Hugh Daniels ⋅ Scottsdale, AZ Willis Consulting, Inc. ⋅ 20 years experience

If you are willing to relocate to the Pacific Northwest, I do know a firm that would have interest in speaking with you. Let me know.

Gabriel Alexander ⋅ Billings, MT ⋅ 8 years experience

This is my profession. Bill and Craig are on point. Whereas an MBA and a degree in finance will surely help, the one thing that is a base qualifier is your ability to get securities licensed and bring in assets to manage for yourself or your team. You could have been working at fast food prior. This is a results oriented business both by way of what your employer expects and your clients expect. The opportunity increases as you improve your credentials to move within the world of finance. By obtaining an MBA and CFA, you can become a portfolio manager. The more specialized you are in this profession allows you to skip a few of the hurdles you would normally face starting from the ground up. If you can attract wealth, your degree/certifications are doubly improved and the sky is the limit, as well as is your income potential. Be forewarned, if you decide to opt out of education prior, the opportunity exists but, is exceedingly more difficult if you were looking to avoid starting a scratch practice. Being a Financial Advisor requires you to be street-smart, intelligent, hard working, self-starter, achievement driven, risk-taker, sacrificing, sales/marketing oriented, thirst for knowledge, ability to change, work in a highly regulated industry, constant learner, financial markets oriented, high energy, organized, business owner, solutions/client oriented, results driven. Its like the Special Forces in Finance and its not the qualifying course that identifies whether you get to be a part of the program, its based on the stuff your made of. Good luck!

Bill van Steenis ⋅ Holland, MI Prosource executive search, inc ⋅ 25 years experience

You are going to need a MBA in finance from a top school. If I were you, I'd be researching firms to see where the partners went to school. Also, companies only hire for one reason, to solve a problem that they don't have the internal resources to solve. They are looking to you to bring expertise, contacts, problem solving skills and the talent to successfully manage client monies successfully. I would also be looking for a retired money manager to contact that may be willing to mentor you. Be humble, listen to their advice and employ that advice.

Craig Bush ⋅ Boston, MA IBM ⋅ 11 years experience

Not a money manager, but I do know if you want to intern at a top firm, you'll need more than gumption... which you seem to have in spades.

Depending on how far down the ladder you want to start, you may not need a degree. But obviously a relevant degree helps. Sorry, there's no short cuts.