I’m read some different opinions about the merits of the cfa. Here is my situation. - I enjoy studying investing and the markets. - I’m 2 years out of college. Did grad school for about 1 year, then quit to start a company. - I may want a career in finance, but not 100% sure. - I’m currently working on some startup business projects. - Plan is to work on some business projects for 4-5 years, and then parlay that experience for entry into a good business school (leading to a career in finance). My reasoning for this plan is that my education is in computers, and I’ve had no luck so far finding a position in finance (I want to do portfolio management or trading). Is the CFA useful only if I already have a job in the industry? I’ve also heard the job market is kind of bad right now, but will look up in 3-5 years, about the time when I hope to break into the industry. Should I just bite the bullet and try to find anything in finance? I understand that more than 1/2 the people don’t finish all 3 levels, so is it worth starting before I’m fully committed to the industry? Any advice is appreciated.
Decide if finance is what you want to do. If it is, get a job. Then you can start thinking about the CFA.
i don t think that CFA is an option for you if you are not sure that you want to be in finance. because CFA is a biatch and it takes a lot to do this shit. If i were in a situation like yours, i would just go back to grad school and complete my degree there.
What type of business did you start? Do you see yourself doing it long term or build to sell or what?
XSellSide Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What type of business did you start? Do you see > yourself doing it long term or build to sell or > what? The first one out of school was an internet membership website, which doesn’t take too much work anymore. Now I’m trying to do a tech (software) startup. I’m looking at opportunities with a 3-5 year exit strategy. About being not sure about finance, I think it is mainly because I haven’t had a job yet… Fear of the unknown I guess. Wait a few years and enter after bus school or get a job now? About going back to school, my masters was in pure math and I don’t think it would be too applicable to what I want to do.
Get a job first, if CFA is useful for that job -> do it. There are so many people doing CFA without being in finance trying to get into it => too many disappointments here. CFA is too much of a time waster to go down that route.
I’m with everyone else. To get the charter, you need four years of work experience as well as passing all three levels, and preparing for each of those levels will ruin your spring (or fall, if you’re doing L1 in December). It only makes sense if you’re sure you want to make finance your career. Personally, I think you should focus more on your entrepreneurial efforts. The best way to a high net worth is to succeed in your own business, and goodness knows there are enough people trying to get into the finance world.
Isura - You are clearly the entrepreneurial type. I don’t think you’d ever be happy working for someone else. I suggest you keep on that path and get into financial services later in the form of a family office… for your own family.
Thanks for the advice. I think I will wait until at least next year to take the exam (if I have a job by then).
Yeah, stick with doing your own thing. You can learn finance stuff on your own, you dont need CFA to do that…and then if you have some good experience with your own business, down the road you could be involved from the transaction side and then use that in a consulting role…
kevinf12 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yeah, stick with doing your own thing. You can > learn finance stuff on your own, you dont need CFA > to do that…and then if you have some good > experience with your own business, down the road > you could be involved from the transaction side > and then use that in a consulting role… To expand on this, do you mean taking a company through an IPO and consulting with Ibanking people?
Bleeck Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Get a job first, if CFA is useful for that job -> > do it. > > There are so many people doing CFA without being > in finance trying to get into it => too many > disappointments here. CFA is too much of a time > waster to go down that route. Hi everyone, I just joined the forums myself. Ive been reading them for a few months now so dont be surprised if i pretend i know you… i simply have been stalking you. But this post caught my attention because i feel its kind of the same boat i am in. But i used to be a banker in Chicago and really i just had alot of spare time so I thought i would give this a shot since a few of my clients were in the futures industry or mutual funds and they seemed to love their jobs. My only concern is that in my circle of friends, and family. No one knows what the CFA is; and its so discouraging. I usually dont respond when they say “Certified Financial what?” I took level 1 last month so im still waiting on the results. Anyways, that was just my introductory post. I didint want to make a self absorbed topic about it.