And this was after spending a night in a nearby Holiday Inn, because his flight home to Hartsdale, N.Y., the night before had been so late. Berg's typical work day begins about 6 a.m. He reads news wires, scans the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times for headlines affecting the industry and watches CNBC television. He'll meet with team members to assess the state of various research projects, then maybe work on an earnings model, conduct interviews for research pieces or with companies he follows or hold meetings with investment bankers. His workday often lasts 12 hours, but it can go to 9 or 10 p.m. if he is entertaining clients.
Travel is extensive.
Before becoming an equity analyst, Berg was a reporter with The New York Times. He said he enjoyed his many years at the newspaper, but he became restless after concluding he could use his skills more intensively and could earn more as a securities analyst. While many in his profession are chartered financial analysts, Berg became a certified public accountant in 1986, which he said gives him an edge. Investors want to talk with me because I sweat the details and the numbers. The timely and topical reports he writes are also a strength.