No Direct Finance Exp: CFA® Level 2 or tech skills? Corp strategy vs. VC vs. Equity Rsch

I have to make a hard decision on how to spend my time. I have no hands-on, traditional finance/IB/top-tier consulting experience, but I see a few career options for me. In the finance category, there's equity research, financial planning and analysis, and possibly venture capital. In the non-finance category, there's user/market/operational analytics, various corporate strategy type roles, long-term economic planning, and possibly *product* management at a startup. Right now, I work at an internet startup. Before, I worked in consulting/research.

The CFA® gives a set curriculum and a set outcome, two huge points in its favor as learning either would compete with other activities. But I already passed the Level I, so the decision between the two, leaving career direction aside, boils down to a few factors I'd like your advice on.

First: would a Level II "price me out" or disqualify me in some way from corporate strategy/strategy consulting roles? Would it materially help me in roles that, at larger firms, feed into strat?

Second: would tech skills be MORE attractive for the same kinds of roles. By tech skills, I mean Python, Ruby or R.

Third: for a VC, which skillset can help me more? I have product management experience at a startup, and experience in rejecting my own startup ideas (that's a joke). Still have Level I CFA® and experience in industry research and consulting. Would Level II make a difference?

Fourth: without the direct finance experience, would I even have sufficient experience to "activate" a Level II? In other words, would this be an orphaned credential, or could I actually use to help obtain roles similar to those I am looking for?

Any input would be much appreciated. Feel free to PM as well.

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (199) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
98.9
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8