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Advice on Going Back to School, Gaining Technical Expertise, and Applying Transferable Job Skills
An expert in finance and investment banking with 20 years of experience in the industry, Michael Oberstein -NYU-SCPS’s Division of Programs in Business Finance Department Chair and faculty member -offers advice for employees seeking new jobs or different careers: What fields make sense in these unsure times? What skills are needed? And, how do you get that needed training?
Money Management
“Financial professionals with technical skills in asset management, portfolio management, and private banking experience will find positions with other companies in the industry,” says Oberstein. “The greatest number of positions will be with regional and smaller organizations as they are in the more traditional business and less impacted by the current turmoil among the global investment banks.”
Employees interested in moving towards a career in money management can enhance their knowledge and skills in the financial risk management. This can be accomplished, for example, by taking continuing education courses in NYU-SCPS’s Certificate in Financial Risk Management, recommends Oberstein.
“We’ve structured our programs to suit industry needs by providing the tools for better risk assessment. By examining financial instruments used to manage exposure to risk, particular market risk, and credit risk we provide a qualitative understanding of what is needed to monitor risk on Wall Street.”
Sales Oberstein stresses that institutional salesmen, high net-worth brokers, counselors, consultants, and advisors will be able to maintain their business as their clients will remain loyal to them. He recommends continuing education programs that are beneficial for long-term growth in sales. These employees should consider certificates in such areas as financial planning, wealth management, and portfolio management, all offered at NYU-SCPS.
Operations and Clearing “Technical managers in IT would be able to move their skill set into many industries besides banking and financial services,” says Oberstein. As the majority of employees at companies such as Bear Stearns are non-technical employees, he suggests to those in this category to think about continuing their studies and considering continuing education programs such as NYU-SCPS’ Financial Analysis Certificate, Financial Risk Management Certificate, Financial Planning Certificate, and International Business and Finance Certificate programs. These will give employees the proper background and credentials to further their careers in the finance industry, and can be completed in one semester. “Also, our courses encourage people think globally; with over 55% of today’s world capitalization in international companies outside the U.S., our programs give students a much-needed global mix,” says Oberstein.
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About Michael Oberstein
As Finance Department Chair and clinical assistant professor at the Division of Programs in Business, Oberstein oversees the NYU-SCPS professional studies courses and certificate programs in finance including: Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Risk Management Finance, International Business and Finance, Investment Banking, Portfolio Management and Global Wealth Management. He teaches Finance and Investment Banking courses.
Oberstein holds an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. He has an extensive background in banking, financial consulting, asset allocation, portfolio management, debt-equity financing, merger and acquisitions, start-ups, new business development, retirement 401(k) plans and global wealth management. His 20-year career includes positions with Lehman Brothers, Kuhn Loeb, and Bear Stearns as a vice president. Oberstein has over 15 years of experience as CEO and founder of Wharton Income Group, an investment bank and wealth management startup firm that grew to amass a client asset base exceeding $350 million. He taught finance courses in Investment Banking, Portfolio Management, and Security Analysis at universities in the tri-state area prior to joining NYU.