MS in finance :: Need advice

I am CFA Level 2 candidate awaiting my results of June 2010. I am plaining to pursue Masters in Finance offered by the b-schools (not quantitative finance). I currently work in the IT dept for an American I bank in Mumbai-India Would that be a good choice, givne that I cannot afford an MBA from any UK and USA university. I am therefore thinking of pursuing an MS in finance from UK/USA. I also want to complete the course within 1 year starting next year.[ 1. Given all this, would MS in finance be good thing to do assuming that I clear my L2 exam or even L3 by next yr before I even enter the MS in finance course.?? 2. I am particularly not too keen of doing an MSF from UK (LBS, LSE etc…) given the problems of the Eurozone and the job mkt there…Would you still recommend an MS in fiance from a UK university? Any help on this is highly appreaciated.

CFA and MS in Finance won’t have any additional value. Look for MBA in India (IIM etc).

can anyone shed more light on this?

with initials VD, you’re in trouble already. i would suggest becoming a mechanic. only name that is worse is Arun Ida Da Silva, some Indian, Israeli, Portuguese guy.

^^what a douche

varundarji Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am CFA Level 2 candidate awaiting my results of > June 2010. > I am plaining to pursue Masters in Finance offered > by the b-schools (not quantitative finance). I > currently work in the IT dept for an American I > bank in Mumbai-India > Would that be a good choice, givne that I cannot > afford an MBA from any UK and USA > university. I am therefore thinking of pursuing an > MS in finance from UK/USA. > I also want to complete the course within 1 year > starting next year.[ > > 1. Given all this, would MS in finance be good > thing to do assuming that I clear my L2 exam or > even L3 by next yr before I even enter the MS in > finance course.?? > > 2. I am particularly not too keen of doing an MSF > from UK (LBS, LSE etc…) given the problems of the > Eurozone and the job mkt there…Would you still > recommend an MS in fiance from a UK university? > > Any help on this is highly appreaciated. What would you like to do eventually?

You don’t even say where you want to go, yet we’re supposed to give advice? The degree is not the end goal… Agree with cfaboston regarding CFA / MSF. Despite the UK job environment and being close to the eurozone, LBS and LSE are pretty good schools.

Why do so many people in IT want to make the jump to finance?

jorgeam86 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ^^what a douche 26 posts. what a douche. did you just get home from school honey?

SuperiorReturn Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why do so many people in IT want to make the jump > to finance? Because they think once they pass CFA or MBA, they will be hired as MD at GS or Partner at PE. They do not know how tough to get into Finance especially in US. If you do not have degree from top 10, 3.4+ GPA, Decent internship etc then just forget about getting into Finance. They think CFA, CAIA, FRM etc will make them qualified to get into a good firm at management level. Life is tough and competition is tougher.

^ +1

MattLikesAnalysis Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > with initials VD, you’re in trouble already. i > would suggest becoming a mechanic. > > only name that is worse is Arun Ida Da Silva, some > Indian, Israeli, Portuguese guy. MattLikesAnalysis :- thanks for your advice. I think you are already a mechanic. what do you specialize in repairing?

pupdawg82 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > SuperiorReturn Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Why do so many people in IT want to make the > jump > > to finance? > > > Because they think once they pass CFA or MBA, they > will be hired as MD at GS or Partner at PE. > > They do not know how tough to get into Finance > especially in US. If you do not have degree from > top 10, 3.4+ GPA, Decent internship etc then just > forget about getting into Finance. They think CFA, > CAIA, FRM etc will make them qualified to get into > a good firm at management level. Life is tough and > competition is tougher. This is true I just got my Master of Finance (with a 3.5+ GPA) passed Level I of the CAIA and CFA, and nothing. I’m applying for bank teller positions now. It’s just brutal out there, and no one really gives a crap about your designations.

First off, I’d like to menton that a MS in Finance (or Master of Finance for that matter), is GOING TO BE VERY QUANTITATIVE if the program is at all half decent… if you want to get your Masters in finance without the quant, look into a medicore MBA and specialize in Finance… I was in the Master of Finance before I studied for the CFA exams, and I was shocked at how little math is involved the curriculum… From what I know about Masters (MS Finance, or MFin), their always very quantitative…you need to do alot of calculus, linear algebra, etc… ECONOMETRICS is especially important +++ by the way, you mentioned “nobody gives a crap about your designations”…having passed level I of CFA exams doesn’t give you a designation at all…For those who are actually CFA Charterholders, I guarantee you that it’s a HUGE advantage So many people complain that they can’t get jobs even though they are CFA level I or II candidates, and for some reason generalize their statements by saying becoming a CFA Charterholder doesn’t help in the job search…If you think this is true, then why even bother putting all the effort into the designation… Every CFA Charterholder I know has a great job with good pay…en route to becoming a charterholder is a battle with all the competition…but just stick in there and once we all pass the 3 exams, it’ll all be worth it in the end!

If you are an actual charterholder, it helps of course. But that means you have to have worked in the industry for 4 years. This kid is working in IT. Obviously he has 0 experience. So with 0 experience passing any number of CAIA / CFA tests won’t help. Experience trumps all.

If MS is a 1 yr program, I guess 1-yr MBAs in UK are an option. Also, Masters in Financial Math is also an option as it is 1-year, but you need background in math or computer science.

“This kid…” That is a little presumptuous. I often sense a defensive, protectionist tone from some people heaping scorn on those with the temerity to want to move into the profession. Obvioiusly level 1 or 2 is not going to get you a job, but come on, one has to start somewhere and studying for these exams is not a bad move to make as part of an overall plan to evolve your career. It’s very tough to get in, but there are people that do make the switch from IT or engineering to finance and do quite well.

First question, what makes you think an MS. Finance is going to be an ideal compliment to your CFA ? I am guessing there must have been a point where you thought you decided on a MS. Finance and not just any other MS 2) If it was that easy to get jobs in the US/UK, ppl would be hopping on planes right now and heading there. I left the US and now working in Asia. Trust me, you probably don’t want to head in that direction for a while. Forget the American (or British) dream for the moment. 3) I would suggest you stick around in Asia. Maybe, go to a B-school in Asia. Tons of good schools in Hong-Kong and Singapore. You will go to the US/UK, get your degree. And then what? It’s a bitch now to get jobs, even for citizens. You are going to be on a visa. Very easy to say no to you. I have friends on visa doing crap-shit jobs, just because they want to stay back in the US. So, it’s your call.