A reader asked me last week if it is too late in her early thirties to follow her passion to become a financial analyst. My answer to her was, “No, it’s not too late.”
A study has shown that the majority of people, estimated as high as 80%, are in the “wrong” industry. When students are [...]

I assume that as a financial analyst, you can’t escape reading the daily news. I can’t imagine a financial analyst who isn’t up to date on the latest Bloomberg headline. In this past year, the problems in the financial industry have inundated the news front. Being exposed to negative news day in and day out [...]

I am privileged to debut our Expert Interview with Tom Budinger, Partner of The Curran Group. In the interview, Tom discusses the essential qualities he looks for in candidates. Among the many qualities mentioned are:
• Passion for the business
• Independent judgment
• Creativity
• Curiosity
• [...]

Has it ever occurred to you that your life is like an investment portfolio with you as the portfolio manager?
The objective of this life portfolio is to maximize achievement and enjoyment in all areas of your life as you progress through different career and life stages. This means that your investment strategy will need to [...]

What are the qualities that characterizes an outstanding financial analyst? I came across the careers section in the website of a bulge bracket investment bank. It features the profiles of hundreds of its people, across regions, business units all the way from entry positions to the top.
I did a quick study of what these financial [...]

Many financial analyst interns find their summer experiences disappointing. It is true that some financial institutions offer excellent structured programs. Because of the steep learning curve, I believe that summer is too brief a time for any interns to be assigned an important role.
Summer internship is an excellent opportunity to learn about financial career opportunities [...]

I came across the subject of face time several times these past two weeks, so here’s my two cents on it.
Face Time
Typical usage: “I’d leave right now but it’s only 9 PM… need to put in some face time.”
What it really means: “Face Time” refers to staying in the office until an acceptably late time [...]

It is widely known that a 100-hour work week is typical for financial analysts. The hours could be longer if you’re in investment banking or when you’re trying to meet a project deadline.
I can understand when you’re just starting out, full of energy and enthusiasm. No two days are alike and there is so much [...]

Did you know that only 10% of people make goals?
Are you one of them?
I must confess that I was not big on setting goals. I didn’t know how it would help me in achieving them. But now, I have written goals for all the main areas of my life and I review them 2-3 times [...]

Do you know people who are brilliant but only achieve mediocre results at work because they are in the “wrong” role for them?
The Toronto CFA Society recently organized an informative seminar on career paths for financial analysts. The three panel speakers were: 1) Jaime Ziegler, Principal of Focus Consulting Group; 2) Beverly Flaxington, Co-founder and [...]