Anyone can tell me who earns more and who climbs the corporate ladder quicker??Do traders do a lot of coding like quants?

depeneds on what you think a quant is and a trader is. Some quants are just coders and some traders are just desk clerks. If you are good in any profession you will do well.

Mind if I say something here. I believe most of the forum members are not from US or UK. Most of us are for foreign countries.We know that it is so difficult to break into quant field or trading c'os of "skin colour" therefore everyone is trying the hard waystudying maths to ge into.The field is small and it is not a sigma field where you can pick up anything. We have to be realistic whether a hard core maths is relevant.I would suggest to secure any job in the finance field first regardless of a clerk position or thers. We should try to gain experience and move on.My two cents here is that MBA is the fasterest route to enter the finance field then move on to quant by studying MSc in Math Finance. The mostimportant aspect is to apply the knowledge we learn from school to excel...not merely having a Phd. It wont help at all.

QuoteOriginally posted by: wallstreet1. Anyone can tell me who earns more and who climbs the corporate ladder quicker??2. Do traders do a lot of coding like quants?1. Traders2. NoTJ.

I disagree with "NoShame". I don't think "colour of skin" is a barrier in investment banks. The diversity in these organisations is phenomenal! Also, personally I wouldn't recommend an MBA as the best route into finance, a well respected and structured MSc is enough to get started.

I think a CFA charter would give you better finance (non-quant) jobs than MBA. MBA's would be more broad and managerial in perspective, not necessarily finance related.

Narrow minded. When I said MBA it does cover MBA major in Finance like the one you can earn at LBS, Wharton and etc. God!Hedge fund is just a small piece of finance. Finance does many things boys!

You guys are so clueless.Although an MBA is not generally required for Trading if obtained from the like of LBS, Harvard etc will allow you you get into most junior trading positions providing you can demonstrate competency in Maths.A CFA means sweet FA for trading.A MSc beats a CFA hands down and an MBA is very well regarded along with the Quanty Msc's at the top institutions.As for which jobs pays more, a trading role in general with pay more. A quant role is a semi middle office role but still a front office role if you know what I mean. Early on quants will get paid around the same as traders but their bonuses dont go no where near as high. However there are of course exceptions and it usually depends on what you trade.If you are quanty try and get into a Quant trading seat e.g exotics trading. Becoming a fully fledge quant is the wrong career path. You simply become the traders b1tch.

Also I would add that to get into Banking you need to be from a top institution from the start i.e including undergrad.Doing too many MScs and other courses because you couldnt get in will not help. This is because doing 2 or 3 masters without any experience potrays that you weren't good enough to get a seat in the first place. You have to remember that there are fresh grads every year and the bank will seek these.There is a talent war in Finance and the last thing banks want to do is read CV's from people who could not make the cut in the first instance. They are instead all looking to be the first to secure the most promising junior guy.I see so many of these people doing these courses but how many actually get jobs compared to how many complete the courses.I know everyone should still try and not give up hope but there is too much false info on this board.

In terms of race, this is definitely not an issue.I would go as far as saying that most people in Banks in London are foreign either European, Asian or American. You would be surprised how few Brits there actually are and even these guys are usually of asian origin.It all comes down achievements and potential ability.

Hey NoShame,Do you mean to say that aspiring traders (say FX) require not much of quant on their CV and they can still get through for a Trader job, while quants should anyway have?Also, CFA should definitely help you get into the research team. I am not sure if it would help you land up on the trading desk

well, it is obvious that you dont need much maths to trade FX spot , while surely you need some to be a quant.CFA does not help for trading, actually, most traders dont even know what it isjuniorstructurer, i agree with most of what you said.except quant trading does not mean exotics trading. quant trading means being a quant who sits next to the trading desk.

So what about the MFE or computational finance degrees that are offered by various univs?Will they help one in becoming a trader? Or is it sheer LUCK that drives people into those positions. And after that those who prove themselves (also who love the job) stick in and the others walk out.

MFEs help in that they guarantee you a quant job. From there, you might move on to trader.The main other way to trading is through the grad schemes straight after undergrad.

Are there any areas where quants "tend to have" an upper hand over traders .... eg. exotic derivatives or more so, structured derivatives .. wherein, there is really no alternative to discover the price, except theoretical modeling ?(I mean in other products, traders always have a cue from the markets ... and may choose to ignore the model with their instincts and still survive. Instincts are hard to apply on exotics or complicated structured derivatives).Some quants are just coders and some traders are just desk clerks.What kind of salaries do these fellows get?