Consulting --> PE; CFA designation worth it?

Hello! I'm currently a strategy consultant at a boutique tech-media-telecom firm, one year out of HBS. I have an inkling that in the future I'll want to make the transition from consulting to PE; I love working on diligences and I think I'd really enjoy/be good at working on the other side of the table.

While I'm still in consulting, would it be at all worthwhile for me to go for a CFA designation? For which kinds of roles/industries/firms would this be an asset (and would PE be among them)

Also, for further context, pre-HBS I studied computer science and worked in tech, so I don't have any other finance experience.

 
Best Response
rkt9221:
Hello! I'm currently a strategy consultant at a boutique tech-media-telecom firm, one year out of HBS. I have an inkling that in the future I'll want to make the transition from consulting to PE; I love working on diligences and I think I'd really enjoy/be good at working on the other side of the table.

While I'm still in consulting, would it be at all worthwhile for me to go for a CFA designation? For which kinds of roles/industries/firms would this be an asset (and would PE be among them)

Also, for further context, pre-HBS I studied computer science and worked in tech, so I don't have any other finance experience.

HBS + Current performance is going to propel you more than the CFA exam. In fact, the time constraint of taking all those tests could possibly hamper your performance at your current consultancy. You want to be a rockstar there.

Also, part of that means going out with the team to functions when possible. Its really difficult to do that whilst studying for the CFA exams. You'd probably clear L1 easy, but L2 and L3 could be a pain, even with HBS behind you.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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