Stepping Stones to Asset Management

Question

If I can't get a job in AM right after graduation, what jobs would allow me to break into AM within the next few years?  Would jobs in corporate finance work?  What about stuff that's not in finance, but is analytical, such as market research?  Would finance sales jobs allow me to make the transition?  Or could I take just about any business job, study for the CFA and break in?  Basically, my five-year plan is to be in Asset Management, and I'm wondering what roads lead there in case I can't break in straight out of school.

Industry84 · Accepted Answer

FP&A to Asset Management? (Originally Posted: 06/02/2013)

I posted a question several months ago about my chances of transitioning into asset management with my current background (undergrad in finance, non-target MBA, 5 yrs experience with rotational at F500 followed by a couple accounting roles and most recently FP&A).

ShakeyGraves · Answer

Breaking Into Asset Management - Recent Graduate (Originally Posted: 05/24/2014)

Hello fellow Monkeys,

I've been looking around the site for a couple months now and decided to create my first thread.  I am looking to break into Asset Management/Research and was hoping you guys could give me some advice.  I recently graduated with a BS degree in Finance in 2013 from a "non-target" school.  My GPA was a 3.5 (if that matters) and I have been working with a boutique wealth management firm for about a year doing Mutual Fund/ETF research and asset allocation.

delete account · Answer

Start on the CFA asap. Regarding the series licenses: do them if you want. Realistically it's only going to cost about 500-600 bucks for both the 63 + 65 when the trainings are about $100-150 each and the tests are 115 and 155 for the 63 and 65. Really doesn't take all that much time to do those either. I talked to a broker who said he crammed his study for the 63 in 2 days and passed with a 88 percent. The CFA on the other hand is a completely different beast. It takes at least 200-300 hours of prep to pass for the overwhelming majority of people.

Audax · Answer

I was in a similar position and could probably write a book on this, but I'll try to keep it brief.

Systematically break down the process of networking and interviewing.

Networking: figure out exactly what you want to do, know everything about the industry, and start reaching out to people in the field with good questions.  Be relaxed and confident.  Being nervous or a prick won't get you anywhere.  Talk like a normal person and not a turd.

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Stepping Stones to Asset Management

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Stepping Stones to Asset Management

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