stock market

[Panky123]

is there any threads here that can start the topic upon the stock market?

im just looking for some advice, im currently serving soldier preparing myself to start a new career, my intent is to go to university and do business and marketing, and i have done abit of stock trading as a kind of hobby and really enjoyed it, but i have no clue on how to even begin to get into that line of career.
does anybody here know?

 

[The Byre]

The stock market is for those who can afford to lose the money they place there. Playing the stock market makes you a customer - it is not a career, but a hobby, pass-time, whatever. On the other side of that desk sits a broker or a banker.

What unit are you with?

What do you want to study?

 

[Panky123]

this is what i mean, i can work within an investment company as a broker, so i get the buzz of the trade without the risk of losing my own capitol. Good wages i hear aswel lol
i currently serve with 1 royal anglian regiment and i want to study business and marketing as its broad enough to maybe get my foot in stock trading however if my plans fail a business degree is a pretty good thing to have in most career avenues

 

[Ashley_Price]

It sounds like you want to be a stockbroker. If that's the case, then you can find out more information here:

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/stockbroker

 

[The Byre]

In my day in the military, the army paid for your studies, so well worth the hassle. Pick your subject and university carefully. You will find that your military career will count for much more than a degree. Degrees are not worth much nowadays - and some degrees from some universities are actually a hindrance - what the Germans call a 'certificate of poverty' (Armutzeugnis).

If a course is easy to get on to then standards will have to be lower - and employers are not stupid. They read the curriculum and make their own decisions - and avoid candidates with a BA in 'Music Technology' or 'Photography' from former tech colleges!

Think laterally! You may (today) be under the impression that some things (e.g. stocks and bonds trading) is exciting, whereas the reality is totally different. For example, retail today is exciting, can involve a great deal of travel (as a buyer) and you could end up being posted all over Planet Earth. Top employer - Aldi! QC in China, area manager in California, buyer in India, property developer in Poland. (But they want a 2:1 minimum in one of the harder subjects and from a good uni.)

There is not much of a 'buzz' in a stock/bonds brokerage and nowadays, unless you get a senior position in somewhere like Deutsche Bank private division, all the trading is done by the punters on-line. You sit in an office and process other people's 'buzz'!

 

[Panky123]

oh wow, well that has just killed my dreams in 1 message haha
yes the army does pay for my studies, hence why i want to go to uni as they pay for it, i need to do an access course before i go on to the university first.
to be honest, i have been a soldier for 9 years so unsure what to do with my life. i dont even understand the whole university side of life meaning which is a good uni which is a good course etc.
my plan was to study business/marketing in bourenmouth uni then if my goal of becoming a stock broker fails, getting into marketing is always a good career to get into

 

[Nochexman]

As a former marketing manager in a stockbroking firm, I'd forget about getting a marketing degree as a prior to working in stockbroking. If stockbroking is what you are interested in I'd start by looking for family and friend connections and take it from there.

If I wanted to work in marketing, I'm not sure that prior experience as a soldier is going to help you - most people get into marketing as a bright young thing.

Sounds like what you should do is speak to a careers advisor; they can usually spot the right direction for you to take. Best of luck!

 

[The Byre]

You are suffering from the 'Soldier's Dilemma' (as did I when I left). Now WTF? Does anybody actually want or need someone who knows how to set up a Claymore mine and can strip and reassemble a GPMG, operate a radio, knows what zig-zag-down-sights-adjust-fire is all about and knows what to do in the case of an ambush?

No? Hmm, I thought not! Still, it was worth asking!

The Army teaches one all kinds of useful things, like performing triage in cases of gunshot wounds and how to tab 50 miles with a Bergen on your back, but Civvie Street just doesn't seem to want any of that stuff. In fact, they even employ fat people who wouldn't pass a fitness test, if their lives depended on it! Funny place, Civvie Street!

So the Army will spring for a college education, but the reality is that if you toddle down to the Ed. Centre and ask the nice Captain there what the hell you are supposed to study, he (or nowadays sometimes she) will look at you open-mouthed, rather like a gaffed salmon. "How should I know? I'm stuck in this man's army too, you know!"

I'll give you a tip - being a soldier is a really cushy number in many respects - you just never have to think! When to get up? What to do all day? What clothes to wear? What to eat? Where to live? All these knotty problems that civvies have to face are taken off your shoulders by a nice, warm cuddly Sergeant with hair growing out of his nose - a man who will put you on orders the moment you start showing signs of thinking.

But here's the thing - the moment you leave the warm and welcoming arms of the military, you have to start thinking for yourself - and do so in a deep and philosophical way! You have to actually reach down inside yourself and find that inner you and find out what it is that you WANT to do.

The Army tells you what it wants you to do. Civvie Street will let you crawl under a rock and die, if what you want to do, ain't what it wants. But if you try to follow accepted wisdom and do what others tell you that you aught to do (i.e. just follow the money) - you will fail even worse!

Two slightly differing views -

 

[Panky123]

my drama is that i dont have a choice wether to stay in the army or not, i am being medically discharged through an injury so i HAVE to look at what other prospects about life that i can do...
i dont want to be sat in a dead end job sitting at £25k for the rest of my life, i also dont want to be 1 of those veterans that spend the rest of there lives regretting leaving the army and for the next 10 years only coming out with stories of 'the good old days' i need to get on with my life and i am racking my brain for things to do that i 'might' enjoy in civi life. and as you have seen in the other thread i made i am literally thinking of ANYTHING to do from stock broking to starting a newspaper lol
as i said i have done trading with my own personal money and i actually quite enjoyed it, and again if it fails i can get a nice cushty office job after spending the last 9 years in a field lol

but you are correct, i am in the dilemma with 'WTF' am i gunna do
and you are also right, the careers officers dont really give a shit about what i do with my life so i have to find out all the information myself, hence why the questions on this forum as i have known the people on this forum are really helpful

 

[Nochexman]

...the careers officers dont really give a **** about what i do with my life so i have to find out all the information myself, hence why the questions on this forum as i have known the people on this forum are really helpful

...or maybe you just didn't like what they told you and bad mouthing them is an easier way to deal with what they had to say?

 

[Panky123]

...or maybe you just didn't like what they told you and bad mouthing them is an easier way to deal with what they had to say?

cheers for your input

 

[Nochexman]

Seriously, what did they suggest?

 

[The Byre]

Hobbies? Interests? Pastimes? Things you do when bored (I mean the other things that don't involve naughty ladies on the Internet!)?

...or maybe you just didn't like what they told you and bad mouthing them is an easier way to deal with what they had to say?

Trust me - they're in the Army and therefore don't really have a clue what life is like outside.

 

[Panky123]

nobody has realistically suggested anything, i am given time and money funded from the army to do whatever qualifications that i need to set up a new life in the civi street, however, i have no clue what i even want to do, so they are telling me to go out and research prospect jobs etc. but without qualifications i cant get a job and without an idea of what i want to do with the rest of my life im pretty screwed...
most of my friends leave the army and take the general military line of working for BT or gas companies or a trade such as an electrician or plumber, but the normal lines of work dont interest me at all, i want more from my life and currently all i have got to work with is what i enjoy doing in my spare time etc. otherthan that i am literally scrolling through forums like this looking for new ideas to give me

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

What about the security industry? Perhaps create a small private security business?

Your army experience would come in useful there, and easily be seen as an asset. Plus, you would still carry out marketing, but it would be for your own company instead.

 

[Panky123]

What about the security industry? Perhaps create a small private security business?

Your army experience would come in useful there, and easily be seen as an asset. Plus, you would still carry out marketing, but it would be for your own company instead.

i was thinking about going into the security side of life, but with the amount of companies that are already around would starting my own company actually work, especially when i have zero experience in starting a business.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

i was thinking about going into the security side of life, but with the amount of companies that are already around would starting my own company actually work, especially when i have zero experience in starting a business.

It depends what you want to do.

Are you only looking for a career to be employed in, or have you considered establishing your own business?

The good thing about a business is that specific skills are less important. You just have to be well organised, be a good communicator, be willing to educate yourself, have good common sense and have the drive to work hard.

It's a skill in itself, and not one which can be easily taught in colleges or universities.

The problem with aiming so high via employment is that the really good money depends one of two things:

1). A lot of education and training in a specific skill.
2). A lot of time as you start low and work your way up the ranks through experience.

Often, it's a mixture of the two. Even a fancy degree is not necessarily a fast-track ticket to a lucrative job. You have no experience in business, but you would have no experience in any other field either until you start somewhere.

Business gives you more flexibility. It also gives you the opportunity to teach yourself what you need to know as you don't need to impress an employer with a sheet of paper.

It's risky though, of course. There's often a lot less stability, and competition is rife in almost every sector. Some people love the idea of running their own business and the challenges that brings, while others loathe the idea and prefer the comfort of stable employment with a manager telling them what to do.

It depends if it appeals to you.

 

[Jeff FV]

Try using your old regimental tie to do a bit of networking. I suspect that there will be a few former members of your Regiment working in the City. The majority will probably be Officers, and you may not be, but if you can get your foot in the door, even for a bit of work experience, it will be helpful.

What qualifications do you have? This will help inform what your University options are, although most unis will treat the experience you have gained as a positive and won't expect the same grades from you, a mature student, as they will from an 18 year old fresh out of school.

Happy to bounce around any more ideas and offer guidance if I can - circa 25 years ago I left the RAF, I am currently a teacher and sixth form tutor so I know my way around the Uni application process.

 

[Panky123]

i would love to have my own business, but actually having an idea that works is another thing, i think i do have the drive to be able to start a business but the competition iscrazy with most things so i wouldnt even know where to start, hence having the business degree is more for personal knowledge rather than a shiney piece of paper...

the people i still talk to that have left the regiment are as i said all doing the same kind of things... so trades, BT technician etc. i dont know anyone that works in an office hence why i dont know where to even start the process lol

qualifications i have are real basic, so i do have a few that are transferable to civi street but not many, im currently doing a night class doing my GCSE english as i need that to do an access course, and i need an access course to go to uni lol its crazy to think me messing around in school 10 years ago would come back and bite me lol

 

[adam3145]

Mate. Just remember you asked about stock trading. Please do me a favour - forget what all the others on here have said, they are trying to be helpful but don't know what they are talking about. Stock trading is as exciting a career as you want it to be and yes plenty of people still get hired in the game, its still a job option but you've got to prove yourself academically first (providing you are under 35 when qualified you will land a job somewhere if you are driven enough). The game has changed a lot over the years and now options traders, High frequecy trading houses, investment banks etc hire mainly graduate engineering, mathematicians, physics, computer science grads in that order. The alternative is Economics, and then Business which will not usually get you a job trading (Mathematical and coding skills are very important)

When you go to uni there are loads of days where banks invite undergrads to speaches where there are drinks afterwards, this is practically a social event to gain contacts - this is where you use your army background to its full advantage.

There are loads of career options in the financial services industry, trading is one of many. Its mainly a early risers job but traders tend to finish their day at 5-6pm and get paid pretty well within the bulge bracket bank sector. If you need to know more just ask. My advice to you is that if you want to follow that career path is read a ton of books about the industry. I just finished "Market Wizards" highly recommended.

 

[adam3145]

PS - Barclays and a few others do apprenticeship type things for ex-army but try and push people taking this option towards stock sales and back office roles (which in itself is not a bad area to be in) sales involves a lot of traveling though and back office is lucky in that they get to leave work at a normal hour compared to the Marines of banking - Investment Bankers who work 12-16 hour days on average - for this role economics/business is more suited but its seriously competitive

 

[adam3145]

PPS - Years and years ago "who you know" got you in the door but you cant do that without a 2:1 or a first degree from a redbrick university anymore. No shortcuts to the trading floor unfortunately

 

[Panky123]

ok cool, that actually gives me a little more confidence lol im quite glad that it doesnt matter who you know as i dont know anyone in this kind of career lol
i hear a lot of you keep saying to use my military career to my advantage, but what exactly does being able to shoot a rifle have to do with a financial career?
im not stupid but i highly doubt i have the intellect to be able to do physics or engineering, which is the reason i was looking towards doing the business degree.
i also notice you were saying about employers will look at the university you go to rather than just the subject you learn, how do i know which university is decent enough to actually make me stand to getting a job?
im currently 27, out the army at 28, do an access course to get to uni by 29 and hopefully complete my degree by time im 32... this is the plan anyway, but as everyone knows plans never survive after contact lol

what exactly are the different trading jobs available? if im honest i dont know much about the career sides of the subject, i know how to trade and how trading works but you guys are going on about things that iv never heard of before

i will definitely look at the apprenticeship you said with barclays though, is that before or after i go to university or do i study whilst working with them or how exactly does it work?

sorry for all the questions, i am quite naive at the whole subject

 

[Jeff FV]

I would say that the University you go to is more important than the subject you study (almost regardless of what field of employment you ultimately want to do.)

Oxford & Cambridge remain the top two Universities in a league of their own. Next are what are known as the "Russell Group" of Universities - think of these as the Premier League. It does then get a little harder to group the next tier of Universities, but a ranking does exist. If you can get into a Russell Group uni then go there.

The Times Good University Guide is a useful guide - iirr its published in September each year.

University Open Day season is just beginning (aimed at current Lower Sixth) who will be applying in the autumn to start at Uni in Sep/Oct 18. I suggest you maybe start to visit a couple of Uni open days (no obligation) to get a feel for different places and start asking about entry requirements. University Admission departments are usually quite helpful - you won't be their "standard" entrant, so worth discussing with them what you will need. Don't trust the providers of access courses, ask the Unis what you will need.

 

[adam3145]

You'll find a lot of city workers are ex army etc. This will be a help to you as the banking and finance sector appreciate the skills you would have learned in the army. Regimented, team player, working under pressure etc. As for doing engineering, maths etc. if you put your head to it and put in the work you will get there - it's 99% putting in the time (I know from first hand exp). I'd recommend starting with a GCSE in maths before an access course. Even in business it will pay dividends and what is an extra year if you are working towards something you want. Note: It's easy to mess a degree/access course up from poor time management /procrastination alone regardless of the subject. I've seen many people mess up this way that you would consider highly intelligent & those that didn't have it naturally and put in the work thrive - you probably don't need me telling you this but in my opinion that's the secret to doing well regardless of intellect (within reason obviously).


Re University - it depends on where you are based but any red brick type will do the job. If you are in London then Birkbeck has a great reputation / access courses and is geared towards older students with evening study but watch out as it's like the SAS of study, I'd say on par with LSE - you need to be very self disciplined and able to put in the work yourself to do well there otherwise you won't last at it but in terms of teaching a lot of the professors are old Oxbridge, LSE types that do world class research etc and its top quality in that regard plus its known in the city. If you are up north then Durham has access courses etc, Durham tend to be very good in their access courses and there is lots of help for those that struggle. Being 32-35 is not going to make any difference in terms of getting a job. Your motivation/ personality at interview/ degree result / interests matter more. It's a meritocratic type area to work in (on average) they will appreciate that you have made so much effort to go back and study later on (which is always harder).


In terms of the apprenticeship scheme with Barclays I made a slight mistake in that it's more of a internship scheme with the major banks but can be done without a degree (check out Barclays AFTER program). When it comes to learning about the industry there is no substitute for putting in the research, start reading articles books from reputable sources is the only way and avoid courses and websites that claim to teach you trading in a week/month/year etc. If it's too good to believe then run a mile - there are so many scams out there that your better of becoming well read around the subject before you go any further. For becoming more clued in on the industry in general read Michael Lewis books or the Market wizards ones and reach out to people working in the industry / your field of interest through Linked in etc...

Some stuff for you to check out online-

High frequency trading, algorithmic trading, quantitative trading.
Top down analysis, technical analysis, fundamental analysis.
D. E Shaw, Renaissance Technologies, Sorus fund management, Tiger management corp

Then if you find long term investing interesting check out -

Warren Buffett - Berkshire Hathaway (Best businessman in the world bar Jeff Bazos)
Benjamin Graham - The godfather of value investing (inspired most that invest / trade money)
Bill Gates - Not widely known that he invests money influenced by Buffet/Graham
John Maynard Keynes - Not widely known but he was a successful investor too
Carl Ichan - Another Investment tycoon graham follower
Seth Klarman, Dr Michael Burry, (Graham/Buffet followers)

Then you have different types of areas such special situation investing
Joel Greenblatt (Graham/Buffet disciple)

Fixed income/Bond trading and investing
Mike Vranos
Bill Gross

Debt Investing
Wilbur Ross
David Tepper (to an extent)

Macro Investing
Ray Dalio
George Sorus (Forex investor too)

Growth investing
Philip Fisher (Management focused)

Famous english investors.

Neil Woodford (Graham/Buffet disciple)
Anthony Bolton (Graham/Buffet disciple)
Crispin Odey (Graham/Buffet disciple)
Terry Smith (Graham/Buffet disciple)
Guy Spier (Graham/Buffet disciple)

This should be enough to keep you going for a few years lol. You'll notice that a lot of Graham and Buffet followers, this is because trading and investing is inherently very risky. The vast majority of investors and traders loose money and those that don't know or follow systems that have been proven to work over the very long term (From the 1900's). If you look at academic research then "Value Investing" which was invented by Benjamin Graham in response to the 1930s crash is a as good as proven system during booms and crashes. In the US. Graham went on to teach Warren Buffett who is now the second richest man in the world and many others at the time who are not as well known.

As far as human / computer trading goes there are not as many solid examples of systems that have worked over the very long term. Statistical trading done by the likes of D. E Shaw and Renaissance Technologies are the exception to the rule but even the founders mention Buffet and Graham a lot which is suspect. Interestingly Jeff Bazos worked at D. E Shaw before starting Amazon, even he mentions Graham and Buffet a lot. You might be seeing a pattern emerging here.

The reason I am telling you all this is that when I started I made a lot of mistakes, was interested in trading and technical analysis first but then moved swiftly along to Value investing when I got more informed. I lost a lot of money trying to trade in the early days (banks and large trading institutions have a huge informational advantage that the individual can not replicate) Computers are now so advanced that high frequency trading is done by fractions of seconds and the field is slightly corrupt - Search for "front running".

Once I moved to value investing after reading practically everything I could on the subject my results changed. The only downside to this is that you've got to do some really hard work. You've got to motivate yourself to learn about accounting, finance, industry specific trends, cyclic businesses, management ability etc etc. You practically have to become a hermit librarian style geek but the result is that you will make money and lots of it over a long period time. If you can show passion and interest you'll have no problem getting a job for a boutique type investment house when you qualify and investment jobs take from all disciplines whereas trading hires more mathematical types as i mentioned in my previous email.

Regardless of all I mentioned - when you get on the job you have to do a lot of your own research / analysis. Traders are practically left to their own devices from day one. Even Goldman Sacs have a so called training week/month in the US for new recruits - they do nothing more than show you how to operate the trading desk and you are left to your own devices afterwards. I am of the opinion that its bad to loose your own money but worse to loose others. The stock market is a big casino for most participants and to survive you need a solid system / plan.

 

[adam3145]

You'll find a lot of city workers are ex army etc. This will be a help to you as the banking and finance sector appreciate the skills you would have learned in the army. Regimented, team player, working under pressure etc. As for doing engineering, maths etc. if you put your head to it and put in the work you will get there - it's 99% putting in the time (I know from first hand exp). I'd recommend starting with a GCSE in maths before an access course. Even in business it will pay dividends and what is an extra year if you are working towards something you want. Note: It's easy to mess a degree/access course up from poor time management /procrastination alone regardless of the subject. I've seen many people mess up this way that you would consider highly intelligent & those that didn't have it naturally and put in the work thrive - you probably don't need me telling you this but in my opinion that's the secret to doing well regardless of intellect (within reason obviously).


Re University - it depends on where you are based but any red brick type will do the job. If you are in London then Birkbeck has a great reputation / access courses and is geared towards older students with evening study but watch out as it's like the SAS of study, I'd say on par with LSE - you need to be very self disciplined and able to put in the work yourself to do well there otherwise you won't last at it but in terms of teaching a lot of the professors are old Oxbridge, LSE types that do world class research etc and its top quality in that regard plus its known in the city. If you are up north then Durham has access courses etc, Durham tend to be very good in their access courses and there is lots of help for those that struggle. Being 32-35 is not going to make any difference in terms of getting a job. Your motivation/ personality at interview/ degree result / interests matter more. It's a meritocratic type area to work in (on average) they will appreciate that you have made so much effort to go back and study later on (which is always harder).


In terms of the apprenticeship scheme with Barclays I made a slight mistake in that it's more of a internship scheme with the major banks but can be done without a degree (check out Barclays AFTER program). When it comes to learning about the industry there is no substitute for putting in the research, start reading articles books from reputable sources is the only way and avoid courses and websites that claim to teach you trading in a week/month/year etc. If it's too good to believe then run a mile - there are so many scams out there that your better of becoming well read around the subject before you go any further. For becoming more clued in on the industry in general read Michael Lewis books or the Market wizards ones and reach out to people working in the industry / your field of interest through Linked in etc...

Some stuff for you to check out online-

High frequency trading, algorithmic trading, quantitative trading.
Top down analysis, technical analysis, fundamental analysis.
D. E Shaw, Renaissance Technologies, Sorus fund management, Tiger management corp

Then if you find long term investing interesting check out -

Warren Buffett - Berkshire Hathaway (Best businessman in the world bar Jeff Bazos)
Benjamin Graham - The godfather of value investing (inspired most that invest / trade money)
Bill Gates - Not widely known that he invests money influenced by Buffet/Graham
John Maynard Keynes - Not widely known but he was a successful investor too
Carl Ichan - Another Investment tycoon graham follower
Seth Klarman, Dr Michael Burry, (Graham/Buffet followers)

Then you have different types of areas such special situation investing
Joel Greenblatt (Graham/Buffet disciple)

Fixed income/Bond trading and investing
Mike Vranos
Bill Gross

Debt Investing
Wilbur Ross
David Tepper (to an extent)

Macro Investing
Ray Dalio
George Sorus (Forex investor too)

Growth investing
Philip Fisher (Management focused)

Famous english investors.

Neil Woodford (Graham/Buffet disciple)
Anthony Bolton (Graham/Buffet disciple)
Crispin Odey (Graham/Buffet disciple)
Terry Smith (Graham/Buffet disciple)
Guy Spier (Graham/Buffet disciple)

This should be enough to keep you going for a few years lol. You'll notice that a lot of Graham and Buffet followers, this is because trading and investing is inherently very risky. The vast majority of investors and traders loose money and those that don't know or follow systems that have been proven to work over the very long term (From the 1900's). If you look at academic research then "Value Investing" which was invented by Benjamin Graham in response to the 1930s crash is a as good as proven system during booms and crashes. In the US. Graham went on to teach Warren Buffett who is now the second richest man in the world and many others at the time who are not as well known.

As far as human / computer trading goes there are not as many solid examples of systems that have worked over the very long term. Statistical trading done by the likes of D. E Shaw and Renaissance Technologies are the exception to the rule but even the founders mention Buffet and Graham a lot which is suspect. Interestingly Jeff Bazos worked at D. E Shaw before starting Amazon, even he mentions Graham and Buffet a lot. You might be seeing a pattern emerging here.

The reason I am telling you all this is that when I started I made a lot of mistakes, was interested in trading and technical analysis first but then moved swiftly along to Value investing when I got more informed. I lost a lot of money trying to trade in the early days (banks and large trading institutions have a huge informational advantage that the individual can not replicate) Computers are now so advanced that high frequency trading is done by fractions of seconds and the field is slightly corrupt - Search for "front running".

Once I moved to value investing after reading practically everything I could on the subject my results changed. The only downside to this is that you've got to do some really hard work. You've got to motivate yourself to learn about accounting, finance, industry specific trends, cyclic businesses, management ability etc etc. You practically have to become a hermit librarian style geek but the result is that you will make money and lots of it over a long period time. If you can show passion and interest you'll have no problem getting a job for a boutique type investment house when you qualify and investment jobs take from all disciplines whereas trading hires more mathematical types as i mentioned in my previous post.

Regardless of all I mentioned - when you get on the job you have to do a lot of your own research / analysis. Traders are practically left to their own devices from day one. Even Goldman Sacs have a so called training week/month in the US for new recruits - they do nothing more than show you how to operate the trading desk and you are left to your own devices afterwards. I am of the opinion that its bad to loose your own money but worse to loose others. The stock market is a big casino for most participants and to survive you need a solid system / plan.

 

[adam3145]

Last post by mistake - Finally if you want to check out reputable academics to learn from there is a professor who teaches a masters course in valuation at NYU Stern school of business. His name is Aswath Damodaran and he has his entire masters course online for anyone to learn from. Then there is Bruce Greenwald of Columbia business school that teaches valuation and has lots of stuff online.

If you've got the motivation then learn the technical stuff from them do but from my experience - don't invest in stocks they invest in. You need to DYOR

 

[Panky123]

wow ok, i got a lot to think about and read up on
so realistically on the university front, doing a business course wouldnt be the best way to get my foot through the door but maybe to do a maths or economics degree instead may put me in a better place to getting a job at the end of it. i already have a maths gcse from school i just need english then i can start my access course to look into doing uni
i cirrently live in dorset, so i was looking into going to the bourenmouth university, is that any good? as im unsure what you mean by red brick universities

i see alot of people talking about networking and knowing the right people, but how do i get out there and meet these people that i need to know, go down a bar down canary warph and start chatting to guys in suits lol

i will defo look at getting some of them books to read, thank you for that list

 

[Richardson09]

I have done Stock trading so much in early phase of my career. I only use to do Stock trading, but was never worthy given I always had to invest big and yet the returns were rarely to the desire. This is why I have went ahead with doing Forex Trading where not only the required investment is lower but even the potential is higher. I operate with FP Markets and they are epic having been licensed by ASIC plus a true ECN, so it’s super cool working with them.

 

[Panky123]

I have done Stock trading so much in early phase of my career. I only use to do Stock trading, but was never worthy given I always had to invest big and yet the returns were rarely to the desire. This is why I have went ahead with doing Forex Trading where not only the required investment is lower but even the potential is higher. I operate with FP Markets and they are epic having been licensed by ASIC plus a true ECN, so it’s super cool working with them.

cool, and how did you get involved with it all? like what education and how long did you study etc.?

 

[garyk]

You'll need a degree really if starting out. Most of Tier 1,2,3 banks have graduate schemes and many do a 'rotations' where you can spend 6 months in different departments to see where you fit best.

To be a 'quant', for algo/high frequency trading you need extremely strong maths and many of these guys are ex cambridge.

The thing that keeps the city job market going at the moment (and will continue to) is regulation. You have EMIR and MiFIR and ongoing additions and changes that are catching more and more financial instruments and so more firms have to report trading activity.

O and its the reason after a 3 year hiatus I'm currently back in the city working on, yep, regulation!