A glimpse at the emerging landscapes in finance

If you believe finance is just balance sheets and numbers, think again. Its scope has extended to technology, social impact, science, and engineering – increasing the convenience and accuracy of transactions. Knowing about these emerging fields will boost your position in the finance industry and potentially open new career doors.

(i) Fintech

This is a combination of financial-management skills, technology, programming, and data science knowledge. It works best in asset-management careers where the practitioner’s primary responsibilities are trading, analysis, and investment-decision making.

Of note, the use of artificial intelligence and robo-advisors should help eliminate personal bias. One example is quantitative investing. Watch this recorded webinar session on “Career Insights: Quantitative Investing” by Abhishek Dhall, CFA:


Competition among fintech companies is increasing, as they are in a race to improve the efficiency of company operations.

(ii) Sustainable Wealth Management

Sustainability is an upcoming trend in every industry. The basis of sustainable investing is identifying companies that, for example, use renewable energy sources, provide fair wages, and leave no carbon footprint. Sustainable investing integrates core investing skills with economic, social, and governance (ESG) factors.

It requires investment professionals to assess a company’s operations, resources, and other functions to ascertain whether it is environmentally friendly.

(iii) Financial Analysis

India is transitioning from traditional investment approaches, such as gold and real estate, to new spheres, including currencies, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. As a result, the need for financial analysts is growing. Added to this is volatility created by the pandemic, geopolitical risks and unprecedented scenarios, such as negative interest rates.

All of these factors are creating a greater need for trusted financial professionals. CFA Institute is leading the investment profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society.

(iv) Blockchain and crypto

Cryptocurrencies are often not fully understood, and a lack of regulation introduces an element of risk. But they may be the next big thing for the future of finance. Having a body, such as the CFA Institute, that understands how these investments work can help us make the right decisions.

Blockchain technology is the driving force behind cryptocurrencies.

It reassures clients that their transactions cannot be tracked by a third party and protects their privacy. This technology also mitigates the risk of manipulation, human error, and processing time. It also underlines transparency. Hence, an understanding of blockchain technology is essential when pursuing any crypto-related career.

Opening new career doors

The landscapes mentioned above have opened more career opportunities, and it is vital to have the proper skill set and network to move ahead with confidence. This is where the CFA Program can help. CFA Institute has designed the curriculum to include relevant content, which is reviewed regularly to align with the industry. There is also a body of knowledge, continuously updated with research, member contributions, events and webinars.

Also, membership of a local group, such as CFA Society India, provides multiple user benefits, such as access to resources on these emerging domains beyond the theoretical. It helps you gain a better understanding of networking and connections to professionals from the respective fields.

For instance, the new fields mentioned above have opened career opportunities in the research domain of the finance industry. CFA Society India has dedicated a research foundation that helps members explore aspects such as stocks, bills, and bonds.

Membership of CFA Society India ensures that reliable and accurate knowledge about these new technologies is disseminated. It also provides standards and guidelines for asset allocation, ESG investing and analysis, and other new areas.

Millennials might seem to have the upper hand in grasping these subjects, but they still lack real-world experience. Those without knowledge need a deeper grasp of each issue. The CFA Program and membership of a local society offers learning concepts and practical knowledge. It’s a great way to open new vistas.

This is a sponsored post in partnership with CFA Institute.

SEE ALSO:
Vodafone Idea shares surge over 12% on hopes and prayers
Amazon makes its first investment in Indian wealth management sector with Smallcase