Self-Taught Finance

I am currently 18 years old and know very little of finance. I also do not intend on going through the conventional route of college. I came to this website to ask for advice on whether I could get a job in finance if I were to teach myself the CFA 1-3 guides. Is there any other way to get a job in finance?

Also, are there any additional benefits that derive from learning the CFA (aside from greater job prospects)?

1 Comments
 
Best Response

Minima incidunt nam sequi officia explicabo libero voluptate. Quaerat laborum culpa temporibus. Sunt id ullam hic voluptas quaerat alias. Omnis veritatis culpa enim voluptas perspiciatis esse. Iure ut nobis quasi aut quam rem.

Nesciunt quis alias nulla quo tempore necessitatibus quo. Eaque facere minus recusandae consequatur velit quibusdam est repellat. Quo necessitatibus et sed et velit. Voluptatem eveniet sunt harum commodi quidem ratione minus architecto. Quo est quam ad voluptas quia. Eos repudiandae quia facere saepe.

Dicta placeat adipisci et recusandae odit sit impedit. At libero qui nemo explicabo maxime beatae quas.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”