Advices on career plan?

[lalala]

Hi all, I think my previous posts have all my details so I will just go straight to my question here. I think I posted something similar on the Columbia page, but might be the wrong place to ask (sorry admin for the troubles, you can just delete that). An engineering master holder in research thinking of MFE in North America.

Upon graduation, stay for a while (months to at most one or two years) to get experience and come back to Asia. Singapore (I am a PR), Hong Kong or China. Area wise, maybe risk management or other analytic jobs. I am not sure with the terms, but seems that quant positions nowadays require a PhD, I don't feel like doing a PhD now. I am fine with some upper-mid level positions. In engineering sense, perhaps I am more suitable to be an engineer than scientist. Something like financial engineer?

I believe that Wall St. would be a too ambitious place for me to stay. After all I just want good enough money (perhaps 100-200+k SGD in few years time, it would also depend on how well I do:P) and good life with my family. Long term wise, I would prefer an engineering-like career in finance and move to academic at about 50s, if possible. Publish papers, contribute to the knowledge domain.

What do you all think? I wonder if the competition in Asia would be as strong as in NY. Feel free to comment, thanks

 

[Connor]

It all depends really on what you want to do. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe many MFE graduates go into trading among other positions. If you are interested in risk management or other analytic jobs you may want to consider a degree in applied math or statistics. I have looked at a few risk management jobs lately and they ask for statistics specifically. This would allow you to broaden the universities you could apply to.

 

[lalala]

Hi Connor, what do you think about my fit with actuarial science and move to finance? It seems that I should be as quant as possible. Frankly I don't see big problem for me to pass the exams. Another possible option: an actuarial graduate program overseas (in Singapore context), pass all exams ideally in one to two years, opens a chance for me to stay there and work. Maybe North America/Australia. But if I want to come back to Asia, I think North America one is more prestigious.
Can I ask for Andy's opinions too haha? Want to listen to seniors

 

[Connor]

Actuarial science would be a good fit. And it may be easier to get into a good actuarial graduate program.