Anyone know if the Diploma in Stockbroking Investment in DBS is any good?

Thargor

http://www.dbs.ie/stockbroking-investment/evening-diploma.htm

And I think theres a degree afterwards aswell. Would anyone know if that would be enough to get started in managing a portfolio properly or would I be better off doing something more intensive in one of the 3rd level institutions? Any recommendations if that's the case? I dont want to do another 4 year degree, I would spend a year or 2 on this max.

Thargor

60 views and not a peep...

neil.p.b

Do you want to get into a stockbroking firm with it or are you just trying to gain a bit more expertise in managing your own portfolio?

Thargor

Definitely just expertise for myself at the minute but it would be nice to be able to approach stockbrokers if I ever get laid off.

neil.p.b

I know nothing of the course so anyone feel free to shoot me down here, but i'd say you'd be as well off finding a couple of good books. Just looking at the overview of it; presumably each module gets roughly one evening/two hours - not a lot. It seems to be a course giving a general overview to the markets for complete beginners, which you're not.

Thargor

Yeah its true I suppose, Im thinking about taking a year or two out and doing a proper degree in this field, Im really sick of my job to be honest, the moneys good but its totally soul-destroying. If I didnt have my portfolio and the various forums for my companies to keep me amused during the day Id go insane.

envirowill

I've heard mixed things about that course. To be honest I reckon you would be better with a general finance or banking qualification than the above. Have you looked at the London School of Economics? They do Graduate Diploma courses by distance learning.


http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/prospective_students/undergraduate/lse/dip_grad/index.shtml

With the above you could do the Diploma for Graduates in Finance and then go on to a MSc. You would be more employable in the long run. Plus LSE is an excellent uni to have on your CV.


Another bonus is that the Diploma for Graduates is around £1400 for one year and you should be able to complete it in one year since it's just 4 modules.

Thargor

Hmmm that is interesting, thanks Enviro.

beagle001

Thargor,
I did a few courses in DBS when I was based out of the IFSC,to be honest they have never aided me in the hunt for jobs.
You are better off either doing the Acca exams with DBS but if you are interested in pursuing finance as a career LSE is an excellent uni to begin your distance learning whilst keeping your job here.

Thargor

You sound like you're already in finance Beagle? I have a biotech and pharma background so Id be worried that a few distance learning or part-time qualifications might be a bit useless if I ever actually tried to get a job in finance? What would be the ideal starting point in your opinion? Im 25, moneys not really a problem as long as its worth it.

Nolanger

Thargor wrote: »

60 views and not a peep...

Why don't you try the DBS forum, oh wait there's none!

jackiebaron

Thargor wrote: »

Yeah its true I suppose, Im thinking about taking a year or two out and doing a proper degree in this field, Im really sick of my job to be honest, the moneys good but its totally soul-destroying. If I didnt have my portfolio and the various forums for my companies to keep me amused during the day Id go insane.

What is your job because you sound just like me.

LightningBolt

envirowill wrote: »

I've heard mixed things about that course. To be honest I reckon you would be better with a general finance or banking qualification than the above. Have you looked at the London School of Economics? They do Graduate Diploma courses by distance learning.


http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/prospective_students/undergraduate/lse/dip_grad/index.shtml

With the above you could do the Diploma for Graduates in Finance and then go on to a MSc. You would be more employable in the long run. Plus LSE is an excellent uni to have on your CV.


Another bonus is that the Diploma for Graduates is around £1400 for one year and you should be able to complete it in one year since it's just 4 modules.

That looks pretty interesting. I'm an accounting background but I'm not too sold on going down the CFA route at the moment seeing as it's only really useful if you plan to be a portfolio manager/research analyst.... I do need to improve my CV though so something like this would definitely help.

I wonder what you would stick down on your CV?

Diploma Finance, University of London

or

Diploma Finance, London School of Economics.

Thargor

jackiebaron wrote: »

What is your job because you sound just like me.

Analyst for a Biotech company but its just glorified record keeping making sure numbers line up so we dont get in trouble if we're audited, the money is really good and thats the only thing keeping me here, that and the total lack of opportunities anywhere else. I wanted to be doing research by now but thats not happening.

beagle001

I left finance but worked 10 yrs in the industry here and hong kong.
Without a base degree or chartered accountancy it's very difficult to get a shot at something decent,I saw many people passed over in Ireland because of this.
The industry is looking for experience or good qualifications.
I would recommend going the Acca route as you could still keep your job for the time being but it's not easy I went this route many moons ago.
Finance can also be vert tedious if your not in the right area,unfortunately your not going to walk into an analysts job but would have a good shot at interesting work for an international finance firm.
25 is not too late to get started but having an interest in finance and actually working in it are totally different,try researching certain sectors and talk to folk already involved in it to grasp their two cents.

envirowill

LightningBolt wrote: »

That looks pretty interesting. I'm an accounting background but I'm not too sold on going down the CFA route at the moment seeing as it's only really useful if you plan to be a portfolio manager/research analyst.... I do need to improve my CV though so something like this would definitely help.

I wonder what you would stick down on your CV?

Diploma Finance, University of London

or

Diploma Finance, London School of Economics.

It would be : Graduate Diploma in Finance University of London and if you wish after that put "Lead College - London School of Economics". I was originally looking to move into environment/forestry but since I currently work in IT in a Finance company I think for now I will try to move in to Finance since I have an interest and it's easier at this moment for me to move in to that area.

So my plan at the moment is to do the Graduate Diploma in Finance since I can't afford a part-time masters (the MSc in Investment, Treasury and Banking in DCU http://www.dcu.ie/prospective/deginfo.php?classname=MITB&originating_school=50 is what I was looking at). So for now I will complete this course, then hopefully do a 2year masters either in DCU or if I get transferred to our London office next year I would do a part-time masters there.

My short/medium goal would be to move in to finance into an analyst role. Working on Tech market primarily as that is where my experience is. For the past 8/9 months I've been following tech stocks, the economy, forex etc just building up my overall knowledge of the industry and trying to get familiar with the terminology.

My longterm goal would be to move into a more environment based role, hopefully using the skills I picked up from current job (UNIX engineer) and my future finance qualifications.

But in reality I just want to win the lotto so I can retire in south of france

Joe Schmo

I did the advanced diploma in Stockbroking investment a few years ago. The standard of advanced diploma was so low I would be loath to sit through the non-advanced diploma.

To be honest it was rubbish. The course instructor worked for years in Davy; so he had plenty of stories about dealing with clients and managing their expectations. Knowledge about actual portfolio management was non-existent.

If you actually want to learn about managing money; measuring risk, pricing insurance on your portfolio and evaluating potential returns then look elsewhere.

The best qualification out there is the CFA designation. It costs about EUR2000 and the knowledge is on par with an MBA. Start into that, look into a Smurfit MBA and you would have all the education you need. The rest is networking.

Keep an eye on the market and learn about ETFs, option pricing, macro trades etc. Find out how futures-based ETF work and why they are great for shorting etc.

Thargor

Good stuff Joe thanks for that.