Is becoming a financial quantitative analyst right for me?
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How to become a Financial Quantitative Analyst
Financial quantitative analysts must have at minimum a bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree is required for advanced positions. Many positions require a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as accounting, business administration, economics, finance, or statistics. Employers often require a master's in business administration (MBA) or a master's degree in finance. Knowledge of options pricing, bond valuation, and risk management are important.
Financial quantitative analysts typically start by specializing in a specific investment field. As they gain experience, they can become portfolio managers, who supervise a team of analysts and select the mix of investments for the company’s portfolio. They can also become fund managers, who manage large investment portfolios for individual investors. A master’s degree in finance or business administration can improve an analyst’s chances of advancing to one of these positions.