Year-1 Analyst at Bank in CRE Lending - Considering CFA

Hi all, looking for some career advice here. I'm currently working at a mid-tier bank in the CRE lending department as an analyst. Landed this job last summer out of an internship post undergrad, and I still feel very grateful that it worked out.  I had no prior experience in finance, so it's been great exposure to the field and to finance in general. However, I'm not sure that I want to stay in CRE long-term. It's a fine job, but I don't feel like I'm learning enough and am not crazy about CRE. It seems like the structure of the CFA would really boost my financial knowledge (I was not a finance major), but I'm curious about the effect it would have on my career options down the line. I'd also like to move up into a larger bank and am looking for credentials/skills that would make this jump more possible.

So, here is my major question: Would a CFA open doors to other, potentially more lucrative, fields in finance (IB, PE, HFs) down the line? Or would I be locking myself into a PM/AM role? 

I should also note that time is not an issue. My work hours are quite manageable, so I could definitely fit in the study hours needed for the CFA.

1 Comments
 

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