Looking to make a switch from being an FA to either IB/PE

Hey guys ive been working in finance as an FA at one of the big wirehouses for about a year and a half now and im just realizing more and more that its damn near impossible to build a business cold calling with the hurdles they give you. Im all licensed up 7, 66, 63 in NYC does anyone know the types of jobs i could switch over to? I went to an average school and got a 3.0 gpa so im not the most brilliant one out there but not an idiot. thanks

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I'm a long time reader but this is first time posting. Your story is exactly the same as mine although I just graduated and am only about 3 months into the training program realizing that there is not much more to learn or grow besides being a salesman. Any insight from fellow users would be greatly appreciated.

 
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So the first place I would look is to move or lateral to a private bank. I would target JPM private banking or US Trust (now a part of BAML) as they carry a great brand name and I know the breakdown of both fairly well. Within private banking their is a generally a two sided breakdown to every team: relationship manager (essentially the FA role, hunter/gather who brings in the assets) and the portfolio manager (handling the investments, making the decisions). Most of PB is a fee based business thus you are salaried (typically 70 k base as an analyst with a very small bonus upside 5-10k) not reliant on churning account to generate revenue like an FA would. The two roles I have seen at the entry level are an analyst on the investment side (generally running performance and manager research with some input into the decision making process) and a junior analyst in a relationship manager role (similar to FA role, trying to find new clients and help handle the day to day).

Here's the thing. If you can't spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.
 
bullbythehorns The two roles I have seen at the entry level are an analyst on the investment side (generally running performance and manager research with some input into the decision making process) and a junior analyst in a relationship manager role (similar to FA role, trying to find new clients and help handle the day to day).
How closely does the analyst on the investment side compare to, say, being a PM at a HF or working in ER?
"When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is." - Oscar Wilde "Seriously, psychology is for those with two x chromosomes." - RagnarDanneskjold
 
UncleMilty
bullbythehorns The two roles I have seen at the entry level are an analyst on the investment side (generally running performance and manager research with some input into the decision making process) and a junior analyst in a relationship manager role (similar to FA role, trying to find new clients and help handle the day to day).
How closely does the analyst on the investment side compare to, say, being a PM at a HF or working in ER?
Not similar at all. At the PB, what bullbythehorns is saying is that you are picking investment managers who actually select the stocks, bonds, and whatever in your accounts. At the HF, you would pick the securities in those accounts. Your clients expect you to be able to tell them how all the investments fit together, whether they should fund a 529 plan, how to handle estate planning concerns, and all things like this.

Picking stocks is not the job, for better and worse.

Also, the assessment by bullbythehorns is extremely accurate.

 

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Here's the thing. If you can't spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

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