Fresh Beginnings, Bold Ambitions

Jan 03, 2025

Happy New Year, Dear Readers.

Many of you aspire to work in the core finance industry and often ask me about the best ways to land a job in this domain. But here’s something you might not know: getting a job in the core finance field is not just a destination but a complete journey.

What makes this journey challenging is that many people don’t even have a clear roadmap to follow.

Since this is the first newsletter of the year 2025, let’s set some resolutions to guide you on this path and help you take meaningful steps towards a successful finance career.

Resolutions for a Strong Start

Work on Your Basics

A solid understanding of the basics is really important in finance. Once your foundation is clear, it’s easier to see how real-world events connect to the key concepts. This helps you to understand the markets better and make smarter choices.

Learn New Skills

The finance industry is competitive, and learning new skills is important to stand out. It’s essential to stay updated in both technical and soft skills to grow in this field.

On the technical side, skills like financial modelling, chart reading, equity research, and using tools like Excel are the basics needed to build a career in finance.

Soft skills are just as important, good communication, analytical thinking, and problem-solving help you handle challenges and explain your ideas clearly, enabling growth and success in the finance industry.

Prepare for Certification Exams

In the field of finance, certifications help you prove your knowledge and give you an edge in the industry.

Certifications like NISM, CFA, and FRM are essential for building a strong foundation in finance. They validate your knowledge and help you develop the skills needed to succeed in the industry and stay competitive.

Build Your Personal Brand

Building your personal brand is a great way to grow in your career, and LinkedIn is the ideal platform to do this.

You can use LinkedIn to share your achievements, connect with industry professionals, and showcase your skills and expertise.

Being active on LinkedIn helps you grow your network and opens doors to exciting opportunities.

Focus on Wealth Creation

As the saying goes, “Health is wealth,” Staying healthy starts with eating the right food, as what you eat builds your mind and energy. Equally, building financial wealth is essential too, for long-term stability.

If you’re just starting, consider investing in mutual funds. They’re a beginner-friendly way to grow your wealth steadily.

To simplify this process, check out our Mutual Fund playlist on YouTube to learn how to choose the right fund for your financial goals.

Stay Consistent

No matter what resolutions you take, the most important thing is to stay consistent. Even small, steady efforts every day can lead to big results. Remember, it’s not about perfection; it’s about progress.

Recommendations

This week, my recommendation is The Accidental Investment Banker. It provides an insider’s view of life at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley during the 1990s and 2000s. The book explains how these top investment banks changed over time, focusing more on making money and less on tradition.

It also shares thrilling stories of big deals and the challenges behind them. If you’re curious about how Wall Street works, this is a must-read!

Thank you for reading this week's newsletter!

I am keen to hear your take on New Year's resolutions in the comments section.

Feel free to like, share, and restack—your support motivates me to keep sharing valuable insights!

Song of the Week:

This is Parth Verma,

Signing off.