 | Claire Lyons
Vanderbilt MS Finance Class of 2006
Piedmont Investment Advisors - Equity Analyst
Durham, NC |
My New Career
I have accepted an offer as an equity analyst with Piedmont Investment Advisors, LLC. My basic job function will be to provide fundamental research for the firm’s equity products. I will be responsible for certain industry coverage and will make presentations and recommendations to senior portfolio managers at the regular research meetings. The job is exactly what I was looking for, and the offer is more than I could have expected. My potential income has doubled compared to the salary I would have received out of undergrad.
Finding the Right Fit
I came to Owen knowing that I wanted to have a career in money management, but I wasn’t sure what type of position would put me on the best path to a portfolio manager role. I had also originally intended to work in fixed income, but I have learned that the equity products are a better fit for my skills and interests. I am really looking forward to the challenges of this job. Piedmont is a small firm, and while I will have the support of very senior people, there is no formal training program and I will have to do a lot of independent work to prepare myself. However, I am thrilled to be in this situation because in very few other firms would I have the opportunity to work so closely with such respected and experienced fund managers.
The Value of the MS Finance Degree
I could not have obtained this level of position without the MSF degree. What has taken me nine months to obtain coming out of this program would have taken me years of work experience and an MBA to achieve. The degree has provided a huge jumpstart to my career.
A Supportive Network
The classes have given me the fundamental knowledge necessary to do well in my new position, but I believe one of the biggest boosts to my career was the support of my classmates, both MSF and MBAs. While at Owen, I have been able to lean on them for career advice and learn from their work experiences, but I have also made lifetime professional and personal friendships. The network I have built at Owen, through classmates, alumni, faculty, and recruiting events, will benefit me far into the future.
Next Steps
I will be taking the CFA Level I exam in June, and I have found that many of the classes that I have taken this year are directly applicable to the material covered in the exam.
