CFA more crucial for non target schools?

Pursuing an MS Fin at a top regional university, but not necessarily a target school. My thinking is that the CFA has added value for the less elite a school is. Many posts say the cfa isn't worth it. Looking for guidance. Looking to break into an Asset Management (sorry if the broad definition annoys some of you) firm from a retail brokerage position. Also, I have undergrad degrees in finance and Econ with honors so I figure that level one shouldn't be overwhelming.

Thanks in advance

17 Comments
 

It obviously can't hurt, right. Three years is a huge commitment, but I figure I should be able to take on the first level as I do have undergrad experience and a 3.9 in my MS Fin program. Networking is a biggie also. What field would the cfa be most crucial? Least crucial?

Thanks for your input.

 

For the Buy side it is more relevant. Not crucial, but it is a good compliment to the other things your resume says. it makes you more marketable.

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Best Response

I think the value is greater the less elite your school is.

You already a coveted credential having gone to an elite school. There is a current thread called "the non-target curse" that questions whether the non-target issue goes away at the senior level. While experience will likely trump your school, all firms, especially small ones looking to grow, want to add brass to their senior team. This could be in the form of top MBAs, CPAs, or CFA. This also includes top names i.e. started a group at Goldman or something.

Maybe it is just me, but if I was looking at a Harvard CFA vs. non-target CFA, obviously the former looks more impressive. But it really just adds to the fact that they already have an elite background. I would read the non-target CFA, given relevant experience, as having somewhat attempted to understand that credentials carry weight.

If I had to rate it:

Harvard + CFA 6+4=10

Non-target + CFA 3+6=9

 
sk8247365 If I had to rate it:

Harvard + CFA 6+4=10

Non-target + CFA 3+6=9

that makes no sense. should be 6+4 = 10 3+4=7

and this is the important stat.: %increase in reputaion and employability due to CFA 66%, 133%, respectively

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Here are a couple of great articles on LOTBS that pretty much encapsulate the entire CFA idea:

1) http://www.lifeonthebuyside.com/cfa-to-finance/

2) http://www.lifeonthebuyside.com/mba-vs-cfa/

Yeah, the second one would say MBA, but down in the comments someone mentions MSF. Mike pretty much answers that MBA/MSF are mostly interchangeable in his article.

 

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