Hi, I currently work for an Investment bank for last 3 years in real estate fund management as an investment real estate analyst and possibly moving onto to a fund manager for one of the funds. My background is BSc Maths/Finance , Postgrad in Financial Maths, MSc in Real Estate Investment & Finance all from top universities and currently taking an MBA between London Business School and Columbia Business school part-time. Now as I’m taking an MBA from a top 10 and my given my background (I looked at CFA several years ago but decided not to take as felt there was no added new material from what I had studied , plus there was always more motive to go for a top MBA later on) I’ve only just started to think about the CAIA. I think it’s growing in recognition and having looked at the curriculum like the hedge fund, venture capital and real estate focus - plus, possibly worthwile getting a non-university credential in the analyst side. How much recognition is it getting? Is it regarded equal say as to the CFA or better - obviously there are differences but in a broad comparison of credentials sense? Any further views would be most welcome. Thanks.
CFA is much better than CAIA credential wise.
Don’t do CAIA. It’s not that rigorous.
if u have a CFA designation, there is no need for a CAIA. If you have a top 10 MBA, there is no need for that CAIA.
Look it at this way, the CFA designation has been around for over 40 years, the CAIA maybe the last 5 years or so, so you can’t compare the 2 in terms of reputation. And in my opinion, it will take many more years for the CAIA gain wider acceptance. Even when I was looking for positions on the buyside or Hedge Funds, I have never seen a posting saying CAIA “highly desirable” or required. It is typically MBA and/or CFA. Personally, I’ve thought about pursuing it and mentioned this to my supervisor and other collegues in my industry (buyside), and there response is always, what’s the CAIA? And these are CFA chartholders. If you do decide to pursue it, at least you might stand out from other candidates by having it, and it might become a talking point during the interview process. In terms of demand, I have yet to see it.
UMMMM Columbia doesnt have part-time program??? Am i missing anything?
I think payingmydues is on the ball here. CAIA doesn’t come close to either CFA or top 10, but it’s better than nothing.
comp_sci_kid Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > UMMMM Columbia doesnt have part-time program??? Am > i missing anything? it is the columbia/lbs emba that he is referring to.
propanol Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > comp_sci_kid Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > UMMMM Columbia doesnt have part-time program??? > Am > > i missing anything? > > > it is the columbia/lbs emba that he is referring > to. Or perhaps Columbia and LBS have an exchange program (many schools allow you the opportunity to study abroad with a “partner” school for a quarter/semester), but I’ve also never heard of a Columbia part-time MBA.
if Columbia has part-time - i am there 
Thanks for your views so far. Would be interesting to hear from anyone already taken it or 1/2 way through the programme. I’m leaning to the view that regardless wether it will add marginal benefit based on my background, given my company will support it then it’s harmless to have as an extra. Yes - it’s the International Executive MBA between London Business School and Columbia business school. Time is spent between both schools - it’smore expensive than going FT to either Columbia or LBS for the MBA as I applied to both schools FT with offers before my firm kindly offered to pay full fees but with a 24 month commitment to them on completion. However, the Executive MBA at LBS also offers exchanges with Columbia and Wharton but my programme means I’m split fairly equally over the whole degree between NY and London. Highly recommend the programme!
CFA > MBA CFA > CAIA
Seems like CAIA probably isn’t too useful to get a job, (especially if you have an MBA or CFA) and will take a long time for it to catch up…if ever. At the moment, I think the best way to view CAIA is as a nice self-guided introduction/overview of some core alternative investments knowledge, instead of a credential for employment.
Thanks for the views. To those posters who compared MBA with CFA - there is no comparison as totally different. But a top MBA will always go much further with recruiters than the CFA.