Options For Experienced/Older Professional/Private Investor

Hi. Thanks in advance for any comments:) I have seen at least 2 postings about "experienced" professionals (55ish) who were looking to transition to equity research and had great backgrounds (e.g. law, private equity, retired serial entrepreneurs etc.) and the consensus comments were: very difficult on the sell-side unless you had some extreme niche (e.g. M.D./oncologist w/Phase II & III trial experience), and even w/that difficult as might have to start as associate, firm does not want to invest in you (if you retire in 5 years) etc. But what about for a small buy-side firm where you might have less of these hurdles? I am here because basically in the same boat -- interested in exploring equity research (but no direct experience), semi-retired and about the same age and want to this simply b/c I like this field. And also have the varied background (IB-support, commodities, MBA, government etc--but nothing in equity research) and mainly a good track record as a private investor (several ~500% gains). Don't have a super-niche now but could dig deeper into the areas I follow (e.g. media, cloud, LNG). So the basic question (for the others who posted also) is would it be feasible for someone in my situation to pursue buy-side equity research and if yes, what are some possible next steps e.g. do the CFA, take the modeling courses offered here on WSO etc. And if I document my ~500% gains would people generally say "anyone can get lucky with a few stocks?".

As I am working on some other start up ideas feel free to be as honest as possible w/feedback. Thanks.

9 Comments
 
 

Hi dickthesellsider -- thank you very much for the feedback and the additional information.    I will check out that link as well.   Best regards.

 

Expedita eos laudantium odio ut non eaque ab assumenda. Sint id nisi sequi distinctio sit tempore. Consequatur sed quisquam animi nulla voluptatem.

Nihil sint sed nihil soluta autem laboriosam. Rerum nostrum recusandae magni mollitia nihil. Delectus dolorem animi id ut commodi minus quos. Dolor asperiores reiciendis ipsam sit soluta quia eum. Maiores dolorem porro mollitia quia aut hic qui et.

Id repellat iusto ut dolor aperiam. Rerum quibusdam eveniet qui vitae vero molestiae quas ut. Veniam voluptatem dolores accusantium quia occaecati. Tempora provident unde officia esse ea architecto. Ut inventore quia id nihil et.

Quis harum repellat architecto unde quam. Ipsam omnis recusandae magni dolores aliquid mollitia illum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (56) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”