- Published: September 27, 2022
- Updated: September 27, 2022
- University / College: Arizona State University
- Level: Secondary School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 34
Letter of Intent Dear Sir/Madam, While I was enrolled in Computer Science Master’s program at of Southern California, I took internship atCMS BondEdge, a fixed income software company. Soon after that, I got so much interested in bond mathematics and fixed income finance, that I took a class under Dr. Martellini in Fixed Income Securities at Marshall School of Business at USC. With my continued interest in academia after my conversation with Dr. Cvitanic, I joined Mathematical Finance Master’s program part-time while continuing to work full-time at CMS BondEdge. This episode has really defined my career in financial services for last 11 years in various functions including programming, analytics, portfolio management, risk management, and investment advisory where I have always strived to apply my profound academic knowledge.
At BNY Mellon Asset Management, I work for Investment Strategy and Solutions group. My role traditionally has been portfolio management, portfolio construction, strategic and tactical asset allocation for multi-asset strategies. Very recently, I had an opportunity to work on an investment research topic on investing in emerging markets. I was the primary contributor to the research as well as the co-author of the subsequent publication on thematic investing in emerging markets. The topic pertains to creating better building blocks for investing. My proven ability for investment research rekindled in me, the desire to reconnect with academia. I therefore, took this unique opportunity provided for executive PhD at EDHEC-Risk Institute to research to solve the gravest problems the investment industry is currently facing in times of financial crisis. This is more important considering that pension plans are underfunded, employees that are more recent are left stranded without proper retirement solutions, developed countries are debt laden and have aging demographics. Developing countries, on the other hand, have significant human capital, resources and surplus they are looking for answers to tug of war between liquidity and reserve needs and long-term welfare planning, while fulfilling their investment objectives.
In my current role as an asset allocation strategist, I have been posed with several institutional investment challenges that have, usually, required a distinct client oriented solution. I recently attended Advances in Asset Allocation conference offered by EDHEC-Risk Institute. I really liked how Dr. Martellini summarized all aspects of latest developments in portfolio construction, strategic and dynamic asset allocation. However unique the situation may be, he showed how a coherent framework for inter temporal strategic asset allocation can be applied for various investor needs. I am very keen to not only learn but also collaborate and research with the brightest academia stalwarts at EDHEC-Risk Institute who have firsthand experience of working with Nobel laureates Bob Merton, Mark Rubinstein and alike.
I have followed EDHEC-Risk Institute for several years now and regard it as a pristine institute that is pioneer to advances in finance industry particularly investment management with a unique risk oriented approach.
I strongly believe that combined with my continued interest in academia and strong desire to not only apply but also develop investment research, whereby making meaningful impact by alleviating some of pressing investment management industry issues, will allow me to successfully complete my PhD program at your premier institute.
Thank you.
-Harsh Parikh