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What can I do with a Master of Finance?
Investments
Depending on the investment organization, a firm can be involved in any one or more activities in an organization. Larger organizations are often involved in these practices. A key to employment on the investment management track, besides excellent analytical skills, is cultural fit. As you prepare to interview with a firm, it is important to understand their culture, how you fit in, and what they look for because these factors are critical to placement.
Investment Management
Investment management is the business of managing money for others. Management of assets can include stocks, bonds, or real estate. The management of assets can utilize domestic assets, international or global. The funds invested can be either for individuals or institutions, endowments, or combinations of these three. Positions in these firms would include analysts, trading, client servicing, or relationship managers. Most of these firms not only require strong analytical skills for analysts, but cultural fit is also key.
Hedge Funds
Hedge funds are a way to invest in assets. The private investment partnerships invest in a variety of assets. The biggest differences between investment managers and hedge fund managers are the ability to short investments, as well as leverage the portfolio. So, although they may invest in stocks and bonds, their ability to structure the portfolio differently creates a different class of investors. They typically have a much shorter holding period for their investments, so if you prefer a “faster pace,” a role in a hedge fund may be preferable.
Private Equity
Private equity is the business of providing equity capital to private companies or taking a public company private in their ownership structure. A private equity firm will analyze the businesses that they target, purchase, and restructure and/or reorganize the business and the balance sheet, then either sell the company to another private owner or take the company public.
Capital Markets / Investment Banking
Capital markets is the broad description of providing equity and debt capital to corporations. Many of the firms involved in this activity are investment banking firms, although the field is broader than this subset. Investment bankers underwrite debt and equity securities for corporations.
They also work on purchase and sales deals for corporations by creating the actual deal and structuring the financing. Investment banking firms often prefer undergraduate students because of the tremendously long hours required of new associates, but a willingness to work long hours and the ability to manage analytical work completed in a focused manner will indeed help you in placement. Fit is important, but the desire to work long and hard is key.
Consulting
Consultants make recommendations to institutional and high net worth clients as to how to allocate assets as well as selecting individual managers for investment of those assets. Consulting positions are in two main categories: client-facing and investment due diligence.
If you love to crunch numbers and analyze how a fund works, due diligence would be the preferred side. If you have strong communication skills, the client-facing consultant might be appealing; your role is to assist the client with putting the analysts’ output into a plan of action.
“Sell Side”
The sell side is often what we refer to when discussing the institutional brokerage business of the Wall Street firms. The three main types of positions at such a firm include research analysts, research sales, and sales trading.
The analysts on the sell side are a bit different because communication of their research to clients is a critical element of the position. Research sales
professionals work with investment management firms to be the liaison between their organization and the research they provide. The traders work with investment management firms to fulfill their trading needs.
Wealth Management
Private wealth management is the profession of providing investment advice to high-net-worth individuals. Typically, you assist the client in establishing goals, objectives, and risk tolerances, then create a financial plan respectful of his/her needs. Although there is a strong need for financial knowledge, particularly of asset classes and tax issues, there is a large component of client servicing and client development with these roles.
Master of Finance job titles
Researcher
Analyst
Treasury Analyst
Business Unit Financial
Analyst Data Analyst
Financial Analyst
Corporate Financial Analyst
Credit Analyst
Market/Marketing Analyst
Investment Banking Analyst
Research Analyst
Capital Markets Analyst
Manager
Consultant
Internal Auditor
Associate Financial
Economist Financial Planner
Commercial Banking Training
Program Risk Management
FP & A Senior Associate
Portfolio Manager
Wealth/Investment
Advisor Credit Underwriter
Equities Trader