This is a 33 year old bloke with about 6 years professional IT experience in banking (Networking Mcse,ccNA,CNA).

I am seriously considering a change to investment/business analysis as a long term career . I have enroled for CIMA and I'm working on a CFA certification.

What informed my decision is the fact that IT skilled workers are becoming cheaper to hire and hardly can core IT skill get you to the board level.

The question is
1. Has anyone in the house had a career change in their mid-life years and what was the experience like
2. How incongruous is such change (networking - to- investment/business analysis)
3. How relevant are the professional qualifications i have settled for (CIMA, chartered institute of management accountants & CFA , certified finanacial analyst
4. Considering the fact that it would be about 35 by the time i qualify (if i passed all my exams the first sitting), what chance do i stand with much younger graduates (20-24 years)
5. Please any advice