Is It *Probable: Middle Office to Investment Management via MBA

Hi All,

My long term goal is to get into Investment Management / buy-side research. I am targeting this goal after getting an MBA (as opposed to now) because I am currently a middle office analyst (fund valuations / operations / investor reporting) at a notable PE firm that does not support moves to FO. With that being said, how probable is it that I can make a career jump to IM through acquiring a top 15 MBA? Though I graduated UG from a 'semi-target," I have the credentials for a top 15 program - maybe not HSW but potentially Booth/Kellogg/Haas/Sloan etc. I know, technically, anything is possible, but I'm more concerned with how likely the jump is, already knowing my end goal going into b-school. I have a pretty strong network, so I am already trying to leverage those connections. Would it be more likely to make the Post-MBA jump to sell-side research first, and then to IM? Any advice on how to start moving towards the IM direction from my current role would be very helpful and appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Best

P.S. - I am also considering getting the CFA level 1 prior to going to B-school, any thoughts on that would also be very helpful, thanks!

 
Best Response

Not totally clear. In general the most benefits accrue to someone who's already in AM for the CFA as its a cheap/time efficient way to get more credentials. There are many posts here that list the reasons why the CFA alone is not a good way to break into AM. If you get into a top 10 school I think you could do it. Game plan would be get into a top 10 school, then before school take CFA level 1, learn valuation /modeling on your own so you’re in good shape on day one, take an unpaid if necessary summer internship that is any way related to IM (could be a stock picker at a PWM shop) so you have some relevant experience. If you do those steps you will have a decent shot at a long only fund, and almost certainly could get SS research as a backup

 

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