Potential Pathways to Investment Management from Corporate Finance

Finally moving to a large metropolitan area with great opportunities, wondering what would be a realistic pathway to end up in institutional investment management in 5-10 years. Feels like I'm sitting in a solid place for a career path I do not want (in Corporate Finance), and it is also difficult to switch into the one I do want as most places won't consider a late 20's candidate w 5 yrs of non-investment management experience.

About me (chronologically): -Non-target BBA Finance -2 yrs Commercial Finance at a private Manufacturing company (pricing modeling, capital investment decision making, acquisition integration, etc) -Top 20 MS Finance Made a bit of a career sidestep and moved in with love of my life in an area with little banking/investment mgt job opportunities (as she was finishing grad school) -1 yr Global Sourcing Strategy at F500 in Manufacturing Industry (supplier negotiations, industry analysis, etc) -Passed level II CFA -2 yrs Corporate Finance as Sr Analyst at same company (strategic support, acquisition integration & reporting, lots of financial modeling and exposure to senior management)

Got some options flowing through my mind, leveraging my top skills (rounded business knowledge and financial modeling) A) Corporate Development at a small-mid company -> exit to PE -> exit to Investment Management B) Business Valuation at a boutique -> exit to Investment Management (or take an intermediary step) C) FP&A/Corporate Finance (MO) at an Asset Management firm - then nudge my way into FO D) Doing an MBA (do I need it with a good MS Finance? could be a good way to reset career path) E) Continuing to climb in Corporate Finance and switch at a later point F) Accept fate as a corporate scrub and do investment management on the side as a hobby. G)???

Would really appreciate your input in this pivotal moment. Thanks,

2 Comments
 

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