Should I make one? I think it would be cool to have a space to discuss things we learn in and outside of the classroom.
I know a few other positions have gotten their decisions already, has anyone who did the interview for this role (not the hirevue) heard back?
Hey guys, just curious what everyone's personal strategy is? As a 4th year student, I feel like everything I've been learning - stats, portfolio theory, risk management, valuation, CFA prep, etc. - has proven that buying an ETF that tracks the market is the best move, long-term, for the average person (keyword average). Looking at volatility, expected returns (stats-based), and compounding, it seems hard to justify most active strategies for the average "investor".
I feel like I'm going crazy because a lot of my (non-finance) friends and even my dad are into day trading and they all think it's a guaranteed way to make cash quick. What do you guys think - with everything you know as a finance student, do you day trade or do you see it as gambling? Of course it's not strictly impossible to beat the market, but is it really as common as the people around me are making it out to be to have that skill/edge? These are smart engineering/comp sci students, but not quant smart.
I feel like everyone's larping or trying to seem smarter than they are lol. Additional point: for those of you who have worked in the investment industry, is absolute return more important than risk-adjusted returns/Sharpe ratios?
Ngl I'm feeling a bit inadequate haha - I know so much about valuation, long term forecasts, equity research, but I wouldn't know the first thing about short-term price movements. Is there some sort of obvious unwritten rule I'm missing? I also don't participate in trading competitions because of this mindset, I'd have no idea where to start.
I have my L1 on Aug 20 and I'm only done notes on Quant and have started FSA and Corp Issuers. I feel like my note taking method is seriously inefficient and I just don't know how much to write down and how much to leave. This is something I've struggled with throughout uni - my notes are always super in depth and detailed but obviously I don't have time to do that now.
I've attached 2 pictures - the Quant notes are my typical style and with the Corp Issuers notes I've attempted to be as leaner. Give me a reality check - which style should I stick with given I have just over 3 months remaining? I know most learning will happen actively when I do questions so do I even need to be super in depth with these notes?
AsSalamu Alaikum everybody, I'm a 4th year university student here in Canada and this is my last chance to secure an internship before I graduate. With the current economy and my specific industry, I'm going to be at a severe disadvantage if I graduate without any relevant experience. I'm really scared about how I'm going to move forward with my career if I don't get this role.
I'm of course preparing as best as I can, learning from my previous interview mistakes, and putting my trust in Allah, but I would still appreciate any support and dua. Thanks!
I've gotten past the hirevue and have a virtual interview scheduled. Hopefully all goes well, but is that the last stage? I'll ask during the interview - it'd just be nice to hear how the process works beforehand.
Also would appreciate any Suncor-specific tips (yes I know about safety).
Think equity research reports, managing a portfolio, etc. I know this is huge for computer science students but not too sure if it would be worth it in finance if my end goal is to compensate for a lack of internship/work experience.
For those of you who did do something like this, did it help you find a job?
Was going to post on financialcareers but don't have enough karma. I'm in a really tough spot. 4th year, finishing semi-target in December. I messed up and couldn't land a single internship. I'm in Alberta, Canada.
First and second year, I spent figuring out life and university. How to study, what I wanted to do. Applied to a few openings. Didn't even know clubs were a big thing at this point. Socially awkward so didn't make any friends.
Third year I start getting serious. Getting As in all my classes and applied to 100+ roles (my city is huge on corporate oil and gas, less pure finance companies). Still socially awkward so the few coffee chats I do go on don't turn into anything. No real friends besides my high school ones. Didn't drink or party so didn't go to any uni events or social gatherings. Too much of a wuss to go to networking events on my own. Took a position in a non-finance club and left after a few months because the club severely misrepresented what they actually did. Apply to my uni's investment club - rejected.
Now I'm done my fourth year. Realized I can't stay a loser forever and started working on my social skills. A real wakeup call for me was getting rejected from a small firm even with a strong referral. It was client facing and I bombed the interview (seemed too nervous I guess). The only work experience I have at this point is as a restaurant manager. Good for soft skills but no one cares about that. Been super unmotivated all year. Skipped class often but kept up with studying (granted, they were BS required classes like Ethical Leadership and Strategy), projected to graduate with a 3.4/4.0. Started weed as an escape every night which is fun when it's fun but I often get very anxious when high and even more depressed. Prepping for CFA L1 in August, plan to get the full charter within a realistic time frame.
End goal is asset management. I have a passion for investing and portfolio management, but I'm being realistic and understanding that I won't get this straight out of uni. My plan right now is to find any low level wealth management position. Think administrative or client service associate. Work a year or 2 there, get real experience, then try applying to entry level finance roles. Then eventually move laterally to asset management.
I'm just so depressed. Not like ending it all, more like thinking I'm worthless. No drive to get up in the morning. I thought university was only about learning, I never had an older sibling or mentor to guide me and tell me to network, apply early, find club positions. Nobody close to me is doing finance so I'm by myself. By the time I figured out that stuff on my own, it was too late. I just feel like a big loser who'll get nowhere in life. I had to vent somewhere. Maybe there's someone out there who has the same experience. I'm still gonna try my best but it's so hard.
Signed up for L1 to make up for my lack of internship experience, plan to get the full charter within a reasonable timeframe. So far I'm done my notes on Quantitative Methods and am starting FSA. I'm a 4th-year Finance student and just finished my winter semester so I basically have these 4 months of spring/summer to grind for L1. I see posts of people already doing mocks for August and even stressing for their November exams, which leads me to believe I'm super behind.
I have a solid understanding of pretty much everything that's taught in a standard BComm Finance. I'm using CFAI LES and can't afford to buy anything else besides maybe a few official mocks. My plan is to get through the whole curriculum and take notes once, then go back and grind practice problems. Should I be doing practice problems alongside my initial pass of the curriculum, or would doing each module/volume's respective problems right after I finish notes be better? For passive review, I throw on Let Me Explain videos while I do my 1 hour treadmill workout at night which I find helps reinforce concepts.
To throw a wrench in my situation, I have a pre-booked family vacation that'll take about 20 days of my time. Non-refundable so I'm planning on doing light study and practice during nights, maybe an hour each night. What do you guys think - am I fine given I study 3-6 hours a day (excluding vacation)?