u/Few-Ear2658

I'm a Chartered Accountant (no traditional finance/business degree, no target school background) looking to get into investment banking or private equity.

Two questions:

1. For markets like UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia — is a CA + CFA combo actually respected as a strong path into IB/PE there? Or do firms in these regions still mostly hire from target unis regardless of credentials?
2. For US, Canada, and Europe specifically — realistically, how hard is it to break into IB/PE with no finance degree and no Ivy/target school pedigree? Is CA + CFA enough to even get a foot in the door, or is that path basically closed without an MBA from a target school later?

If you've made a similar transition (or work in hiring at a bank/PE shop), I'd genuinely appreciate hearing how it played out for you.

I'm a Chartered Accountant (no traditional finance/business degree, no target school background) looking to get into investment banking or private equity.

Two questions:

1. For markets like UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia — is a CA + CFA combo actually respected as a strong path into IB/PE there? Or do firms in these regions still mostly hire from target unis regardless of credentials?
2. For US, Canada, and Europe specifically — realistically, how hard is it to break into IB/PE with no finance degree and no Ivy/target school pedigree? Is CA + CFA enough to even get a foot in the door, or is that path basically closed without an MBA from a target school later?

If you've made a similar transition (or work in hiring at a bank/PE shop), I'd genuinely appreciate hearing how it played out for you.

Everyone's comments are welcome, but I'm mainly hoping to hear from people who've actually worked in quant research, at a prop shop or trading firm, or independent traders who've built something that's actually been profitable in live markets — not just in a backtest.

If you reply, mentioning what you've worked on or where helps me weigh the answer properly — that's the only reason I'm asking, not to see anyone flex.

I'm not asking anyone to hand over an edge or a strategy. I'm just curious about the actual process — how does an idea go from nothing to something testable?

Questions:

How does a hypothesis actually form in practice? Is it usually "pick a market/asset, ask 'what if X happens, then what follows?', and go look for evidence" — or does it more often start from something else, like a live anomaly you noticed, a macro/economic question, or a flow/structural observation?

How much do academic papers actually drive idea generation versus being used afterward to formalize or validate something you already suspected from watching markets?

Is there any kind of structured workflow for the "ideation" stage — sources you go to, questions you habitually ask — or is it mostly unstructured reading plus intuition plus trial and error?

Is there real methodology that basically never gets discussed outside funds and prop shops, or is the actual edge more about execution, risk management, and data/infrastructure rather than some hidden idea-generation framework?

Once you have a raw idea, what's the first thing you do to sanity-check it before ever touching a backtest?

Everyone's comments are welcome, but I'm mainly hoping to hear from people who've actually worked in quant research, at a prop shop or trading firm, or independent traders who've built something that's actually been profitable in live markets — not just in a backtest.

If you reply, mentioning what you've worked on or where helps me weigh the answer properly — that's the only reason I'm asking, not to see anyone flex.

I'm not asking anyone to hand over an edge or a strategy. I'm just curious about the actual process — how does an idea go from nothing to something testable?

Questions:

How does a hypothesis actually form in practice? Is it usually "pick a market/asset, ask 'what if X happens, then what follows?', and go look for evidence" — or does it more often start from something else, like a live anomaly you noticed, a macro/economic question, or a flow/structural observation?

How much do academic papers actually drive idea generation versus being used afterward to formalize or validate something you already suspected from watching markets?

Is there any kind of structured workflow for the "ideation" stage — sources you go to, questions you habitually ask — or is it mostly unstructured reading plus intuition plus trial and error?

Is there real methodology that basically never gets discussed outside funds and prop shops, or is the actual edge more about execution, risk management, and data/infrastructure rather than some hidden idea-generation framework?

Once you have a raw idea, what's the first thing you do to sanity-check it before ever touching a backtest?

Bad marks from a non-math high school, so no real math/CS foundation. Can't do a physical degree, so planning an online University of London BSc (Computer Science or Math & Economics — they have an entry test that skips A-levels) plus self-study.

Not chasing RenTech/Citadel — fine starting at low-tier firms. Also not after quant dev — mainly interested in research, trading second. Might do a Master's after (maybe in-person, maybe better school, depending on BSc grades/experience), might skip it if I land a job straight after the BSc, but not counting on that.

Question: given this background and path, is aiming for quant researcher/trader roles realistic, or should I target something more adjacent like data/risk analytics instead? Would love input from anyone actually in or near the industry, not general career-guide advice.

Bad marks from a non-math high school, so no real math/CS foundation. Can't do a physical degree, so planning an online University of London BSc (Computer Science or Math & Economics — they have an entry test that skips A-levels) plus self-study.

Not chasing RenTech/Citadel — fine starting at low-tier firms. Also not after quant dev — mainly interested in research, trading second. Might do a Master's after (maybe in-person, maybe better school, depending on BSc grades/experience), might skip it if I land a job straight after the BSc, but not counting on that.

Question: given this background and path, is aiming for quant researcher/trader roles realistic, or should I target something more adjacent like data/risk analytics instead? Would love input from anyone actually in or near the industry, not general career-guide advice.

Bad marks from a non-math high school, so no real math/CS foundation. Can't do a physical degree, so planning an online University of London BSc (Computer Science or Math & Economics — they have an entry test that skips A-levels) plus self-study.

Not chasing RenTech/Citadel — fine starting at low-tier firms. Also not after quant dev — mainly interested in research, trading second. Might do a Master's after (maybe in-person, maybe better school, depending on BSc grades/experience), might skip it if I land a job straight after the BSc, but not counting on that.

Question: given this background and path, is aiming for quant researcher/trader roles realistic, or should I target something more adjacent like data/risk analytics instead? Would love input from anyone actually in or near the industry, not general career-guide advice.

I am 20 years old and I have completed high school (Federal Board, Pakistan), but my grade 12 marks are very low. I am thinking about doing A Levels as a private student in Mathematics (maybe Further Maths and Physics as well), which I think will take about 2 years.

I feel like I have already wasted 2 years after high school, so I want honest guidance.

My questions are:

1. Is it too late for me to start A Levels at this age as a private candidate?
2. Will universities (especially in Europe) accept A Levels done privately without attending a regular school?
3. Is it realistically possible to get good grades in Maths, Further Maths, and Physics with strong effort?
4. Will starting university at 22–23 be a disadvantage?
5. Should I do A Levels or go for CA instead (which is faster for earning but less interesting for me)?

I am more interested in a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and possibly studying in a good European university. I just want to know if this is a good and realistic path for me.

On the other hand, CA offers decent pay, stability, and a higher certainty of getting a good job and earning money after 2–3 years of starting it, so I am also considering that as a practical alternative.

TL;DR:
I am deciding between doing A Levels (to pursue a Mathematics degree abroad) or CA (for faster stable career and income). I want honest advice on whether starting A Levels at 22–23 is still a good and realistic option.

I recently started CA (around 4 months ago). I chose it because it seemed like the best available option. I don't hate it, but I don't really enjoy it either. It feels like a decent but somewhat boring career path that doesn't fully match my personality.

I am interested in financial markets and I am thinking about applying for a Bachelor's in Mathematics/CS abroad, possibly in Europe. My FSC marks are very low and I am from a pre-medical background, so I may need to do private A-levels with Maths first.

My goal is to eventually work in areas like machine learning, quantitative research, or quantitative finance because they combine maths, technology, and financial markets.

The path I am considering could take around 6–7 years:

• 2 years for A-levels
• 3–4 years for a Bachelor's
• Possibly a Master's later

I am considering Germany/Poland because they seem more affordable and have reasonable universities.

The problem is CA also has advantages:

1. Stable and clear career path.
2. I can start earning a stipend after some time.
3. Less financial pressure on my family.

But the issue is that I don't feel connected to CA. I know life is not always about doing what you love, but since there is another field I am genuinely interested in, I feel it is worth considering.

I am not thinking about leaving CA because it is difficult. I am thinking about it because I want to give a chance to something I actually find interesting.

My concerns:

• The cost would be much higher.
• It may take years before I become financially stable.
• I don't personally know anyone who followed this path, so most of my understanding comes from the internet.

What if I fail or don't get a good position after the degree? I would have left a decent career path in Pakistan.

Since this group is for under-20 people and I am also at that stage of life, I thought it would be a good place to ask. I would especially appreciate advice from students abroad or anyone familiar with Maths/CS → Quant Finance paths.

Should I continue CA or take the risk and pursue this path?

I am 21. I recently started Chartered Accountancy (around 4 months ago). I chose it because it seemed like the safest and most practical option available. I don't hate it, but I also don't feel strongly connected to it. It feels like a stable career path, but not something that matches my interests very well.

I am interested in financial markets and I am considering pursuing a Bachelor's in Mathematics/Computer Science abroad, possibly in Europe. My FSC marks are low and I come from a pre-medical background, so I may need to complete A-levels with Maths first.

My long-term interest is in fields like quantitative finance, quantitative research, or machine learning applied to finance because they combine maths, programming, and markets.

The possible path would take around 6–7 years:

• 2 years for A-levels
• 3–4 years for a Bachelor's
• Possibly a Master's later

I have been looking at countries like Germany and Poland because they seem more affordable and have reasonable universities.

The reason I am confused is that Chartered Accountancy also has strong advantages:

• A clear and stable career path
• Earlier earning potential through articleship/stipend
• Less financial burden on my family

However, my concern is that I don't feel motivated by it. I am not considering leaving Chartered Accountancy because it is difficult — I am considering it because I want to explore a field I genuinely find interesting.

The risks of switching:

• Higher financial cost
• Several years before reaching financial stability
• Uncertainty about whether I would actually reach my target career

I also don't personally know anyone who followed this path, so most of my understanding comes from online research.

I would appreciate advice from people who have experience with career changes, studying abroad, finance, maths, CS, or quantitative fields.

Would it be smarter to continue with a stable path like Chartered Accountancy, or take the risk and pursue Maths/CS with the goal of entering quant finance?

I started Chartered Accountancy (ICAP Pakistan) about 4–5 months ago. Recently, I found out about finance careers like quantitative research and trading, which really interest me.

From what I understand, these jobs mostly hire from top universities like Oxford, MIT, etc. My grades are not strong enough for those, and I also can’t afford them.

So I started looking for other realistic options and found TU Munich (TUM) for a Bachelor’s in Mathematics. From what I’ve seen, it has a good reputation, and some quants do come from there. I would also probably need to learn German.

I also want to know if a BSc Mathematics from TUM is actually a good path into quant finance roles.

Now I’m confused and looking for advice from people in this field or studying at TUM / working in quant finance.

Should I try to get into TUM for a Math degree and aim for a quant career, or continue with CA?

If I continue CA, it’s a stable path with decent income in my country after a few years, but honestly I don’t enjoy it much—it feels boring to me.

I know quant is very competitive and basically involves competing with very strong math students. I also don’t fully know how realistic it is for someone from TUM to get into quant roles.

Another concern is financial stability during studies. If I go for this path, I might not earn anything for years and would depend on my family.

So I’m really confused between:

• a stable professional qualification (CA)
• or a risky but more interesting path (math → quant finance)

Any advice would be appreciated.

I am 20 years old and recently started the Chartered Accountant qualification in Pakistan. It is a respected career path here, with decent pay and good prospects. However, I have realized that I have little interest in spending my life as an accountant. I chose it mainly because it seemed like one of the best available options.

My real interest lies in financial markets, particularly in quantitative research and trading. I learned that to be accepted by major firms in this field, having a strong STEM degree from a top university is a big advantage. That made me consider pursuing a Math undergraduate program at the University of Waterloo in Canada.

The challenge is that my Grade 12 (high school) marks are not strong, and I don’t know how the application process works. I wonder whether Waterloo would accept me, and if there are tests like the SAT that could help me demonstrate my ability. I also saw that Waterloo offers a Math co-op program, which could give me valuable work experience and possibly lead to opportunities at quant firms during or after the program.

My plan is to prepare for any required tests, apply to Waterloo’s Math undergraduate program, join the co-op track, and then pursue internships or jobs in Canada or the USA with quant firms. I know this is a big decision, with risks: I might not be admitted, or I might complete the degree but still struggle to get into quant roles. On the other hand, continuing Chartered Accountancy here would give me a stable and respected career.

Still, I am willing to put in the effort because quantitative finance is the field I am truly interested in. I am seeking advice on whether I should pursue this path.