Buckeye

-Confidence - probably not enough to ask everyone I know for their money to invest, I feel I need to learn a LOT more -I do have enough of a cushion to live without income for a couple of years. I do have savings outside of my current equities, however I wouldn't be able to continue to contribute to my investment portfolio. -I have been investing for myself for the past two and a half years which I know is only a drop in the bucket. I opened my brokerage account on April 8 2009 :), of all times. Therefore my returns have been great so far, but I feel it is more of an anomaly because of my timing - I am 33 years old, no kids, not married (yet:)), with a very supportive girlfriend, -Net worth- not enough to live on with 10-20% returns. -If it is very hard to break into the business working for someone else in your 30's to 40's do most just start out on their own from the very beginning? I thought maybe there are some types of careers that could lead future investing opportunities. I have met with Merrill Lynch for financial advising but wonder if that would take me down the wrong path. Not really sure what to think, hence why I posed this question here. Thanks again to all for any comments or suggestions. Feel free to ask and additional questions.

Hello all, This is my first post although I have spent many, many hours reading the posts on this forum. Here is my situation: My name is Brady. I recently left the business that I helped found and run for the past nine years. The business we were in designed and manufactured life-size animated monsters and characters for theme parks and haunted houses. About three years ago I picked up Lowenstein's "Making of an American Capitalist" and the rest was history. I have always been entrepreneurial and something clicked when I read Buffett's story. Please note: that I know that I am no Buffett:) However, once I discovered investing my world was opened to the thousands of companies that I could take partial ownership in through equities. Like many of you I am sure, I have spent every waking hour of the last three years to learn everything I can about financial markets, equity analysis, qualitative and quantitative business fundamentals. That brings me to now: I decided to leave my business to pursue a career in the financial industry. For the last couple of months I have been trying to decide which career path I should follow. Although I love the analysis the most I know that I need to "walk before I run." I do have a college degree in Communications and Business though no formal experience in finance (besides running the financial side of things in the business I just left. So my question to you all is: What type of career would you recommend for me to "get my foot in the door." The options that I have come up with thus far are: Financial Advisor, Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, Analyst, Investments on the Banking Side, Insurance Investments. I do not have any close friends that are into investing like the members on this board which is why I thought I would pose this question here. Although no of you know me personally I feel you all would offer the best information. I am looking for any comments or suggestions. Feel free to be honest. Thank you for you time and I appreciate any responses! Brady