finance he's interested in. If it's corp. fin, skip the CFA and get your CPA, especially if a CFO position is the end goal.

Post: #9

Yeah you need to be a little more specific as to what type of career as for example corp finance is a lot different than a job on the street, and sell side is different than buy side of the street. But overall go to a top 15 mba or CFA if you want to be in portfolio management.

Post: #10

(07-24-2014 05:28 AM)Peregrine Wrote:  "Finance related career" is a very large set. You should be more specific.

Exactly. There's accounting, investment banking (e.g., corporate finance, IPOs, M&A), trading (commodities, currencies, derivatives, equities, fixed-income), risk management, structured finance, etc.

Traders and investment bankers have very little in common in terms of personality and skills. Quants have very little in common with investment bankers and traders, too.

Those who are interested in investment banking should read The Epicurean Dealmaker's blog.

Post: #11

I'm working in finance/hedge fund industry and doing the CFA program. I can speak to "Finance-Finance" but not much to accounting, fortune 500 stuff. 'Finance' is indeed to broad. But don't let that intimidate you. Just be sure to understand every niche you're seriously applying/interviewing for. Know what the business is. Know how they make money and who they make money from. Talking to people in the niche is a good place to start - see: linkedin.

Understand the appropriate professional accreditation to aspire to (if any). For example, if you tell me you want to get your CPA and work in the research side of my company, you probably have no idea what's going on. Similarly, If you tell a derivatives trader you're interviewing with that you want a Harvard MBA eventually, you're probably out of luck.

For better or worse, Finance is mostly a pedigree industry - school, accreditation, grades are important. Coming in from the 'outside' not having family friends, etc... you tend to really need to have played the game right....and poor scores on all these basics are fairly difficult to overcome for a variety of reasons. But at the same time, finance attracts 'weird' folk who value the 'weird' side of people. Perhaps less so than the 90s, but Finance-Finance (not accounting) does leave doors open for those who have hard technical skills, legit intellectual curiosity, some knowledge, and an ability to learn.

Post: #12

So far, only trader has actually answered your question, and plenty of people have said things that are either purely subjective or just plain false.

I work at an investment bank. PM me if you have questions that I might be able to answer.

Post: #13

I work in finance / middle office function in an investment bank currently. 7 years experience in investment bank finance and also 1.5 years corporate finance. In addition I am also a qualified chartered accountant with 4 years in a big 4 firm. If any of that experience seems relevant please free to PM me with any queries you have

Post: #14

Feel free to PM me as well.

Post: #15

Is anyone here working in asset management?

Post: #16

(07-29-2014 08:31 AM)roid Wrote:  Is anyone here working in asset management?

or to put it another way, are any of you guys an 'ass man'?...



...

i'll get my coat...

Post: #17

(07-24-2014 05:28 AM)Peregrine Wrote:  "Finance related career" is a very large set. You should be more specific.

I'm looking for people with careers working in front office finance positions. Specifically IB, HF, PE.

Post: #18

I do M&A for a boutique, PM me if interested.