Starting over. Looking for feedback.

[Osogordo]

After 10 years in the world of visual effects for feature film, I am looking to make the move into quantitative finance. What started a couple years ago as mere interest in learning to manage my own money quickly became an obsession. Ultimately I found the world of quant and, after making the move back to the US after a decade abroad, I decided to switch careers completely. A brief rundown on me:

I'm 34. Before last June I hadn't taken a math class since high school. My BA degree in Digital Arts might as well not even exist the transcript is so bad, and even then it's just core curriculum and a bunch of arts-related classes. Needless to say, I'm starting over.

My plan (already underway):
- New undergrad in statistics (minor in economics?) from the University of South Florida with a heavy extra course load in any mathematics that is required for MFE admissions and not covered by the stats program (i.e. partial diff eq, matrix algebra, optimization)
- Self/Distance learning Python, R, C++ with applied focus on quant
- Self/Distance learn preliminary econometrics and stochastic calculus for quant
- MFE (specifically UW Computational Finance)
- PhD (potentially though not certainly)

A bit more:
- I love math and statistics and programming.
- I love markets and am very familiar with basic economics, finance, and trading.
- I already trade and have been for some time.
- The area of quant I specifically want to pursue is research and wealth management.

I would love your feedback and would be most grateful for it. Thank you for reading.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

While you angle for the quant world, you should get a degree in hard quantitative subject, stats is a good choice. Get heavy dose of programming, data analysis, etc. It will open more doors to you than the few that quant niche opens.
Along the way, you will discover your true passion. Until then, enjoy your journey and a fresh start. Keep doing what you are doing: reading finance books, magazine, economics. Keep a broad interest.
You are a few years away from having to decide on the graduate degree so just have fun. Go explore.
Join our discussion and I'm sure you may learn something that help sharpen your focus along the way.

 

[Ole Bueker]

PhD certainly isn't necessary, especially based on your interest in wealth management and your history - by the time you finish, you would be around 45? And MFE is typically a terminal degree as well, so doing a PhD after a MFE is even more of a waste.

 

[Osogordo]

Appreciated, fellas. And yeah, I had my doubts about a PhD being on the actual cards. I do, however, plan to start studying and pursuing a CFA charter. I'm hoping to be into my first job before the age of 40.

 

[Ken Abbott]

@Osogordo , I've seen career-switchers have varying degrees of success. The key thing is commitment. When I interview people looking to make a big career change, I always ask why. Is their interest genuine or purely money-driven? You need a good story.

 

[Pavlos Sakoglou]

After 10 years in the world of visual effects for feature film, I am looking to make the move into quantitative finance. What started a couple years ago as mere interest in learning to manage my own money quickly became an obsession. Ultimately I found the world of quant and, after making the move back to the US after a decade abroad, I decided to switch careers completely.

First of all, you need to understand that it takes guts to do such a turn in your career and life, so what you did is great!

There is no such thing as "I wasted my years following some career path that I regret not etc". It was life, therefore experiences. My advise, use that experiences in your cover letters, try to locate examples that show personal strengh, commitment and hard work.

Looking for a career in financial industry might be challenging, yet, definately not impossible. But yes, as @Ken Abbott said, you need to be commited. I see that you already are in the right path (studying quantitative courses) and self-studying show discipline. Try to sell that.

Last, due to huge competition in this industry, I would recommend too to analyze your goals and ask yourself your why. Money itself is the obvious motive. But they don't have a soul so to inspire you. I would never mention that word in an interview, it doesn't make you a standout at all. Everybody wants to be rich, so why you?
And here is a statement I heard in a business workshop, confirming all the above about self-knowledge: "Most people know what they're doing, a fewer know how they're doing it, and only a handful of them know why they're doind it".

 

[Osogordo]

In a sentence: Film is an industry in peril and I have both the need and the rare opportunity to walk away from it and start over.

I don't regret my time one bit. I've had the chance to work on some of the biggest, coolest projects around the world. Money's also not the issue, VFX pays handsomely if you're a senior artist. What I need is stability, longevity, and a more clearly-defined forward path. When you look around the professional film world you see that people don't retire from film, they abandon it. This change comes on the back of recently getting married and needing something different from a film life for my family.

There are many other reasons, of course, but that's the nutshell. Thank you again for your replies. It means a lot to get feedback on something so important and difficult to navigate.

 

[bigbadwolf]

Before last June I hadn't taken a math class since high school. ...
I love math and statistics and programming.

Difficult to reconcile these two statements.

 

[Osogordo]

Difficult to reconcile these two statements.

I should have more thoroughly explained that part, yes. My love of math only became apparent to me in the last few years. Once I had actually set my mind to this new path I started self learning and then got the prerequisites out of the way this last semester to get into Calc 1. I'm already into it and quite comfortable with what's ahead of me. I also, thankfully, have some great support, the time, and the tenacity to make it work.