State Street or Equilar, Inc. for future FA or equity research analyst

I'm currently interviewing for an 'accounting specialist' and 'derivative operations specialist' position at State Street and a 'research analyst' position at Equilar, Inc. I really want to do day-trading, equity research, portfolio management, or financial analysis in the future, but I don't know which would be a better route.

Equilar basically does executive compensation analysis and provides an executive network to those willing to pay the high price. (higher starting salary than State Street)

State Street is a well known Asset Management firm that has been established for a long time.

If i wanted to end up a BB or top hedge fund, which would be my best choice? I should also add that I will be working towards getting a CFA and MBA over the next couple of years.

8 Comments
 

There isn't a whole lot online that i was able to find about these positions as far as what the future holds. What is the difference between a custodian bank and an Asset Management firm? They both are quite operations related. I was planning on CFA and mba as well, so that doesn't help me much.

 
Best Response

You want to do day trading, equity research, portfolio management, OR financial analysis...Wow, I take everything I thought about this post back. If you're wondering, I was thinking "this kid has no idea what the fuck is going on".

Buckle up pal, cause next stop is BB or top hedge fund, where you will be doing one of those things you want (but not all of them of course, cause that would be ridiculous).

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

haha, of course. Although I do believe i could do each of those positions at different points in my career. Do you feel that SS would be the better course if i wanted to get into a top hedge fund or BB? I plan on taking the CFA level 1 in the next year, applying to mba/taking GMAT in the same period. I will be graduating from a University of California, however it is not a target school although it is top 20 public, and top 40 overall

 

Hey Gary,

If you want to end up at a bb or a "top" hedge fund neither of these positions are going to help. SS is definitely more well known but that isn't necessarily a good thing. When I hear state street I think fund accounting and passive etfs, whether that is fair or not it's their rep in Boston at least. Asset Managers and BBs aren't hiring from state street. In order to go from Bo to FO you'll need to get a top MBA or do it by networking. If you have to take one of the two I'd take equilar, I know nothing about them but with the title research analyst you may be able to make it sound better than it is. That will be tougher at state street because you'll be one of many operations guys taking the CFA trying to break in to an equity research and they are very well known in Boston at least for being filled with op analysts and fund accountants. I have never worked at SS so I could be wrong but that is the perception that I have at least

 

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