How is work in the investment industry like?

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Hi, I am considering a career switch to the investment industry from an engineering career. I am considering of taking up the CFA program to equip myself with the technical skills required for this industry and at the same time, to enable me to step foot into this industry.

But before I decide whether to enroll in the CFA program, I would like to find out if this industry is really suitable for me.(I do not have any friends working there).

Is there anyone who is working in the investment industry who is willing to share with me his experiences and how the work there is like? Especially people who are in same situation as me (who made a career switch) ?

Also, I'm quite interested in research and analysis of stocks and equities, and I'm strong in numerical aptitude. What kinds of jobs are there available in the investment industry that will allow me to utilize this strength?

Thank you for your replies in advance!

Give me an e-mail. I have a CFA charter and have worked in equities for more than a decade.

There are lots of different types of work in "investments" from trading, to sales, to research, to syndication, to private equity, to fund management and on and on.

The most likely sub-segment that would need technical skills is the following:

a) Research. This is where you do buy-sell-hold recommendation reports on company. You can work for either the equity side (stock analyst) or bond side (credit analyst). Then you can work for either the buy-side (mutual funds, insurance, hedge funds) or sell-side (brokerage). Typically, you need a thorough background in accounting, a good background in finance (as evidence through CFA program) and then an industry background that gives you a leg up when giving research on a specific industry. For example, your typical pharmaceutical analyst for brokerage has an MD. It isn't required, but it does help, especially for more technical industries like medical, technology and energy. Long, long, long hours. Bad job security. Very, very competitive. Bonuses can be very good. Politics can be very tough. You must be kind of a know-it-all freak (like me) in order to really enjoy this job. I am and I did.

b) Corporate Finance. Instead of doing agency work, you're doing primary work. You're doing lots and lots of pitch books to land deals to underwrite IPOs, equity placements or debt placements. Once you win a deal, then you then do lots and lots of writing for the Red Herring/Prospectus. Job can be repetitive. Travel can be large %. Pay can be very, very good.

c) IT back-end. This is only if you're hard core software engineering type. This is where you use your knowledge of finance to help design software. This is the flip side. Pay can be outstanding.

Posted in: Investment Comments(2) November 2008

Three Investment Lessons To Learn From Warren Buffet

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If there ever was any investor that one should pay attention to that would be the infamous Warren Buffet a stock broker who began working his father’s brokerage at a young age of 11 when he made his first stock purchase. That’s why these three investment lessons to learn from Warren Buffet which are so valuable.

Be a value investor is one of three investment lessons to learn from Warren Buffet which are so valuable. Buffett’s philosophy is a from the Benjamin Graham school of Value investing. A value investor will look for securities that have unjustifiably low prices attached to them based on intrinsic value which can be determined by evaluating the company’s fundamentals.

International trading strategy is number two of three investment lessons to learn from Warren Buffet which are so valuable. Now let’s have a look his international trading strategy. Trade deficits occur when a country has a growing economy so these stocks are a wise move.

There is not danger because as the economy grows so do new assets that foreigners can invest in and buy in which is part of the three investment lessons to learn from Warren Buffet which are so valuable.

Your international investments can reap you excellent profits as the country grows and develops and the dollar value grows through investments and developments. That’s why this is part of your lessons to learn from Warren Buffet which are so valuable.

Costs opportunity is number the three investment lessons to learn from Warren Buffet which are so valuable. According to Buffet you must look at all your costs as the cost of opportunity. Don’t evaluate your losses for the year when the returns of that investment won’t be seen for a considerable length of time.

There are a many investors that have excellent knowledge to share with you but we have shared three investment lessons to learn from Warren Buffet which are so valuable because he is the best making more money than anyone else in the world.

Warren Buffet is an investor that the world pays attention to, which is why we have shared three investment lessons to learn from Warren Buffet which are so valuable. . They will start you on the right track to your future wealth. If you are interested in investing and making money use these three investment lessons to learn from Warren Buffet which are so valuable.

Copyright © 2007 Joel Teo. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author’s information with live links only.)

Posted in: Investment Comments(0) November 2008

Investment Series Hammered Copper Acrylic Award

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Investment Series Hammered Copper Acrylic Award

This acrylic award is truly a magnificient piece of art. Made from hammered copper, laminated back, engravable acrylic center lasered to frost white and a black acrylic front accent piece. This award can be used as a wall plaque or a table top award. Presentation Gift Box included. Silk Screening available as an option.. Also Available: Acrylic Awards, Lucite Awards, Corporate Plaques, Employee Service Awards, Engraved Awards, Laser Engraved Awards, Cup Trophies, Loving Cups, Glass Awards, Crystal Awards, Trophy Awards, Plaque Awards, Perpetual Plaques, Perpetual trophies, Acrylic Plques, Trophy Plaques and more.

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Posted in: Investment Comments(0) November 2008

Is investment in Jomtien (thailand) condos among very good investment options in Asia ?

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I am exploring investment in Jomtien (Pattaya, Thailand) condos. I like to know if Jomtien is possibly among the very good real estate investment destination and can i expect 30% appreciation per annum. I hear them some of the Thailand's highest towers are being built in jomtien beach. I would like someone to also list top 3-4 condos schemes for investment in 2008, and some websites that give comparison of multiple schemes and most updated information.

sir
In India there are lot of opportunities where you can invest your money ,if you are sincere please just drop a line,
I shall be here to reply your queries

Posted in: Investment Comments(1) November 2008

PERU: Opportunities for Investment

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Opportunities for Investment in Peru. Oportuniades de inversion en Peru.

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Posted in: Investment Comments(25) November 2008

Three Reasons Not To Believe Free Investment Advice

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How many times have you heard the old saying if it sounds too good to be true it probably is? Well the same goes for free. Free is nice but sometimes you get what you pay for so check out these three reasons not to believe free investment advice.

Of the three reasons not to believe free investment advice training is very important. The internet has changed how we do a lot of things including investments. We can buy and sell stocks all with just a couple of keystrokes. It’s very easy to open a business as an investment advisor for free.

But who says what kind of training they have if any at all. Are they just playing with your money and risking it all. After all they have nothing to loose right? If they offering their service for free be skeptical about their training and be wondering about agenda. Of the three reasons not to believe free investment advice this one really needs your attention!

Number two of the three reasons not to believe free investment advice is that they will often offer you free investment advice that points you towards a specific stock or stocks. The advisor may be pushing stocks that they might have a vested interest in or they making money off your buys which is how brokers get paid. What ever their motive there’s a good chance that you are no more than a pawn in a game and there’s a really good chance that you are not going to benefit from the experience which is of the three reasons not to believe free investment advice this could be the most important.

We said there were three reasons not to believe free investment advice so here is number three. What type of information are they asking for? Personal information? Credit card information? When someone offers up free investment advice make sure you know what the real cost is. Of the three reasons not to believe free investment advice this was has the biggest potential for damage to you personally.

There are plenty of other reasons other than these three reasons not to believe free investment advice but I’m sure you get the picture. Trusting your money with free investment advice is rather like trusting your life with an unlicensed doctor.

These three reasons not to believe free investment advice are probably the most important of all the reasons.

Posted in: Investment Comments(0) November 2008

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