eFinancialCareers

Send Print

Answers (2)

• Oldest first
• Latest first
• Comments 1 - 2 of 2

• I have neither. I took the opposite path and regret it. Most likely you'll start off maintaining models, comps, helping to publish notes if not full reports. After a few years and depending on the generosity of your analyst, you may be thrown a few crap names to cover. A wrong call and your reputation will be in question. I'd stick to derivative sales - more responsibility earlier and you can leave the delta hedging to the traders.

  Paul 12 Sep 2008

  RECOMMEND Recommended 0 times | Alert Moderator

• If you already have sufficient knowledge of the fundamentals of the market you want to cover, then an MBA plus your equity derivatives desk sales experience should be sufficient to move into research. A CFA would help, but isn't required for a sell-side research position, assuming you already have the requisite understanding of company and security analysis, valuation models, company data sources and the like (if it's equity research you want to go into), or the principles and models for valuing futures, options, indexes and swaps (if your target is derivatives research). You'll also need strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills, of course. One potential obstacle - which a CFA charter wouldn't cure at all - is that people already deeply exposed to a particular industry, whether through having worked directly in that industry or having covered it as an equity analyst or consultant, often get first dibs on equity research jobs.

  Jon Jacobs 12 Sep 2008

  RECOMMEND Recommended 0 times | Alert Moderator