Anyone here have background in Physics, Quant Finance or Mathematics?

[CaptainsofCrush4]

I’m considering a career change from accounting-leaning (background is accounting) to finance - in particular, Quantitative Finance.

Reason? I would love to go head first into the teeth of such a challenge. It is intellectually rigorous and the jobs tend to be quite rewarding. If I were successful and accomplished my goal at landing at an elite firm like Citadel, then I could potentially start my own fund.

That’s pie in the sky stuff for now.

As the question states, does anyone have a background in those listed subjects? I’m considering going back to school to obtain BS in Physics and hopefully a PhD (but I strongly want to go to Princeton for that - which is so steep it’s a stupid goal).

 

[Amontillado]

Studying physics sounds like all kinds of fun. I confess I learned interesting things about real physics from the ravings of lunatics.

You may have noticed there are people on the 'net who believe Earth is flat.

Spoiler: Earth isn't flat.

There are so many interesting things to learn by taking ridiculous claims and putting a little discipline into why bizarre ideas are wrong.

For instance, you weigh less on an Eastbound flight than a Westbound, because Earth is spherical and rotating. Gyrocompasses don't require alignment with true north and don't use any magnetic input. They naturally settle on true north because Earth is, see above, spherical and rotating.

And the precision of our forebears, amazing. Lewis and Clark, whose survey work had nothing to do with Dixie or the Civil War, kept finding errors.

The problem? The mass of the Appalachian Mountains and resultant horizontal gravitational attraction made their plumb bobs ever so slightly out of plumb. Our flat earth friends often say gravity is fake because we don't yet understand what causes it.

Actually, I know a little too much about what causes gravitational attraction. Personally, I'm bending spacetime a little more than I should. I need some quality time at a gym, I'm afraid.

Good luck!

 

[Tallyfire]

I have a degree in physics - space sciences specifically, not related to your area in specific, but it’s heavy in mathematics.

I applaud your enthusiasm! I don’t know how your experiences are in accounting but if you leap back into physics you may have to get used to feeling stupid for a while. (100% my experience. It was humbling.) Physics is all problem-solving. You spend ages banging your head against the wall (preferably with other students for support) trying to solve problems set by lecturers. It’s a fascinating and rewarding topic to study, though, and I’m really glad I did it. If you have specific questions feel free to ask or send me a DM!