Quantitative finance career path

[mathfinancephd]

Hello

I am currently in graduate school, finishing my doctorate in the field of mathematics. I did my undergrad in math and computer science, and I have a lot of experience in both of those fields. I also have some work experience as a software engineer. I was initially planning on doing a postdoc and working in academia, but I am very interested in finance as well. I can't decide between those two fields, so I think the best way to decide is by seeing in which field I can make the most money. I know this is a really stupid way of thinking, but I think it is best for me.

I don't really know much about quantitative roles in finance either. I have tried searching around, but I can barely find any information. If someone can clear it up, it would be great.

What are the types of quantitative roles in finance?

Is the work interesting on a day to day basis (I know this will vary)? I love doing research and working as a soft. eng, but I am not 100% sure about finance because I have no experience in it.

Is there potential for growth? I do not want to be capped off at a particular role and salary with no room for growth. I read that some of the "higher up" roles in finance are MD and portfolio managers. Is there an opportunity for people in quantitative jobs to reach those positions over some number of years?

Thanks

 

[yetanotherquant]

so I think the best way to decide is by seeing in which field I can make the most money. I know this is a really stupid way of thinking, but I think it is best for me.

As such the idea to make the most money is not stupid (non-material advantages like interesting tasks and friendly colleagues are pretty vague and deteriorate easily).
The problem is that you have to plan in long-term, which is hardly possible.
Ten years ago quant earns very good money, after the financial crises ... well, the salaries are still not bad but the labour market got tougher and the taks got more boring/routine.

Nowadays [Big] Data Analyst is a hype job. What it will be in five years nobody can say for sure.

I don't really know much about quantitative roles in finance either. I have tried searching around, but I can barely find any information. If someone can clear it up, it would be great.

http://www.markjoshi.com/downloads/advice.pdf

 

[Philip_Mitterrand]

Before you reach the MD & PM post ...thinning of the herd happens and you could be one among them. As Mike Tyson said, everyone got a good plan until they get punched in the face so beware of planning too much and being adaptive is intelligience. Better off subscribe to industry magazines to sense the pulse and see the emerging trends and position yourself accordingly.

As yetanotherquant rightly said, go where the money is everything else is window dressing like titles, collegaues and what you find interesting today will get heavenly boring in a month.

Hello
I read that some of the "higher up" roles in finance are MD and portfolio managers. Is there an opportunity for people in quantitative jobs to reach those positions over some number of years?

Thanks