This is a question I ask people in every industry I run across. The answers you receive are very raw or very precise. So, if you were a recent college finance graduate all over again, what would you do differently? What areas of Finance would you focus on most and what areas of Finance do you view as dying off or being affected by AI. Thank you in advance for your input and industry insight.
Currently 28 y/o working as a PWM Associate at a well-known global bank. Approx. 5 YOE in this space including prior experience in Canada (Big 5 Bank). Current role is outside North America.
My goal is to break into CIB (preferably IB M&A) in Canada. I’m committed to pursuing a T5 Canadian MBA to help achieve this (UoT/Ivey/Queens).
Question: Is it worth gaining experience in commercial banking (credit analyst or similar role) prior to pursuing an MBA? Or is that a waste of time given my current age relative to the goal of breaking into IB.
Any and all advice is appreciated. I’d be thankful to hear from people in this sub that have ventured on similar paths.
Hey everyone, I recently graduated in June and already had a finance consulting offer at a Big 4, a little later I got an even better offer for a finance operations role at another company.
For some background: I have internship experience in PE and was VP of Finance for a startup, so I did a lot of financial modeling for VC funding, I left and then went into consulting, I was wondering if - taking into account that I already signed the operations offer - that will kill my chances of getting back into a more niche side of the finance industry like IB, PE, Corporate Development and so on, Id like to do both the FMVA and CFA if it helps.
The work I do in Big 4 is quite interesting but starting pay is shitty tbh, and I got offered almost twice as much in the other company.
I live in Mexico for reference.
I’m a junior economics major at a non target (one of the smaller Claremont colleges). Had a lot of health issues and really wasn’t able to get internship experience my first two summers. Fortunately, I’m in a far better place today but realized just how much I missed out on.
I have a good GPA (3.85ish), have applied for accounting/audit roles but yet to hear back, and have a good amount of finance club experience, just nothing professional.
I’m just so lost, and would love advice.
-what’s my best bet for this summer?
-what’s my best bet for FT recruiting if nothing works out for an internship?
-is there a remote chance at IB at all?
-what sets me up best for buisiness school down the line for a “second chance”
Career services is genuinely terrible and we have few alumni in the field, so really hoping for some advice on here!
Received an offer from the capital markets debt advisory side of an IB. Currently in credit making ~500K and offer is for 600K.
On average I work about 60 hours per week sometimes 70 at a top private credit firm. I figure it can’t be that different as a mid level VP in debt advisory (advising sponsors on capital structure). What do you guys think
Looking for podcasts or YouTube channels that cover:
Thank you all!!
I’m in my mid 30s with over 10 years in the industry. I joined a mega RIA two years ago and have closed over $150M in assets through referral channels. Realistically, I’ll likely be at $250–300M by the end of next year, translating to roughly $250–300K in annual compensation.
There’s a clear path to managing a larger practice (400–500M) and making $400–500K/year. Making partner in the next year or so would also bring RSUs into the picture.
My hesitation is that I don’t own the clients or the business I’m building. Going independent would mean starting over to some extent and potentially years of grinding to get back to this income level, but I’d be building something I own.
We have solid savings but also a growing family, so the stability and income potential of staying are appealing.
I know this sub generally leans toward independence, but is there a legitimate case for staying at a mega RIA, building a well paying career, and taking advantage of the path in front of me rather than starting over to own a business?
Would especially appreciate perspectives from people who have experienced both sides.
I applied for an asset management associate position and made it through the first interview, case study, and pitch. They then reached out to me asking to come into the office in person to meet the team. I’m not really sure what to expect for the interviews and would love any advice anyone has to help me prepare!
Thanks so much
I'm going to be graduating with a dental degree but don't have any interest in practicing or working with my hands for the rest of my life. Given my extensive scientific background, I was hoping I can enroll back in school and potentially have an advantage finding an analyst role in the pharma industry corridor in New Jersey.
Also I was hoping to maybe work as a dentist for 2 days a week. I'm hoping this job experience will make me significantly more qualified for internships compared to the freshman who's only previous work was as a lifeguard at their local pool.
I know some may recommend an MBA but I won't have any work experience ( and my GPA was kind of mediocre in undergrad and just enough to pass in dental school). I also don't have the finance background needed for masters in finance programs
Currently working in WM as an advisor, and as the title states, I’m really struggling to get clients.
I just started and I work with a firm as self-employed and I knew it would be difficult, but I honestly don’t know what to do at this point. I’m running out of savings fast, and I just can’t seem to get clients. I’ve called everyone I can possibly think of and more, no one answers.
Once I can get people onto meetings, things seem to go well, but it’s a very slow burn converting them into actual clients (getting all the paperwork done), so have I only a few clients; with a few more pending, but I have absolutely nothing in the pipeline once these new deals start coming through.
I’ve been asking for referrals, calling, leveraging LinkedIn, and I feel like I’m doing everything right, but it’s just very difficult.
I’m at the point where if I don’t start making money, I’m going to be completely out of money by December. I’ve sold pretty much everything I own and I’m cutting down spending even more now.
The biggest problem though is I LOVE my job, but I just can’t get clients… So if anyone has any advice, I’d love to hear it, I know this is a struggle that everyone seems to go through as an Advisor, but no one seems to actually be real about it.
I am currently a senior at the University of Florida getting a degree in economics and I intend to peruse a career in wealth management over the summer I did an internship at Ameriprise and I got a return offer for after I graduate
But I am currently working part time at a local chase branch I feel like if I thought it out my internal opportunities will be better than Ameriprise.
For context the Ameriprise offer is only like a 10% raise compared to my hourly now and my location is dependent on what is available. But I’m also worried to get stuck in the branch forever because if I need spend more then a year here postgrad I don’t think I want to do it. And I’d ideally like to work in the private bank at the 270 park office of JPM
Any advice is very welcome and if you have any questions I’d be happy to give some more insight
I’m currently a medical resident (FM residency) and I hate every part of it.
I’m asking about how banks typically handle this, not whether anyone ‘deserves’ to be fired. If a first-year analyst is accused of serious pre-employment sexual misconduct and the allegation is supported by contemporaneous documentation, how seriously would HR/compliance take it? If they thought it was more likely than not true, how would they weigh the conduct against the fact that it happened years earlier and before employment? Thanks for any insight.
Edit: Charges were not pressed, but there is credible documentation. I am considering whether or not to bring it to his firms attention.
Interned at a large regional/national bank (think Truist, PNC, US Bank,) in the Asset Management Group, more specifically institutional asset management. A lot of seniors in the group have CFA's and highly recommend it. I got a return offer for August 2027.
I am slightly more interested in internally lateralizing over to the Corporate Banking or Capital Markets groups. It depends on how I like the full-time role though.
Since I have over a year until I start full time I was thinking about doing 1 or 2 levels of the CFA, but I wanted to ask if I do progress in the CFA or become a charterholder, does that hold any weight for CB or CM? Thanks!
Hi Guys. Forgive me for a rather grim post. 24M Business and Pol Science graduate from a top Asian university with slightly above average (but not 2:1) grades. Nothing to write home about. I graduated in 2025 and have not managed to snag a finance (or any) job for a year since. I have been looking for roles across Asia with a focus in Singapore (bonded to a government organisation). I am not a citizen so visa pressures apply to my plight.
I did not completely waste the year as I interned in a boutique management consulting firm in Singapore for about 5 months while taking courses in Financial Modelling, Python and SQL, and leveraging AI to build finance related tools and applications (Mainly an equity research engine). I have past internships in financial services and corporate accounting and audit. I'm not gonna pretend to be a finance expert but am competent enough to sit in interviews with preparation.
Sorry for the long context. I haven't had luck in getting interviews for over 500 applications at least, approximately 28. That is an abysmal hump I havent been able to cross. I was planning on taking the CFA but at the moment cannot afford to sit (will try coughing something up). I would really appreciate your guidance and help in what I can do to position myself better for finance roles.
I'm not gonna lie, im open to anything - boutiques, small shops, any type of role as im confident in my ability to find a way somehow. But jesus, this search has wounded my mental so bad, I dont think there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I've applied everywhere (and trust me when I say this). My networking admittedly hasn't been great so would appreciate your tested advice on how to approach it.
The visa does pose an issue as the market is bad enough for Singaporeans, let alone a foreigner. But I refuse to admit that it is the only reason for my problem. Feels like a cop out. So anyone both in SG or elsewhere, if you could advice me on what I'm missing, what I can do, and what I need to stop, I'm all ears. Grill me if you have to, I'm sure there's good enough reason for that.
Life has been grim. I can't get myself to live off my parents (who are a godsend) when others in my cohort are making life plans. I'm tired of being a bum. I'd appreciate it if yall could set me straight somehow. I aint the smartest guy, but I'm sure as shit gonna try becoming one. I'm really sorry for writing an uncharacteristically long post. Hope I've covered everything. Thanks in advance.
I'm planning on studying econometrics or computer science for my undergrad which are both very math heavy. I would prefer to work at a fundamental firm and study something easier like economics but you need a lot more luck and prestige to get in this way than with the quantitative side which I just can't get because I'm going to study in the Netherlands. So I by studying a more quantitative course I can join a quantitative firm but can I still join a fundamental firm or not?
I have my SIE/7/63 doing customer service calls mostly and I’m burnt out. I already know I don’t want to do wealth management or be any sort of financial advisor. If you used to work a similar role, what do you do now and how did you pivot to your new role?
SO I am a Third year student from a tier 2 college in India currently studying IT engineering and want to make career shifts in finance and maybe entreprenurship later on. Should I go for Ms in finance after my graduation?? My main aim is to get placements in top finance companies and have a good network because I dont really want to continue in engineering fields and I dont really want to wait to have 3 to 5 years of work ex to get an mba degree. Open to any thoughts and suggestions!! Mainly targeting colleges in Europe and US.
This was quite hard to make... I have no real work exp so I feel that might put be at a disadvantage.
Im hoping uni name will be enough to carry me through.
Worth noting that I am technically not in the finance society yet (will be in two days), but it will be on my CV when applying, and am looking for advice sooner ideally since some of my deadlines are in 2-3 weeks for spring weeks
Many thanks!
Hi all,
I work for HMRC in a tax compliance role. I effectively work as a relationship manager and tax compliance checker some of the wealthiest people in the UK (think billionaires and other companies). I am looking to go over to the private sector as joined HMRC after graduating from Cambridge because I wasn't sure what I wanted and I now need a change. Just wondering apart from big 4? What can else can I target? I have also done work in international taxes (transfer pricing and others work).
