What sort of jobs can finance/economics students do?

Here is sample of some of the professional activities of my former students who have kept in touch:


The Clifton Group - specializes in "derivative overlay" strategies
Arthur Ventures - VC firm in Fargo.
Rain Fund - Angel fund in Fargo

Duetsche Bank - Associate.  Analysis and pricing of OTC derivative products
Duetshe Bank - Investment banking analyst
JP Morgan - analysts
Morgan Stanley- Investment banking analysts
CSFB - Investment banking analysts
Merrill Lynch (now Bank of America)- analysts and human  resources
DLJ (now part of CS) - Investment banking analysts

Proctor and Gamble - Management
AOL -  programmer
PhD students in economics (LSE, Cornell, etc..)
Law students
Management of non-profit institutions
Peace Corp
Medical students (UPenn and elsewhere)

Others have positions as management consultants, technology entrepreneurs, MBA students, etc.


What sort of career options are available to someone with a PhD in economics/finance?

My collegues from graduate school have choosen a variety of career paths.

Some work in the private sector as consultants.  For example, one works for a company that provides professional research and legal testimony for utility companies and utility customers on rate regulation.  Another works for a company that provides professional research and legal testimony on discrimination in employment.  Another works for the Chicago Board of Exchange dealing with issues related to the trading of derivatives.

Some work for firms on Wall Street.  For example, one works for prominant financial company that develops methods to helps banks, traders and fund managers characterize the "riskiness" of their portfolios  (Riskmetrics)

Some work as policy makers.  For example, several work with the Federal Reserve banks -- doing research in finance and economics and being part of the team that helps Ben Bernanke formulate monetary policy.

Some are entrepreneurs.  For example, one is setting up a "dot.com" company providing tailored information services on the web.

Many work in academics -- teaching and doing research in economics.  The institutions range from Univ of Chicago and UCLA to local community colleges.