Potential New Analyst Role - help me feel competent!

Hey everyone! I’ve read tons of the “is the CFA worth it” type posts but figured I’d ask since this is a bit more specific. 
 

I work for a wealth management practice with $1bn under management. We are semi independent and clear through one of the larger broker dealers in a franchise type arrangement. I work primarily as an associate financial advisor where I serve a number of different functions, many that definitely still fall into an analyst category, many that fall into the “paraplanner” category. 
 

Even though we have $1bn under management, we at this point don’t run our own strategies/have discretion over client assets. We typically meet/call clients to discuss their holdings and to clear proposed trades/rebalances. IMO this is a terribly inefficient process for a practice our size and so we’re looking to make a change. 
 

My boss told me today that he’d like to start running a number of in-house discretionary strategies where we can put multiple clients of a similar profile into the same strategy. For example, an equity income portfolio, an aggressive all equity individual stock portfolio, relatively straightforward long/short strategies of that nature. 
 

He told me that he’d like me to perhaps run point on this in an analyst or client portfolio manager role. We have an investment committee where he as the senior FA and owner of the firm is ultimately in charge, but I’d be responsible for a ton of the legwork that would go into equity research, security selection, etc. 


This is a little bit intimidating for me. I have about 4.5 years of experience and hold the CFP certification, but my asset management specific experience is actually semi limited. I was curious - would anyone have a suggestion for me to get a bit more competent in portfolio management/investment analysis in a relatively short time frame? I am considering signing up for the CFA Level 1 as to be honest I don’t believe in all these other little certifications like the CIMA, etc. I think the CFA charter is completely worth it for what I’d like to do in life and would definitely try for all 3 levels. 
 

I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Even if it’s “read some books.” Thank you!

 

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