What Can I Do With a Major In Finance?

Finance Student Organizations

• Apollo Society** - open to 2nd year students interested in investment & financial markets. Hands-on experience in financial markets through researching, pitching, and trading in simulated equity markets. Additionally, the club offers members opportunities to network with professionals in the financial industry and gain valuable industry insights. 
  • Kennedy Program** - open to 1st year students interested in learning about financial markets, aiming to educate and train students in finance and accounting.
• Corsair Society** - open to 3rd & 4th year students (highly competitive), supporting top undergraduate students interested in business careers by providing a network, facilitating discussions with alumni, and fostering collaboration to advance both members and the university. It's a partnership between UGA’s Terry College of Business and Morehead Honors College.
• Finance Society - open to all students, offering members resources, information, and networking opportunities to bridge the gap between academia and careers. Meetings feature professional speakers, employer presentations, career advice, and networking events, enhancing members' understanding of the business world and expanding their professional networks.
• Society of Entrepreneurs - connects students to resources of the Entrepreneurship Program and the Athens entrepreneurial community
• Student Financial Planning Association - open to all students, focuses on connecting students with employers and faculty & building a community of young professionals with an interest in financial planning
• Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF)** - open to 3rd & 4th year Finance majors, consists of a 3 credit hour (1.5 credits per semester) course where students have the opportunity to manage a long-only value fund investing in U.S. equities. Students are responsible for managing more than $2.1M of capital from alumni and the University of Georgia Foundation
• Women in Finance - open to all (both women and men) students, prepares students from all majors for careers in finance through numerous networking events, socials, and interactive workshops

       **Application required

Other Terry Student Organizations

• Atlas Business Society**- open to 1st and 2nd year students, aims to give student a competitive edge in business through resume building, LinkedIn profile creation, and interview preparation, complemented by talks from industry leaders. The society also engages in community service events and hosts social gatherings to foster member bonding. 
• Magellan Program** - open to 1st year students, semester-long program focused on skill development and peer networking; Applications are open only at the beginning of the Fall semester. 
• Alpha Kappa Psi - co-ed professional business fraternity open to all majors, focused on creating a brotherhood bond and enhancing professional development through seminars, community service, and social events. 
• Delta Sigma Pi - co-ed professional business fraternity that develops principled business leaders and offers lifelong opportunities for its members, providing training in professional skills, leadership, and service. 
• Multicultural Business Student Association - open to all students, MBSA aims to develop young professionals into future business leaders committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• Society of Entrepreneurs - connects students to resources of the Entrepreneurship Program and the Athens entrepreneurial community 
• Terry Ambassadors** - build community and enhance awareness of opportunities within the college by engaging with students and alumni, thereby furthering the Terry legacy. 
• Terry Women's Initiative - open to UGA students of all majors, genders, and degree types, supports student success by offering experiences and resources to boost confidence and leadership skills, helping students achieve their goals. 

       **Application required

POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS

• Actuary - Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
• Credit Analyst - Analyze credit data and financial statements of individuals or firms to determine the degree of risk involved in extending credit or lending money. Prepare reports with credit information for use in decision making.
• Financial Analyst - Conduct quantitative analyses of information affecting investment programs of public or private institutions.
• Financial Consulting - Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.
• Financial Planning - Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives.
• Investment Banking - Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.
• Investment Underwriters - Manage communications or negotiations between corporate issuers of securities and clients regarding private equity investments. Underwrite the issuance of securities to provide capital for client growth. Negotiate and structure the terms of mergers or acquisitions.
• Loan Officer - Evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of commercial, real estate, or credit loans. Advise borrowers on financial status and payment methods. Includes mortgage loan officers and agents, collection analysts, loan servicing officers, and loan underwriters.
• Management Consulting - Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.
• Graduate School programs including the Master of Accountancy (MAcc), Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), Master of Arts in Economics (MA Econ), and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) - note: most MBA programs require at least 2 years of work experience prior to admittance

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

• Utilize Career Services: Take advantage of UGA’s Career Center resources, including resume reviews, mock interviews, and job search workshops. The center can help you prepare for recruiting season and improve your chances of landing a position. 
• Engage in Internships and Practical Experience: Gain hands-on experience through internships, co-ops, or part-time jobs in the finance sector. Practical experience is invaluable for applying classroom knowledge and can often lead to full-time job offers.
• Participate in Study Abroad Programs: Consider studying abroad to gain a global perspective on finance. UGA offers various study abroad programs that can provide international exposure and enhance your understanding of global financial markets.
• Join Professional Organizations: Get involved with student organizations (listed under Campus Resources) to expand your network, access resources, and develop leadership skills. 
• Seek Mentorship: Connect with faculty, alumni, and/or professionals in the field to receive guidance, advice, or support as you navigate your academic and career paths. Sign up for the UGA Mentor Program to help with connecting with alumni. 
• Be Mindful of the Recruiting Timeline: Understand the recruiting cycles for internships and full-time positions. Prepare your resume, practice your interview skills, and begin networking well in advance. 
  • Investment Banking - Begins in the Spring semester a full year prior to a Summer internship (i.e. Spring 2024 for Summer 2025 opportunities) and runs into mid-Summer.
  • Commercial Banking, Corporate Finance, & Consulting - Begins in late July and runs into late September for the next year's Summer opportunities
• Maintain a Strong GPA: Aim to keep your GPA as high as possible, ideally above 3.5, as many top finance firms have strict GPA requirements for their internship and job candidates. Consistent academic performance can also make you more competitive in the job market. 
• Double Dawgs Program: Consider participating in the Double Dawgs program, which allows qualified UGA undergraduate students to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years or less. 
  • Finance BBA/Accounting MAcc
  • Finance BBA/Business Analytics MS
  • Finance BBA/Economics MA
• Attend Career Fairs and Networking Events: Make a point to attend career fairs, employer information sessions, and networking events hosted by the UGA Career Center and professional organizations. These events are valuable for meeting recruiters, learning about different companies, and exploring job opportunities. 
• Stay Informed and Updated: Keep up with the latest developments in finance by reading industry publications, attending seminars, and participating in finance-related forums. Regularly follow financial news through reliable sources like The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Financial Times to stay informed about market trends and economic developments.
• Improve Technical Skills: Enhance your technical skills by utilizing online learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning. Courses on financial modeling, Excel, data analysis, and other relevant tools can help you build essential technical competencies that are highly valued in the finance industry.

RESOURCES - INDUSTRY RESEARCH & INTERVIEW PREP

• General Finance News
  • Bloomberg
    • Note: Released in 1982, the Bloomberg Terminal has become synonymous with the financial services sector. A computer software system provided by the financial data vendor Bloomberg L.P., it enables financial services professionals to access Bloomberg professional Service through which users can monitor and analyze real-time financial market data and place trades on the electronic trading platform. They are quite pricey, costing $20k per year per terminal to operate. Terry College has 12 Bloomberg Terminals in its Benn Capital Markets Lab and students can receive a Bloomberg certification (helpful in competing for investment banking and analyst internships, especially based in the Northeast). Bloomberg Terminals are particularly notable for their dark-background interface and unique custom keyboards with bright yellow and green keys 
  • ​The Deal - subscription-based Financial News service that covers corporate transactions, dealmakers and their advisers to help readers identify opportunities and build their business.
  • Financial Times - daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England and famous for its broadsheet's light pink hue.
  • New York Times' DealBook - financial news service reporting on mergers, acquisitions, venture capital and hedge funds produced by The New York Times
  • McKinsey Quarterly - First published in 1964, it's a business magazine aimed toward senior executives with a focus on management and organizational theory. Authored primarily by McKinsey & Co consultants and former consultants
  • Mergers & Inquisitions - backed by Breaking Into WallStreet, the world's first and largest blog dedicated to careers in the finance industry with a free weekly newsletter featuring interviews 
  • MorningBrew - free daily newsletter that captures financial news in bite-sized, easily digestible snippets. Also produce podcasts and videos.
  • Deal Breaker - publishes financial news, commentary, and analysis about banks, hedge funds, private equity, MBAs, and lifestyle
  • The Wall Street Journal MoneyBeat - provides financial information, business news, analysis, and stock market data
• Stock Market Coverage
  • Market Watch - provides financial information, business news, analysis, and stock market data. A subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company, along with The Wall Street Journal and Barron's
  • Seeking Alpha - crowd-sourced content service for financial markets started back in 2004, focused on stocks, asset classes, exchange-traded funds, and investment strategies
  • Bloomberg Markets
  • WSJ Markets
• Finance Training Courses
  • Breaking Into Wall Street ($$) - prep courses for students and professionals seeking Investment and Private Equity jobs
  • Training the Street ($$) - prep courses for investment banking and the financial industry
  • Wall Street Oasis ($$) - collection of various financial skills and modeling courses
  • Wall Street Prep ($$) - prep courses for investment banking

Note: the above courses can be costly and are sometimes included as a part of Terry major coursework or student organization membership. They are listed here for the sake of transparency as individuals may choose to purchase them individually.

CONSULTING & CASE INTERVIEW PREP

• Case Coach ($$) - online preparation courses for consulting applications and case interviews, developed by former McKinsey interviewers. Helps you prepare for success in McKinsey, BCG, and Bain interviews. You can get FREE interview prep material in your inbox which includes 28 emails with tips, 8 full cases with solutions, sample case and fit interview videos.
• Ace the Case ($$) - case interview questions and solutions for practice interview prep
• ArgoPoint - case interview tips
• "Case In Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation" by Marc Cosentino ($$) - demystifies the case interview process used for recruiting in consulting, private equity, strategic planning, marketing, logistic, operations, and human capital. This book takes you inside a typical interview by exploring the various types of case questions
• Management Consulted - YouTube page featuring a library of case interview examples from McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, and more, covering all types of case studies: profitability, market study, market sizing, and M&A

BOOKS & PODCASTS

• Books
  • Options, Futures, & Other Derivatives - John Hull
  • Security Analysis & The Intelligent Investor - Benjamin Graham
  • The Handbook of Fixed Income Securities - Frank Fabozzi
  • Liar’s Poker - Michael Lewis
  • Average is Over - Tyler Cowen
  • The Fast Track: The Insider's Guide to Winning Jobs in Management Consulting, Investment Banking, & Securities Trading - Mariam Naficy
• Podcasts
  • Freakonomics

O*NET Online – The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations.  

My Next Move – An interactive tool for students and job seekers to learn more about their career options.  

Occupational Outlook Handbook – The OOH is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide most of jobs in the United States.  

Vault – Vault.com provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company, or profession – and how to position yourself to land that job.  

Candid Career – This resource provides you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy-to-use website.  

UGA Mentor Program – Connect with a mentor (alumni, faculty, staff) to research and explore industries and careers. Research industries and careers by connecting with a mentor for a quick chat or formal 16-week mentorship through the UGA Mentor Program.  

Interstride - Interstride is an interactive tool for both international and domestic students to enhance their international experience and employment potential. The platform consists of job-listings, hiring trends, employer information, self-assessments, and up-to-date immigration guidance. 

Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers an inside look at jobs and companies through "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees and job seekers.  

Steppingblocks - Research your future career with real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with career and education searches designed to find your best path based on millions of others. It’s data-powered career exploration for doers like you.

GENERAL EMPLOYMENT WEBSITES

• Handshake (scroll down to the bottom of the page; login with your UGA MyID and password)  
• LinkedIn (this popular networking site also has a job board!) 
• Idealist (non-profit jobs) 
• USAJobs (federal jobs) 

MAJOR & CAREER-SPECIFIC EMPLOYMENT WEBSITES

• Actuary Jobs
• Bank Jobs
• Career Bank
• Chronicle - jobs in Higher Education 
• eFinancial Careers
• Financial Job Bank
• Insurance Jobs
• Insurance Workforce

COMPANY & SALARY RESEARCH

• Career Bliss
• GlassDoor
• Salary.com

Interested in Understanding & Interpreting Financial Matters

• American Association of Finance & Accounting
• American Bankers Association 
• American Finance Association 
• Association of Financial Professionals
• Financial Management Association
• Financial Planning Association
• ​​International Academy of Business & Financial Management
• Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association

Interested in Quantitative Analysis

• American Mathematical Society
• American Statistical Association
• Institute for Operations Research & the Management Sciences
• Society for Industrial & Applied Mathematics

Interested in Investment Banking

• CFA Institute
• Leaders Global Network
• Mergers & Inquisitions
• New York Society of Security Analysts
• Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association

Interested in Insurance

• Global Association of Risk Professionals Career Center
• Society of Actuaries

Interested in Consulting

• Institute of Management Consultants USA, Inc