PWM Analyst Attempting to Break Into AM (Worthwhile to Pursue an MBA Program?)
I am an incoming PWM 1st yr analyst at a BB (think GS or JPM). In three years I will likely move into an associate role within the firm. My passion however is investing and AM and I intend on pursuing an MBA to break into this industry mainly for the connections, brand-name recognition, and the optionality a top-tier MBA would grant me as an applicant which I currently do not have with my present alumni base from my current institution. I am currently a senior at a non-target undergrad school with a strong Cum GPA (~3.85) and substantial leadership and finance-focused extracurriculars/involvement relative to the school I attended. While working in PWM, I intend on pursuing the CFA and hope to have lvl 1 and 2 completed by the three-year mark.
When should I begin the application process for an MBA, three years into my role in PWM or perhaps six? (I have heard six years tends to be the upper-bounds of when people jump into an MBA.) Also, is it even worthwhile to pursue an MBA? Should I focus exclusively on the CFA instead and other passion projects to round me out as a candidate to break into AM? Would it be possible to lateral into an AM role within my current BB instead of using a CFA/MBA to do so later on? Just another monkey amongst the hoard of other applicants who could not break into IB or AM immediately out of undergrad and still hungry to do so. Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
i work at jpm private bank and have seen analysts move into our asset management arm. if you're gonna be at jpm, i would say make connections with people in AM and have conversations so you could lateral. you'll probably need to be in your seat for at least a year but i would still have those conversations. your foot's in the door - much easier to lateral once you're in the bank. good luck!
Thanks for the reply, that's reassuring to hear that it's doable without the cost of retooling at an expensive MBA.
Check out linkedin for some of AM firms you're interested in. If you do as the other poster mentioned (lateral to AM at your BB) and do that for a number of yrs, you may not need the MBA or CFA as your experience may suffice. Really depends on what role you ultimately want and it's way premature to be thinking about that. Sure have an idea, but spend quality time in the role you'll be in before you discount PB and the various roles within AM. It's not PM or bust. There are great roles in account mgmt, product mgmt, firm strategy, research, trading, and of course investing. Depending on the firm, many if not all the roles will require a solid base of knowledge in the markets.
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