Best lead-in job for an Analyst?

Background: I have a Double-major (BA) in Accounting & Finance. I am sitting for CFA level 1 in June. I am Series 7, 63, 65 licensed.

I want to become an analyst on the institutional side of the business, either with a fund or with a larger bank. I have been working with a private financial adviser for the past year while getting licensed, and have found the retail side of things to be somewhat repetitive, and in studying for the CFA, I have found it to be much more up my alley.

My current position does not have the opportunity for analysis on securities other than generic asset allocation mixes for our clients (and that is fairly uncommon as we change the models infrequently, and simply drop clients into them). We tend to focus on the financial planning side versus the investments.

I have been given a job offer also on the retail side, but this adviser does more individual stock selection, makes use of options, and generally sounds more in-tune with the market. My position would be making recommendations on equity and fixed income securities brought up by clients or the primary adviser.

My question for anyone who took the time to read this is: If I eventually plan on trying to work for a larger firm as an analyst, should I take the new job?

Would it even make a difference what my responsibilities were if both the jobs were in the private, retail sector? Would it look bad to work for a place for a year then jump ship? I am assuming without my CFA I probably wont be looked at very seriously, but would it be worth it to try and go straight for a junior analyst position now rather than after I have completed my CFA in another 2 years (provided I pass)?

3 Comments
 
CaliforniaAnalystregardless taking the new job or not, you just have to network to get that "dream job". and getting it earlier is better than just writing your cfa exam. probably later you may think cfa is a total waste of time

So you would suggest starting to network and try to find that analyst position immediately? Would it hurt me to accept this offer for the increase in pay if I were to get another offer in 6-12 months? Could I even expect an analyst position considering my credentials?

 

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