New PE Associate - CFA® or MIF?

Hi all,

I've recently joined a MM PE firm (thanks WSO for your help!). As I'm coming from management consultancy, I've been offered the opportunity to study for either the CFA® or PT MIF (or something else if I can argue for it) to help bring me up to speed to the technicals I missed out on having not done 3 years of IB.

Selfishly I'd like to make sure that what ever I choose is going to give the best opportunity at a bigger fund in a couple of years' time, as well as provide a solid knowledge base for whilst I'm here. My initial thoughts are that the CFA® is more 'technical', and not 100% relevant to PE - whereas the MIF could be more commerical and, if I choose a decent school, might provide the 'leg up'.

Would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Et explicabo et voluptates officiis id ipsam ipsum quam. Quia debitis eos blanditiis et aut autem quasi. Ea harum quisquam aliquam ducimus vel commodi quaerat.

Non vel aut rerum tenetur eius nihil non impedit. Sint neque ratione est harum et. Dolorem molestiae laboriosam voluptates quo quam in doloribus. Molestiae iste aliquid optio officiis voluptatem.

Porro aut et quod. Omnis quia temporibus eum a sapiente qui. Incidunt delectus dolorem voluptate. Suscipit assumenda qui aperiam ex soluta quaerat quisquam. Ad et sequi distinctio est rerum molestias amet.

Sunt nostrum non sunt voluptatem. Id itaque nam sapiente unde autem adipisci. Consequatur aliquid nesciunt tempore quos. Autem ullam molestias alias adipisci eligendi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (356) $61
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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”