#CareerChange #FinanceIndustry #LateBloomer
Hey everyone! 👋 I’m at a bit of a crossroads in my career and could really use some advice. I’m 35 years old and thinking about going back to school to pursue a finance degree, even though my background is in advertising. 🎓 Do you think it’s too late to make this switch at my age? I’d be finishing up by the time I’m in my late 30’s.
I have a few questions for those already in the finance industry:
– What are the realistic chances of landing a job in finance at 37 or 39 with no prior experience?
– Have you seen anyone with a similar background successfully break into the industry?
– Any advice or tips for someone in my shoes?
I’d really appreciate any insights or personal experiences you can share! Let’s help each other out. 🌟
Let me know your thoughts below!
Started pursuing CFA and FRM 36, completed at 41. All this while negotiating mental peace with a failed business. If I can so can anybody
No it’s not too late
It’s not easy, but it’s doable
Hopefully not, I’m thinking of going back to finance degree at 40 and wouldn’t finish until 44-45.
If anything I think your past experience would give you an advantage to new graduates with no or little experience. I don’t think it’s too late.
FWIW – I’m starting a MS Finance degree at a non target state school this fall. Unrelated undergrad science degree. My plan was to back door a finance position through data analytics. I think a combination of completing the Google DA course and about to start a masters program helped me land a job as a budget analyst at a well known company. When I finish my degree I’ll be 33. Also, my boss who is training me has no finance education aside from on the job training. 70k, less than I was expecting for full time role but it was worth it for me just for the experience. I would have been happy with an internship tbh.
It might be difficult to get into a competitive financial firm because typically they take internships for the summer and the interns will likely have impressive credentials, and then they would interview and typically you think these places want interns that are young and moldable instead of a 35 year-old or a 40 year-old depending on how long it takes you to finish school and do all the required certifications. I will graduate law school soon in early 30s and don’t think I could intern for competitive law firms if I was any older but luckily I look young. I point out interning bc this is how you get your foot in the door or competitive firms. You can always start at a smaller practice or in wealth management but then there’s the learning curve and how many years it take to actually be useful
Not at all. I have a background in geology and work in another continent for some years now in the middle of nowhere. I am almost 30 and I am trying to switch careers to go into finance. I have not yet achieved the credentials but you will be amazed by how much your other experiences count, I have already offers for when I achieve cfa lvl 3 or a masters. The thing is that experience >>> credentials in almost all cases. You might experience a huge pay cut but if it works for you, you can tolerate it for a bit
Wow
do you need a finance degree or does it help more to do one of the standard certificates and do interning in a small investment company or a family office?
Unless you place in a top MBA program, it’s not worth going into debt unless you have a good shot at getting a high paying job after.
I was around the same age and was never able to find anything worth pursuing. Its not impossible but unless you have some exceptional credentials and a network it will be slim pickings. If you want to maximize those small odds move to Finance hub city. Just realize most of the stuff you want to do will be going to fresh 20 something people from good schools.
If I were in your shoes again id just go get an MBA from best school possible.
Most of the people Ive met that tried to get into finance in their late 30s never made it out of the phone/call center customer service roles, just a heads up, and this was 5-15 years after they started.
Edit: Although PWM might be a good or the best bet for you with your background.
No, I don’t think it is.
If you already have a degree I’d do an MBA or a masters of finance. The MBA curriculum was designed for people with no prior background in business and is perfect for career transitions. If you go to a good enough program, it will help with job placement (good business schools have a ton of resources for career placement and fire off resumes to firms etc.) , furthermore you’ll start at a higher level as it understood that MBA s are people looking to make a mid-career transition.
700+ GMAT score opens up the best programs. The degrees are expensive, but you probably will end up with a better quality job long term.
Not at all. I am/was in your position. Ended up pursuing my MBA at a non target school and have recruiters reaching out to me. Expected graduation in May 2025, I’ll be entering into my late 30’s as well. Although I should say I have already have a background working in commercial real estate sales and management which is finance adjacent so it translates well. Also, finance is a very broad term. I would suggest researching which areas of finance interest you.
You should do an MBA and major in finance + network. That’s the purpose of the MBA.
I’m getting my AAS in accounting at 40, just to have a chance. I’ll probably have to take a significant pay cut to get in and pray it takes me somewhere, but it’s still probably a better chance than where I’m at now in retail sales.
Definitely fine. Life and work experience to pull from is fantastic.
You won’t be absolutely reliant on the text book. If you have to study, you’ll see things and relate them. You’d be more able to put yourself in your client’s shoes (if that is an avenue you go down).
Life isn’t a race. And if you have younger peers, they’d have some fun winding up the older person here and there, but if they’ve half a brain cell between them, they’d respect your experience and opinions.
Consider your transferable skills and the area you want to go, even if entirely unrelated. You may walk in and have the midas touch. I can only imagine how effective a Dr would be at selling health insurance so long as they can communicate effectively!
Good luck if you make the move.
No it’s not man, take the leap.
I got into corporate finance at 31? With a bachelors degree you should be looking at a masters in finance, economics, accounting, or an MBA if you have decent work experience. A top school will allow you to recruit for decent finance leadership development programs, otherwise you’re just rolling the dice. Either way you’re rolling the dice on a career change, but you’d have a much better shoot with an advanced degree rather than a bachelors in finance.
No. I joined a large brokerage at 36 with zero experience or licenses. Study and pass. You can do it. A good thing about being older is that you have life experience that clients will relate to, as opposed to some recent grad.