Military career change into Finance

Hi @bradgarwood‌, welcome to the community!

It depends what you want to do in finance? If it is a research analyst role, I’d say CFA is the qualification to go for. It’s cheaper, takes less time than MBA. Although MBA gives you a broader career possibilities, brand/ranking of the MBAs does carry some weight. I’d say for smaller firms it may matter less, but if you’re aiming for top firms it would make a difference. The best ‘value for money’ MBA course so far I know is INSEAD’s 1 year MBA, but that’s still miles more expensive than CFA, and less relevant for your career objectives.

As you career route is unconventional, I’d recommend reaching out to your network, or even approach some partners/directors of local research firm (the beauty of LinkedIn) to have a chat about this to see what they think – ask for their advice. They are ultimately the hiring firm, and you’d get good insights on what they are looking for, not to mention building your initial network of people you know in the finance industry. I’d say having a military background is not a deterrent, there are always transferable skill sets (e.g. discipline, leadership etc) that you can bring on board. Demonstrating that you’re taking the CFA exams shows some commitment that should play well for your case (and you’ve the IMC already, so Level 1 should be straightforward).

Transitioning from a military career to finance has been both challenging and rewarding for me. I’ve leveraged my discipline and leadership skills in family protection dog for sale a new context. Learning the nuances of financial markets has opened exciting opportunities, and I’m grateful for the support from mentors who have guided me along this path.