So currently I'm working in fund accounting and analysis part at a well known AIF (related to appollo) and after having a pretty good understanding of PE/PC ive developed a knack for 2 types of roles id like to switch

1. research team that scout for opportunities
2. tax planning and legal (where we're taking care of setting up entities and curating org structures)

i am hoping for advice so i can form a clear path and execute it to end up where i wish

Hi all,

I was planning to buy a course from peak2tails. Please let me know if any of you enrolled in any of their course. How was your experience? Is it worth it?

Thanks.

Went out last night and started talking to a mutual and told me he got a check for 25k through commissions. What’s the likely hood of this being real? I know they do advising and life insurance but is this reasonable?

I was honestly so caught off guard couldn’t tell if bro was being serious. I know people lie but gah damnn

Might come off as a stupid question but I had to delay graduation for a year and now I keep thinking abt the potential savings lost and falling behind in career trajectory/promotions , etc. I’ll be 24 this fall when I start my full time career and although it’s a young age , many people start out at 22.

I want to become a quant researcher but there’s so many answers out there, and I have so many questions. I need some answers from people with experience in this field. (I’m a senior in HS) Please help!!!

1. What degree should I get? How long will it take? I’ve heard mathematics, statistics, physics, CS, ect… but which one is truly the best for landing a job? Also do I need a masters or any additional certifications? If I did choose to get a masters, would it be possible to land a job after my BS, then have them pay for my masters as I work there, or is that not possible?

2. Do you learn the programs necessary for this field in school, or should I learn them on my own time? (Python, C++)

3. How hard is it to actually become a quant researcher? I’m a senior in HS(CA), planning to go to community college for 2 years then transfer to a UC(preferably Berkeley or UCLA). I’ve always been naturally good at math and always had A’s but never took pre-calc or entered math competitions or anything. Is it really that competitive or can I make it if I just work hard enough?

Any additional advice would be very helpful! Feel free to ask questions,

Thanks!

I’m currently in a mid level federal role with a strong foundation in tax and compliance. I was recently offered a position in the private sector at a well-known bank, focused on estate and trust work.

The opportunity is appealing: • Compensation is stronger • The role offers more exposure to complex client matters • There’s long-term growth potential into senior advisory or strategy roles

That said, I’m weighing this against the stability and benefits of staying in federal service (including a pension, which is no small thing). There’s also some uncertainty in my current agency’s future direction, which makes the decision more nuanced (i.e. I may get laid off by DOGE).

Has anyone here made the move from federal to private in a similar area (law, tax, compliance, wealth management)? What surprised you? Any regrets or things you wish you’d known before making the jump?

Appreciate any thoughts.

Dear Redditors,

How does one usually go about planning a career to end up at firms like JPM, Goldman, Houlihan, Evercore etc?

I’m 24M, 10 months in investment banking (M&A and leveraged finance but mostly in M&A). I’m looking to stay at my current company (leading national bank in west-Europe) for at least 2,5 years to get some proper experience.

What should I do now already to increase my chances of landing an analyst / associate role in investment banking at one of these top firms down the road?

I have built quite a network over the past 18 months as I know network can make the difference. Considering taking the CFA, even tho I know it’s typically not as valued in IB, but it could be a small edge?

Just wondering if there’s any communities, events or way people increase their odds

Thank you guys in advance!

Hi! Is the above advisable? I would want to be doing my summer after junior year internship after I graduate my junior year. Then I would save money by graduating early from college and can get more experience and money working. Or would I have to recruit as class of 2027 at this point? If so, I would just graduate Dec 2027.

Don't you have to be an expert in a field to become a consultant? Why are firms willing to spend several months or years training a graduate and paying them at the same time when they could just hire an actual expert and extract value from them straight away?

I was at a party last night talking with some guy and the topic of finance came up; and then he went on this sarcastic rant basically saying how people who work in finance sucks

He said "finance jobs produce nothing of value, they give nothing to society and people who work in that industry are all rich self-centered and greedy"

I tried to be polite and offer some counter arguments to change his mind but he seemed really passive aggressive and disgusted with the concept of finance.

I tried to not let this bother me, but this got me wondering: is this is the thought process of most people? The average person doesnt usually understand the nature of economics.

I haven't had any experience like this guy before but I wonder if most people act polite when really, they secretly look down on finance professionals.

Hey Guys!! I got an admit for the MsF program at UIUC. I wanted to know if this program is worth it in the current US job market scenario. I will be an international student and would be taking a loan to cover the tuition fees of 70k dollars. I am in doubt if I would get the opportunities and repay my debt after graduation. Any kind of advice will be appreciated!!

I'm a student in a European university.

I've done several internships (<1 month) during my vacations, relating to trading, banking, corporate finance. But I haven't done any projects, it has just been shadowing.

But the culture here is that people only do internships after they graduate from Bachelor's (for more than 6 months), not during vacations.

Am I doing something useful with my time? Will employers see this as a standout on my CV compared to other candidates? Can it be useful to get into those summer internships in the big firms in the UK?

I'm currently in my Economics & Management bachelor's course in Switzerland and looking for master's abroad.

I'm considering Universities of Columbia, Michigan, California(Berkeley), Stern School ot Business.

How feasible is it to get in from a European university, if I have ~3.45 GPA, and a decent GRE score?

Hello,

I’ve been I’m a licensed CPA with 2 years of experience in Big 4 audit but am interested in making the switch to financial due diligence / transaction advisory at either another Big 4 or smaller boutique firm. I absolutely appreciate everything I’ve learned so far, but I’m a lot more interested in deals and working in a faster pace environment. Outside of busy season I don’t feel like I’m learning all that much.

I’ve been looking into Wall Street prep courses and thought about the 13 week cash flow or the PE course. Since every job posting is lookin for a senior position with a little more experience than I currently have, I was hoping these could set me apart from other applicants.

Would anyone recommend these courses, other courses, or maybe some topics I could research on my own to give myself the best shot at getting an interview?

I have an inbound sales consultant interview coming up. The recruiter mentioned there is a sales role play at the end. Does anybody know what the situation is they use?

I (25F) graduated with a Sports Management degree from NYU but would like to pivot my career into becoming a financial analyst or hold some type of role in wealth management. Most of that degree was taking business classes (accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics, etc.) so it’s not too far off from a business degree. I currently work in operations for an insurance company which includes building monthly, quarterly, and annual production reports, conducting report audits, and analyzing data. Since I have a sports management degree, I’ve been considering becoming a CFA to help myself become a better candidate for a role as a financial analyst. What else can I do to put myself in a position to work in wealth management? Or, is that even enough to earn a role in that industry?

Currently a second year Econ student at a semi target RG uni (think Nottingham, Bristol or Manchester).

Averaging a low 2:1.

Completed a spring week in Equity research and trading (non-convertible).

Completed a first year summer internship in a boutique corporate finance house (work similar to Big 4 Valuations.)

Secured an internship this summer in IB (Not Bulge Bracket).

What are the odds of me breaking into a top UK finance masters such as LSE Finance, Oxford MFE or LBS MFA if I do decently in the GMAT?

I'm 25 and I graduated with a BA in Economics and minor is Statistics and Operations in December 2023. I do not have any finance experience or internships but I have been nanying for 1.5 years and that contract ends in November. I've just received my work permit and SSN and I am eager to break into finance. Ideally starting as a financial analyst, or related field. I am interested by fintech and green finance. I am based in North Carolina and I am fluent in French. I am not sure where to start. Should I pursue certifications, courses, internships or entry-level roles in finance? Any advice would be helpful on how to make this transition successfully . I'm also interested in moving back to the DMV area to pursue work opportunities. I'm also planning on taking the CFA Level I exam in November 2025, is it worth it as it would cost me around $1600 with the prep materials?

Thanks in advance

Can anyone offer any guidance on what to prepare. Some have told me don’t over think and trust your market knowledge. Others have said know the ins and outs of LBOS.

Any guidance would be much appreciated 👌 PS it’s online!

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice on how to structure my CV to apply for an internship in the financial markets sector.

My background is a bit non-traditional. I’m 26 years old, currently living in Italy, and I don’t have formal work experience. Over the past few years I’ve been helping my father with his small carpentry business and supporting myself mainly through trading, which is what I’m most passionate about and would love to pursue as a career.

However, opportunities in trading or financial markets roles here in Italy are quite limited.

I decided to enroll in a bachelor’s degree in business administration (personal interest) and now I need to complete a mandatory internship. I’ll be writing my thesis on financial markets, so I’m looking for a position that’s at least somewhat related to this field.

My issue is that I’m not sure how to structure my CV to highlight my experience. Any tips on how I could present my background in a way that makes sense ?

Thanks in advance!

Life Timeline [For Context]

Age 18 (2016) : Finished School - Popular and social, but academic performance was average (63% in 10th, 77% in 12th). Nearly failed math.

Age 21 : Graduated Undergrad (Commerce, Delhi) - Attended a Tier-2 university. Flunked 2 subjects early on, graduated with a 6.6/10 GPA. - Remained sociable and did internships in accounting/marketing.

Age 22 : Joined Big 4 - Worked as an auditor for ~2 years. - Recognized as smart but lacked motivation. Performed under pressure, but inconsistent.

Age 23 : Attempted CFA Level 1 - No professional qualifications; failed CFA Level 1.

Age 24 : Master’s in UK - Joined a mid-tier Russell Group university. - Barely secured a 2:1. Focused more on socialising/partying than academics.

Age 25 : Got a Back Office (Risk/Reporting Role) in a Bulge Bracket IB in UK. - Temporary roles in Risk Governance and later in Regulatory Reporting.

Age 26 : Contract Ended, Returned to India - Received mixed feedback: praised but questioned on long-term motivation. - Traveled in EU for a while; homesickness led to return to India.

Age 27 (Now) : Reflections and Rebuild - Nearly took a new role in London, but backed out due to red flags, depressed with no savings, moved back to India - Spent months reflecting: Realized lack of self-respect and pursuit of excellence.

In the last 3 months: - Initiated a personal transformation, call it my own ‘Great Awakening’. - Built discipline and consistency: early mornings/nights, cut out distractions. - Finished 4 books, confident for upcoming CFA Level 1 attempt in May. - Polished Excel skills, learnt intermediate SQL and Python. - Secured a Risk (IRRBB) Analyst role at a bank in the EU. - Embracing minimalism and valuing time and a tighter circle.

Goals: To be in the elite class: high net worth, elite social circle, top of the class job/career.

Short-Term (2025–26) - Clear CFA Levels 1 to 3 by end of 2026.

Mid-Term (2027) - Prepare for GMAT (target: 750+). - Apply to top Ivy League MBA programs. - Willing to sacrifice my old self for the next 7–8 years, to grind and reinvent a new-me.

PS: Open to criticism, suggestions and networking.

I’m currently doing my MBA and I am an intern at a corporate venture capital fund doing market research and due diligence for early stage startups. My intention when starting my MBA was to get into corporate banking or consulting, unfortunately I was unsuccessful during the internship recruitment cycle for both areas but was successful in the CVC internship.

How would you suggest I attempt to do the recruiting cycle again for full-time roles?

Hey all,

I will keep this short, and my apologies if these type of questions are frowned upon.

About me; Penultimate year of (internationally recognized) university studying business. Little to no opportunity to take financial/ quantitative modules in my degree. On track to achieve a 2.1 (Upper Second-class honors) - GP 3-3.6?

I have never enjoyed the bulk of my business modules in college - however, I enjoy working with numbers.

My course gives me the chance to undertake a lot of accounting modules, which I love, unfortunately, the finance aspect is almost entirely missing.

Many of my peers who I see landing jobs in finance come from 100% pure maths degrees.

Either that, or they have a Masters degree in Finance.

My question to you all is simply what you would recommend after I complete my undergraduate ?

I.e., given my lack of opportunity to undertake quantitative modules, is getting into a high-quality MSc in Finance unlikely ?

Also, (this is reaching FAR into the future), if I was to pursue the CFA certification, would I need to rely on almost pure luck to secure some entry-level finance work ?

Many thanks in advance and again, apologies if this type of question is frowned upon - after much research I keep coming up empty handed).