How can an extensive math background help land a career in finance?

I am wondering if taking a specialization in Actuarial Science, which includes extensive math and statistics courses, will help me get a better job. If so, what careers in finance would want someone with an extensive math and stats background? I am looking for something that deals with investing.


-- Also, I am not interested in the insurance business of actuarial science.

How can an extensive math background help land a career in finance?
math will help you get about any job you want.
Reply:Quants or Quantitative Analysts are in high demand always for finance jobs in New York City. The trend has been for the markets to become more mathematically complicated over the past years. Some derivatives, such as american options, and Collateralized Mortgage Obligations can only be valued accurately using mathematical models.





I had a double major, math and statistics and worked on Wall Street for a few years pricing Mortgage Backed Securities. The uncertainty from defaults and prepayments means that you need a probability model to estimate their value. This was one of many math/stat finance related jobs that I encountered there.





Plus, my experience, math is more respected than finance which most people see as a cake subject.





As for an actuarial background, most people would probably assume you are pursuing an insurance career. Maybe a double major of math and statistics? I suppose you could explain your background later in person but it may initially turn some people off. Also in my experience, math/stat background plus programming experience in C/C++ is a really good combination for finding a job.





Here is a recruiting firm that looks for people with quantitative backgrounds for wall street jobs:





http://www.analyticrecruiting.com/
Reply:Remember employers now-a-days are more concerned with experience than education. I can't even begin to tell you how many 20 somethings in America with business degrees making %26lt;30k a year because they have limited work experience.