Would a CFA expand Commercial Banking exit opps?

Monkeys,

I'm currently a first-year credit analyst at a commercial bank (~$15b in assets) and I'm considering registering for June 2019 CFA L1. I'm curious if anyone has any insight into how passing the L1 would expand my exit opps. I'm aware that CB to IB is rare/difficult but I'm hoping I'll be able to exit to corporate banking, CO, or AM. My main fear is that if I'm not proactive I'll get pigeonholed in CB and have CF as my only exit opp.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

2 Comments
 
Most Helpful

A CFA charter won't do anything to help you if you're not good at what you do. Not saying you shouldn't sign up if you really want to pursue the designation, but don't think that is going to be the thing that springboards you into something bigger/better.

You're a 1st year analyst - you don't know what you don't know. Focus on figuring that out and then get good at what you do know/enjoy and then reassess.

"And where we had thought to be alone we shall be with all the world"
 

Rem ut consequuntur unde et. Eaque inventore aliquid et repellendus est voluptatem cupiditate. Sed totam fugiat iusto necessitatibus officia. Ipsam perferendis ut ut.

Fugiat ab est ut. Autem aperiam pariatur aut est qui. Placeat et maxime et veritatis quasi ea. Quidem est accusantium architecto ex.

Minima corporis voluptatum et. Deserunt eveniet aut quidem numquam velit voluptatibus ut rerum. Laudantium est labore totam aliquam non.

Aliquid omnis eos placeat porro et. Rerum quis temporibus alias doloribus numquam. Illum non tempore et molestias consectetur qui blanditiis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”