158: No Fancy Degree, No Problem: Lindsey Stewart on McDonald’s, Morningstar, and Making Finance Make Sense

Most people assume a successful career in finance starts with the "right" degree.

Lindsey Stewart's started behind the counter at McDonald's.

At 18, he made the decision to skip university, avoid student debt, and learn by doing. Years later, that path led him to Morningstar, where he now helps some of the world's largest institutional investors turn complex data into better decisions.

In this episode, Lindsey and Stacy discuss: 

• Lindsey’s backstory – from an investor relations firm to a Big Four acquisition to Morningstar
• Why he put McDonald's back on his LinkedIn profile after years of leaving it off
• What nearly broke him about the CFA exam, and what finally helped him pass
• The bias he sees across the finance industry (and why it may be holding talented people back)
• Why "sounding smart" and being understood are not the same thing

More About Lindsey Stewart:

Lindsey Stewart, CFA, is Director of Institutional Insights at Morningstar, where he leads content and outreach for institutional investors. His 25-year career spans investor engagement, financial regulation, and communications at firms including KPMG and the UK Financial Reporting Council. 

He is a Chartered Management Accountant and holds the CFA designation, and was a Senior Leader Finalist at the 2021 Black British Business Awards.

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