I was wondering what people on this forum think about the following scenario:I graduated from one of the top 3 Ivy League universities with degrees in Finance and Computer Science. I worked as a credit analyst at a bank and then at a hedge fund for a couple of years, before getting moved to a new group due to layoffs of our entire group. In this new group, I was trading based on quant models – credit default swaps, equities, currencies, a lot of equity derivatives, etc. It was really fascinating and the trades actually were profitable. Then the hedge fund laid off that entire group, so I was left without a job… And due to some family matters, I joined a fund of funds. While I think I have a decent job now, I am trying to protect myself in case of another layoff so what do you think my next steps should be? A masters degree? Trying to get back into the hedge fund space? MBA? I am taking Level III of CFA next year, so what else can I do now to make myself marketable?

The first degree is one of the most important criteria to get the first job, but with years, working experience, management skills are much more important than a degree. The stronger and the best profile one in finance just start from scratch and climb the ladder without further degrees and usually the ones who took other degrees are the ones who cannot find a job so they have to study and therefore the HR and companies are aware of that (a HH told me that as advice, just think about it)!You have already top Ivy league degree which shows you are smart guy+ good working experience, so I do not think an another degree will help you unless you want to change a career. As far as CFA, they are already some comments on it but personnally nothing very interesting unless you want to do "equity research publications".I have seen also the effect of the crisis, its not a degree which will protect you from a layoff, but its the way you make you not replacable in the company, you can try to trade toxic umanageable products like AIG traders so you are sure they wont layoff you and still pay you the highest bonus ever for decades! Or you can make the IT system so complex that if they fire you the IT wont works! Its an Art to survive in finance and they are no degrees for that! Or you have to be in a growing area with no competition like actuary, medical area!