If you’re searching for online doctoral programs and you are interested in money and finance, then getting your phd in finance would be a the next logical step in your education.  Now more than ever people that truly understand the complicated economics of finance are in high demand.

Why Get A PhD In Finance?

Depending on who you talk to, finance may or may not have a bad reputation.  The reason is because the field is extremely competitive, and it’s all too easy to spend years getting a top degree only to find yourself in a cubicle crunching numbers and fetching coffee for the top executives.  Ouch.

It is possible to avoid this dismal fate, however, but it’s important to prepare now.  Making a few strategic moves while enrolled in your finance phd program can make all the difference.

The first thing you’ll want to do is choose a specialty.  Some schools will allow you to do this, so try and choose one that does.  You can choose corporate finance, financial planning, investment banking, sales and trading, and several others.  Educating yourself in a niche field will allow you to really dive into the nuts and bolts of that industry.  This will allow you to get a much better job once you’ve graduated.

What You’ll Learn In A Finance PhD Program

The field of finance is constantly evolving, which is why a finance phd is so essential.  Being able to understand this complicated industry and knowing how to spot trends are skills that can only be learned in a finance phd program.

Some of the classes you can expect to take while enrolled in a finance phd program could include:

• Theory of Finance
• Investment Theory
• Corporate Finance
• Experimental Economics
• Corporate Financial Policy
• Communications for Finance Professionals
• Corporate Valuation
• Derivatives Markets
• Bond Markets
• Active Portfolio Management
• The Art of Negotiation
• Risk Management
• Asset Pricing Theory
• Real Estate Financial Analysis
• And much more

As you can see from these classes, a phd in finance is not for the faint of heart.  You definitely need to be comfortable working with numbers and you can’t be afraid of things like pie graphs, or heavy books about statistics.

Careers With A Finance Doctorate Degree

Many finance phd programs focus on preparing graduates for a career in academia.  If you have any interest in teaching, then this is good news for you.  Why?  Well, because teaching at the university level is considered by many to be the holy grail of perfect jobs.   Once you factor in tenure, holidays and summers off, and an amazing salary (financial phd graduates can expect at least $140,000 to start, and then go up to $180,000 or more), then you can see why so many people want to work at a university.

If you’re not interested in teaching, then you’ll be happy to know that there are tons of other options out there.  Almost every industry and government employs finance professionals, which means you won’t have to look too hard to find a job.

You could choose from any of these industries:

• Commercial Banking
• Corporate Finance
• Investment Banking
• Money Management
• Real Estate
• Insurance
• Mortgage Banking
• Treasury and Securities Services

The great news is that once you have a finance doctorate degree, your earning potential is huge.  This industry pays its people well, so you can bet that finding a job making six-figures isn’t going to be hard, especially if you’re good at what you do.

For instance, a good investment banker can expect to earn $300,000 to $1 million or more.  A position in corporate finance can earn you $128,000 to $608,000 or more, depending on the size of the company.  These figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and they have another piece of good news for you finance phd graduates.  The finance industry as a whole is expected to grow faster than average, so there are going to be plenty of open slots in the years to come.

But, and we can’t stress this enough, getting your doctoral degree in finance is essential if you want to maximize your earning potential.  Competition is fierce for these top tier jobs, as top companies only want the best.  You can become the best by spending the time it takes to get your phd in finance.