Becoming a trader: MBA vs. MFE

[MA VISHAL SURYA]

You may want to take a look at a very similar thread
https://www.quantnet.com/threads/mfe-to-trader.290/

The above link doesn't seem to open.Would be helpful if an alternative link is provided. Thanks!

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Do a search for the title of the discussion will get you the correct link
MFE to trader?

 

[MA VISHAL SURYA]

Thank you for the prompt response.

 

[ManOfGold]

I find this whole notion of "become a quant so that you can be a trader in 2 years" rather utterly pointless. Traders are hired through trading summer internships, period. I won't ever understand why people would want to sign up for extra 2 years of pain-in-the-ass MFE to do extra 2 years of crazy maths at a bank to MAYBE eventually become a trader.

 

[mhy]

I find this whole notion of "become a quant so that you can be a trader in 2 years" rather utterly pointless. Traders are hired through trading summer internships, period. I won't ever understand why people would want to sign up for extra 2 years of pain-in-the-ass MFE to do extra 2 years of crazy maths at a bank to MAYBE eventually become a trader.

Some MFE graduates go into trading, and they have a considerable (knowledge) advantage over those who went straight from undergrad.

 

[ManOfGold]

Some MFE graduates go into trading, and they have a considerable (knowledge) advantage over those who went straight from undergrad.

That might be true. I was just pointing out that trading knowledge for the majority of products can be picked up on the job, and having done an MFE and worked as a quant for 2 years won't give you the required trading skills, nor will it make you a better trader. Yes you can perhaps understand the underlying models better, but I doubt that will translate into pnl.

 

[C S]

That might be true. I was just pointing out that trading knowledge for the majority of products can be picked up on the job, and having done an MFE and worked as a quant for 2 years won't give you the required trading skills, nor will it make you a better trader. Yes you can perhaps understand the underlying models better, but I doubt that will translate into pnl.

It sounds like you're thinking of a particular type of trader and trading.

 

[ManOfGold]

It sounds like you're thinking of a particular type of trader and trading.

Yes, flow trader and flow trading at an iBank. Quant trading might be different.