James Marti MSc International Financial Markets, 2008

Director, UBS Wealth Management

My postgraduate study has undoubtedly been worth the cost. I don’t think I would have my current job without my MSc from Southampton, and I certainly wouldn’t know nearly as much about finance as I now do – although, I realise, I have barely scratched the surface.

The course was an obvious choice because, with a background in Economics (which I studied at undergraduate level), I wanted to further my understanding of finance, possibly with a view to a career in the City. The MSc in International Financial Markets fitted my learning requirements perfectly.

The programme gave me a good knowledge of financial markets by putting a real-world spin on theoretical topics and discussing how they are applied in financial institutions and markets. It also helped me understand the way financial institutions function, which was vital when it came to applying for jobs in this arena. Certain theories are now used extensively in my work, such as strategic asset allocation, diversification and correlation, and the capital asset pricing model.

I finished the graduate programme with Kleinwort Benson Private Bank in the City of London in September 2009, and became an Aspirant Private Banker (effectively Junior Private Banker). I continued to develop, with particular focus was on client-focussed activity and improving my knowledge of investments and financial planning tools such as pensions.

In 2010 I became a Private Banker, and started to take on my own clients and had a target for acquiring new clients. This was a big step in terms of responsibility, because I was then in a revenue-generating role, with all the advantages and disadvantages that this entails.

My aim was to become, with time, a strong contender for a managerial role within a bank.

I am currently an Associate Director at UBS.