Allocators only give money to CFA's?

Looking for some clarity on this - was reading Rich Toad substack and and he said its rumored that allocators check off boxes of allocating to long-only portfolio managers who have a CFA? Anyone ever heard or this or seen anything like this? If its true, seems absurd and furthers my disdain for the industry's obsession with marketing vs actual performance.  

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Most allocators did the CFA hoping to land an actual research/investing role with a fund but didn't get one. So they tend to have CFA requirements to keep the false "prestige" of the CFA alive instead of admitting they wasted their time. 

 

No this is not accurate. A CFA lends some credibility. A lot of allocators do have the CFA and are respectful of the effort and discipline it takes to earn one and that may inch you up a bit, but if you're successful enough to be thinking about raising money from allocators, I think you probably have sufficient credentials and track record, whether or not including a CFA, that this would not be a top concern.

 

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