Brad completed a Bachelor of Business degree with a double major in Finance and Economics, at the University of Technology, Sydney, in 2001. He joined Macquarie straight after university and now works in the private portfolio management division.
How did you get your job?
In my final two years at university, I worked part-time with a stockbroking firm, and I think that helped me when I applied for graduate training programs. Macquarie Bank offered me a graduate traineeship in financial planning. My skills base and the stockbroking experience put me in good stead for that. Most graduates want to go into corporate finance but I preferred the people-focus of financial planning.
What happened then?
I worked as a para-planner, writing up plans for people, creating financial strategies for high net worth individuals. It is difficult for a graduate to be able to gain the confidence of a client, so you begin in a para-planning team until you have more experience. After 12 months, I moved into a research team with Macquarie Private Wealth, conducting research into listed companies and fund managers that offer funds to planners. Para-planning is great for leaning about basics like superannuation and taxation and it is essential knowledge, but I found my last two years working in research more exciting.
What do you do now?
In 2005, I moved into Macquarie Private Portfolio Management. We’re an Individually Managed Accounts business; we manage A$1.2 billion for high-net-worth individuals and small institutions. I’m an associate portfolio manager, which is a hybrid role combining company analysis and portfolio management. The skills I learned in the research role are being applied here.
What’s next?
I’m really enjoying the work I do and want to stay in funds management. It took a few years for me to find my niche, but you also have to be proactive and apply for new roles and apply yourself to them.
What’s best about your work?
The excitement of the market; that every day can be different, the market’s always changing, always dynamic. There’s always more to learn – and there are always people to teach you.
Brad's tips:
- Try to differentiate yourself to get the job. You need to make yourself stand out in interviews and in the workplace. For me, it was the two years experience at the stockbroking firm.
- Be a sponge. Just absorb as much information as you can. Put yourself on a steep learning curve and ride it all the way to the top.
- Make good contacts and networks. Finance is a people business, it is a service. At the end of the day, you are selling an intangible product to people.
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