CFA for AM and HF: is it worth it?

so, it's been a year since i wrote down my impressions on the CFA (//www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/CFA-my-findings-plz-tell-me-if-i-got-thi…). i am now in the middle of a MSF and i am realistically evaluating my career paths (done that before but i now i need to be concrete).

my goal is to be in AM and eventually in HF in the long run (classic L/S equity).

i am very passionate about equity research, from a buyside perspective, and i am doing everything i can to get a hold of all the skills i need to produce numbers and reports which make sense.

so, do you think the boost in the CV and the added knowledge (suppose some overlap) are worth the time given my objectives?

thank you very much for your time

15 Comments
 

Minimum of 2 years for the exams plus the additional working time to get the charter.

[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 

yes i understood that but my question was related to the trade off: does the time necessary for the CFA pay back in terms of knowledge/pay/boosted CV (or even a needed pass for AM)?

 

Definitely worth getting. Dude you're going to hear the same thing every time. It's definitely worth it but just because you get it doesn't mean you have a leg-up on someone else. Every persons situation is different.

 

A lot of people have it, and it won't be the thing that gets you a job, but it could potentially be on a manager's checklist of things that won't get you a job if you don't have it, you never know.

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

Almost all of the postings I look at for experienced HF analysts jobs (via headhunters, websites, what have you) at least strongly prefer CFA or MBA. They don't replace work experience, though, and most of these places ALSO require 2+ years of previous buyside experience. Entry-level job postings (for example the one that I applied to for my current job) often emphasize top undergrad/strong GPA and top banking/consulting experience instead.

There have been many great comebacks throughout history. Jesus was dead but then came back as an all-powerful God-Zombie.
 

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