Moving to the Next Step in a Career

Hi! I am looking for advice on how to maximize my time in finding my next position in finance. I currently work on the ops side of an asset management firm (almost 2 years in my position), but I want to break into a role that I actually can use my finance education (I have a MA in Int'l Finance, but no MBA) and conduct research and analysis, rather than just send out reports and manage distribution lists. I am open to a wide range of possibilities, but I am not sure how to best use my free time to make myself a better candidate. I am considering equity research, but it looks daunting to me and am unsure of how I would catch on to the industry by myself in order to make an impression on an interview. I am also looking into corporate finance, but as I said, I would entertain different options. I just like to make good money and not kill myself with the work hours. I keep up on the current financial news and bought a financial modeling online course, I also passed Level I of the CFA. Also, full disclosure that this career in finance is a career change for me after working for a few years in the federal government, so I am no spring chicken (I am in my mid-30s), so very late to the game.

Any advice and tips would be appreciated.