Finance Undergrad Plus MBA Degree Equals Success

Just as the meteorologist forecasts changing weather patterns, finance professionals predict the flow of fiscal trends--sometimes with an amazing accuracy.

by Kelly Richardson
MBA Business Schools Columnist

College students by the thousands are getting the jump on the market by earning combined degrees. Supplementing a finance undergraduate diploma with an MBA degree prepares you to successfully navigate treacherous fiscal waters for your clients.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of financial analysts and personal financial advisors is expected to increase faster than average for all occupations through 2014. As baby boomers save for retirement and as an increasingly well-educated population seeks out investment advice, financial advisors and analysts will take on a critical role in preserving and accumulating wealth. Here are a few of the hottest finance positions for new graduates:

• Securities Analyst. Work for banks, insurance companies, mutual and pension funds, and securities firms to dissect security options.
• Financial Planner. Experts in investments, tax laws, and insurance that help individuals invest smartly based on identified short and long-term goals.
• Risk Analyst. Use a litany of investment reports and stock results to assess the risks involved with certain types of investments and securities.

For candidates looking to take on a more corporate role, combining finance studies with an MBA degree is a sensible route. Earning an advanced business degree through a distance education program allows you to get the training you need while avoiding the campus commute and rigid class schedule of a traditional program.

• Delivery. Virtual classroom training with textbook references.
• Benefits. Earn while you learn, instant communication with professors.
• Length. An MBA degree can be earned in as few as 6 calendar semesters.

Combining your finance studies with an MBA will give you the option to work in the corporate arena or on a personal planning basis.

Kelly Richardson has the inside track on all of the hottest career paths and resources. His articles appear career journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

“Financial analysts and personal finance advisors,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Posted on July 17, 2007 at 11:03 AM

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