How do people break into finance (hedge funds, i-banking) when their concentrations in college had absolutely nothing to do with finance? I have been meeting (and reading about) people who have jobs in the financial industry, yet their backgrounds and majors (poli sci, history, etc.) have never entailed related experience that you would normally think is sought after in finance. I graduated with a degree in journalism and have always found an interest in the banking/finance industry - I'm currently a legal assistant for a law firm whose clients are major banks - but if there is a way

What can I do to not freak out about student loan debt? Through a very roundabout way, I found myself in an Master degree program (studying social work). I keep having anxiety attacks about how much money I will owe after graduation (including my undergrad degree, it's approaching 100,000). I am not completely certain that clinical social work is the career for me...however, the profession is so broad that I hope to find a niche. I have considered dropping out of the program, but some people tell me that having a Master's degree will open up doors and that since I'm halfway through I might as well finish. However, if I cut out now I will save a lot of money (although I'll be a "quitter").

What can I do to not freak out about student loan debt? Through a very roundabout way, I found myself in an Master degree program (studying social work). I keep having anxiety attacks about how much money I will owe after graduation (including my undergrad degree, it's approaching 100,000). I am not completely certain that clinical social work is the career for me...however, the profession is so broad that I hope to find a niche. I have considered dropping out of the program, but some people tell me that having a Master's degree will open up doors and that since I'm halfway through I might as well finish. However, if I cut out now I will save a lot of money (although I'll be a "quitter").

Tax planning advice for the self employed. The web is full of articles, the bookstores are full of guides. But there is so much "get rich quick" and "pay zero taxes" crap out there that I am not sure where to go for good, solid tax planning advice. Is it better to operate as an LLC? An s-corp? What expenses are deductible? What is a good system of recordkeeping? What records should be kept? If I have two related business pursuits, should I keep track of them separately or together? And so on. I know I need to see an accountant, but I'd like to be as educated as possible. Right now I am paying a rather high percentage of a rather small income in taxes. I'm not anti-tax, but I am very pro-eating.

Given the following choices, which would you say is the one that takes the least effort & time to complete, but still has a significant benefit to someone looking for a job? I suppose that any of these would satisfy my curiosity, but I'm looking to satisfy the above requirements I've listed too. 1) CPA 2) CFA 3) MBA 4) JD 5) MA (assume a 36 credit program) 6) Certificate in "X" - examples Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Certificate in Financial Analysis Certificate in Accounting I feel that the most practical and effective way to learn is through experience. Although, having credibility is an essential ingredient when embarking on a career in finance. The socially accepted measurement of this is done via degree/certification level.

UKJobsFilter: So, the medieval banqueting centre I've been playing Robin hood at for the past 16 years just rang me up to say they're selling the building to developers, and at the end of April that's it, all done. I've been self-employed for most of that time and have been invoicing on a 'per gig' basis for years now, but I'm wondering if, as they've easily (by a factor of lots ) been my main employer for those sixteen years whether a 'that's your lot, chum' is all I'm getting, or is there a 'self-employed severance' for long term invoicers?

We have a couple of blogs and use a combination of Google Ads, AdBrite and Amazon Associates placements on them. We're trying to figure out how best to approach the income from these ads on our tax filings... We never thought we'd be making as much as we are making (which still isn't much...not enough to live on), so we hadn't really thought through the tax implications in advance. We were blogging for fun and then...well, income. Since our Google Ads income exceeded 4 figures this year, we think that we probably have to cover our bases on our upcoming tax return. (More than $7500, less than $10k). Our other income sources posted more modest returns (Amazon, $500+; AdBrite: $500+). To facilitate our blogging, we purchased domain names, paid for hosting services, attended a conference, bought a digital camera, etc. Are these officially expenses?

I just took the LSAT on Saturday, and now I've got a couple questions. I did flip through some of the Ask MeFi archives, and while there was enlightenment, my top two questions didn't come up. 1)I graduated in '01- what kind of recommendations do they want to see? 2)How the hell am I going to pay for my living expenses while I'm there? What looks best in terms of recommendations? Old bosses? Older professors? Friends done well? The biggest names I can get my hands on? If it helps, I'm in my mid-20s and I've been working in the whole new media/online business-type-area since I graduated. I have a handle on my expenses, and I'm steadily paying things down, but I'm two paychecks from homelessness, like most of this country's 20-somethings. If I go to law school, how am I going to make rent and buy food? Is it all loans? Do people fit in part-time work easily? Do I just pay for it by working over the summer as an associate?

I just took the LSAT on Saturday, and now I've got a couple questions. I did flip through some of the Ask MeFi archives, and while there was enlightenment, my top two questions didn't come up. 1)I graduated in '01- what kind of recommendations do they want to see? 2)How the hell am I going to pay for my living expenses while I'm there? What looks best in terms of recommendations? Old bosses? Older professors? Friends done well? The biggest names I can get my hands on? If it helps, I'm in my mid-20s and I've been working in the whole new media/online business-type-area since I graduated. I have a handle on my expenses, and I'm steadily paying things down, but I'm two paychecks from homelessness, like most of this country's 20-somethings. If I go to law school, how am I going to make rent and buy food? Is it all loans? Do people fit in part-time work easily? Do I just pay for it by working over the summer as an associate?