Back Office to Buyside & Update

I just wanted to give a quick update and share a little positive feedback for those of you who are trying to transition to other roles within finance.

I graduated from a small local college in 2006 after switching through multiple majors. At that point I knew I wanted to be in finance , particularly research, so I began reading everything I could get my hands on and started the CFA exams. My first position was financial reporting within a defense firm as a contractor for about six months. Later I took a credit analyst role within a corporation. From there I did a quick full time technical masters degree in 2009, then did some credit work for a financial institution for a few months after graduation before working in a credit and market risk role with a significant strategy component. In June, our department was laid off while I had an unexpected baby due at the end of August. We managed to stay positive and spent most of the time together preparing for the baby, then in August I began the job search in earnest. I wound up landing a great role as an investment analyst for an investment management firm in Boston that is absolutely perfect for my goals while using some of the skills I picked up from my background. The search was wicked hard, as was the interview process, but I was very aggressive in casting a wide net and wound up finding the firm that was an ideal match for me.

It feels very rewarding, and the whole process took time. I think one thing I did that helped was to maintain a consistent focus on research throughout my career and leverage that into my next position. I’m only writing this to give others an idea of what an alternative path might look like to the buyside that doesn’t involve a top ranked MBA or sell-side experience. Not that those things aren’t great, but if that path doesn’t work out, there are other ways that involve large portions of luck and persistance. In my life, I’ve found that things are often harder than I thought they’d be and easier than people tell me they’ll be. So that’s worth keeping in mind when receiving negative feedback.

Great story, thanks for sharing it.

Cool story bro

Edit: Sarcasm aside, good stuff

Good post, congrats on the job and baby

Congrats, what will you be doing in the IM firm? Is this MFS?

How are you enjoying the buy side? Everything its made out to be?

From one of the old-timers on the board, congratulations (on the baby AND the kid). Both are great news.

BTW - you joined AF one month before me. So there’s probably no more than a handful of folks that are still active with longer tenure.

Thanks BUSPROF.

Plantir, I don’t know what MFS means so probably not MFS. I’m basically a sector analyst covering a few industries, primarily fixed income securities, equal split IG and HY.

Geo, I’ll have to update once I’ve spent more time, but so far its great.

you guys are very green comparing to some old timers :slight_smile:

CSK - I know there are folks that have been around a lot longer (and you’re one of them). But I’d be interested in seeing a list of still-actuve members with their tenure, My sense is that a lot of folks cut back on the forum after they get their charter (or after a handful of years, whether they do or not). A few hang around for the long-term (mostly in the WC, but sometimes also answering questions).

Not meaning to toot my own horn- mostly just acknowledging that I’ve seen Swan around for a long time.

Congratulations and best of success!

How’s the kid?

Congrats on the new job and the baby !

I think I am also one of the oldest active members here, if you count my former Semper Augustus account. Started posting here in 2007.

CFAvsMBA, the baby is great!

Congrats on your successful job search! I’m curious if you used or found headhunters to be helpful in your search?

I am currently working in back office, and am looking to move into either a research or strategy role (at my current firm or elsewhere). I have met with a couple placement agencies but they said in the current job market their clients wouldn’t even look at a candidate’s resume for one of these roles unless they already have research/strategy experience.

Thanks

Is the kid a stud like his daddy? ROFL.

Let’s see…Investment Management in Boston? If you’re talking about working the buyside of a broker-dealer there’s a good chance we’ll be working together. If you’re talking about an RIA or something similar, it’ll be someone else, but she’s easier on the eyes than me anyway.

LPL, Commonwealth, Hancock, Fidelity, Signator, WFS…just to name a few.

Outside of NYC, Boston has the most large IM firms around. Depending on which one you’re at, it’s probably easy access from the subway, too.

Wicked hard? Already talking like a local, huh?