I would like to know whether an MBA (from a top 15 in your country) and a CFA L2 could help you get a job in Investment Management/ Analyst/Allied Fields? The locations being considered are around the world, especially in the Americas and Europe.
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No, you're going to add at least two PhDs to that.
Probably need a noble peace prize on top of that to validate the degrees
Yeah of course it could "help".
Your pre-MBA experience, network, and intangibles will matter far more.
I’ve always heard the MBA and CFA was a waste and it’s really one of the other.
That said I would imagine it would help
I don't think anybody will ever punish you for cumulating an MBA from Stanford with the CFA, and why not a PhD in Astrophysics and a helicopter license on top of it.
Truth is, people who ask about the added value of MBAs, CFAs, CPAs, etc. are usually not educated enough to drive their own careers and to leverage such titles even if they would get them. People who are in hot spots (top undergrads, IBs, consultancy, etc.) are "in the market" and they know their next moves and the requirements of this or that job or of such career track.
There are two drivers for the decision to study:
Passing the CFA does not lead to the acquisition of a defined skillset that the finance industry is after. It does not mean you are smart as questions are pretty basic (I think I could pick up any hobo and train him into the CFA if given enough time and resources). It usually means that you've had a nine-to-five job for a few years and/or few family/social commitments (or no willingness to fulfill them) and that you've spent your evenings in finance books & Q-banks rather than watching Netflix. Which is not so bad for many people, but largely insufficient to claim a top position in a given industry.
When it comes to Investment Management, this is the only industry that is really after CFAs as the CFA has been designed for it. Asset Management is normally an industry you get it so it still makes sense to use the CFA for that purpose. Last thing: if you are saying "around the world" you imply your CV is strong enough to get a call from another continent, which means it should be pretty strong. A top profile typically does not need the CFA in such circumstances as it should be outgunned by other achievements of greater value (in other words: the CFA alone will not get you noticed by international recruiters).
**
**Emphasis on this...
I've seen so many shitty ER reports by CFA's and now everyone and their dog is rushing out to get one. And by everyone and their dog I mean 2nd year FA's frustrated with their careers/the fact that they wasted 4 years getting a finance degree at XYZ school. Cold hard truth of it. I took level 1 in college and I'm glad I failed and waited to reassess whether it was really worth 900+ hours... It's not.
So a CFA should atleast help to get me a foot in the door, then ? After that I could try after some experience to get a better degree or te 2nd way you mentioned to get to the top position ?
As with anything, they assuredly help. The real question is why are you going for them, what are you doing with them once you have them and how are you building your EQ/networking/soft skills in addition to these degrees, designations and education. Make sure you focus equally on the last few as, unfortunately, degree inflation is real and you'll find that there's a lot of CFA, MBA, whatever that are out there.
A few other assorted thoughts:
First, don't write CFA Level 2 analyst anywhere (as i noticed you tagged your post that way). I probably shouldn't need to explain why.
Second, on the CFA, it will help open doors for you and/or delineate you from those that don't have it - and, to an extent, help give you some tools to work with once you get going. Until you have the full Charter, however, i wouldn't really lead with it - note it on your resume, talk about it in your intro if you wish "as i'm interested in the asset management profession, i'm currently in progress and sitting for level III in XXX" or whatever.
MBA's are tough. I don't have one, don't have much interest in having one (unless i'm forced to) although i know many of my friends and significant other who are getting theirs. It varies heavily on applicability - certainly, it helps. It adds gravitas if it's from the right place and it builds you a network that is hard to duplicate otherwise (unless you are a machine in networking, connected from birth or in a top end sales role that nets you a lot of access).
CFA > MBA
CFA + MBA business schools">M7 MBA here. Yes, it is a power punch combo. The duo will not "get you a job" but it sure will get you plenty of interviews.
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