Congratulations on passing the third level of the CFA exam! If you could go back in time, what is one piece of advice you would give yourself before you started to study for this exam?
Thank you! I would try to impress upon myself the importance of starting early. Starting earlier than I thought necessary would have likely offered me more downtime to spend with my family and also made the last few weeks leading up to the exam feel less daunting.
Can you describe the role? What are short and long term goals that you are seeking to achieve in your role?
I am a research analyst and I primarily cover the Higher-Education, Student Housing, and Closed-End Fund sectors in the municipal bond department. In the short-term, I look to continue to hone my expertise within my current sectors, while expanding my knowledge base in new sectors. Long-term, I want to be a truly well-rounded municipal credit analyst who can comfortably analyze credits across all sectors while being able contribute to all aspects of the business (research, marketing, trading, and portfolio management). Additionally, I have had the opportunity to participate in several prospective and existing client meetings this year, which I found to be central learning experiences. I look forward to participating in more future meetings.
Tell us about your time as a New York Life Investment Management (NYLIM) analyst. How did that role prepare you for your work at MacKay?
The NYLIM analyst program was an invaluable way for me to gain exposure to MacKay because I was lucky enough to spend the entire program with the municipal bond department. It led me directly to my current role and I feel it was great gateway to that opportunity.
What is something that you hope to accomplish or do this year outside of work?
I am looking forward to spending more time with my wife, Sharyu, and 2 year old son, Ayan. I am also looking forward to getting back into working out/fitness, as it is one of my passions and has (unfortunately) taken a backseat the last few years.
Tell us something about yourself that most people at Mackay would not know about you?
I love listening to and making music. I sing and play guitar/piano so making acoustic covers is a hobby of mine. I especially love the challenge of mashing-up genres, artists, and songs that don’t sound like they belong together but come together to make something unique and enjoyable.
If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be?
I would love to be a polyglot – an expert in quickly learning and proficiently communicating in multiple languages (people with this skill usually speak over 10 languages). I find that knowing a language is one of the most useful skills to have, especially when traveling, which I love. The ability to communicate across cultures in our globally interconnected society would be a powerful skill, both personally and professionally.
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