Yes, all those industries at risk of disruption from automation and other technology. I don’t think they’ll go away, but if you want to work in a field of finance that is less likely to be disrupted, you should go to a role where you work on deals instead of just making public-markets investments. It would make more sense for you to go into investment banking first and then decide what to do from there so you have more options. And if the AM/HF looks even worse by then, skip it.

It is very difficult to switch from AM/HF roles into IB, PE, or VC roles, which is why it’s a better idea to do IB first if you don’t know what you want to do.

I tried to just post a comment but it doesnt appear to being showing up so if it does and i double posted, i apologize.

‘my question is about what area of finance to pursue. I am a CPA auditor who doesnt see accounting as a long term option. I thought about transitioning to a more transaction role through big 4 valuation and then maybe to a PE or VC firm. I also like the stock market and trade my own options account and have done very well so i also consider the role as an investment or equity analyst as appealing. i would work for a smaller boutique investment firm (only a few larger banks in my city) and maybe transition to one of the hedge funds we have in my city.

my problem with joining the asset management field is that i worry about the longer term implications of AI and automation where guys like me wont always be needed to manage money. i dont want to get into an industry, build my skills in it, just to have it fall flat down the road. i guess to an extent we have that already with quant funds, and i think the big bank wealth management firms will be hit the hardest more so than smaller investment firms/hedge funds, but i was wondering what you feel the longer term outlook is for this industry and whether it’d make sense to pursue a career in it?

my second question is how feasible it is to switch from one type of finance to another? if i started in investment management and didnt like it, is it reasonable to move on to a transaction-based role in PE or VC? I guess knowing how to build financial models is the same whether its asset management or PE/VC, but would a lack of transaction experience hurt someone’s chances?

Thanks!

Thanks! Glad to hear it. Good luck surviving both law and finance.