Utility of CFA and how it will help build my profile

[tickersu]

@cfapasss

@tickersu

@cfapasss

infinitybenzo

PhD in finance has never been rocket science. Yes, it requires hard work but it is simply a research in a topic you choose. If your friend is complicating it to be rocket science then I would be glad to read his paper later on to see what he is inventing in finance!

By the way, he might achieve his rocket science project, yet he might do it without reading a single article about fixed income. Yet, he is a Doctor in Finance!!! but trust me, a finance undergraduate would not be interested in his project as much as he will be interested in understanding fixed income materials, which are highly mastered by CFA charterholder.

At best, you’re delusional. It’s totally irrelevant what an undergraduate student would be interested in when you’re determining who is more respected. You should present a clear and rational train of thought when trying to convince people you’re correct.

Respectfully, it seems as though you’re using your pursuit of the charter to validate your intelligence, which probably isn’t the right reason to undertake the program. This isn’t an intelligence test…

Whether it is relevent or not, at least I lived such an experience. I’m glad you enjoyed the experience. However, you’ve still failed to connect it to your points that the CFA charter is more rigorous than a Ph.D. in Finance, and that the charter is more prestigious than a Ph.D. in Finance. I think prestige would be relative to the line of work, but that’s just me. By the way, I can also tell you many instances where undergraduate students thought the CFA curriculum was extremely boring (so, not much different than the Ph.D. candidate’s research)-- they were only doing it because they thought it would land something in their laps.

However, you stepped in into the thread just to give opinion about what I’m writing with no facts, which is completely non-adding value. Well, here’s my experience with something close to the topic. I obtained an MS in Finance from a “hacksaw” school. My personal experience has been that the MS was more difficult than the CFA curriculum (so far). Additionally, I know many professors who have both the charter and a Ph.D. in Finance. None of them has said the charter was more difficult to obtain than the Ph.D.-- but maybe that’s not convincing enough for you. There’s another aspect of these credentials to consider; the selectivity of Ph.D. programs increases the rigor of a Ph.D. before you even start the program. If you’re not strongly competitive, you can’t even step up to the plate. With the CFA program, you need an undergraduate degree and a couple thousand dollars. You can also try as many times as you’d like for as long as you’d like. This contrasts many US graduate programs that won’t accept a course as completed if you’ve obtained less than a “B-” grade (which is about 80-85%). Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bashing the CFA program-- I think it has something great to offer in terms of knowledge and a systematic process. I’m in it because it interests me. Lastly, the CFA program is typically done part-time over 4 or so years for many people; a Ph.D. program is commonly full-time over the course of roughly 4 years. My aim is only to provide “evidence” for you, since you thought I had no basis for anything I’ve said.

If you do not have any experience about the issue, you better get a life. So, you have experience obtaining a Ph.D. (or even an MS)? It seems fair to ask, since you had the impression that I know absolutely nothing about both programs.

Overall, I think each has it’s own merits and uses. I think as long as you’re enjoying what you’re studying/practicing, who cares if there is something “more” difficult or respected out there (unless you’re looking for something different).

[cfapasss]

Tickersu

I am done with my MBA five years back from a prestigious university. I know many people doing PhD and others doing CFA charter. Some of them started pursuing CFA charter and then shifted to PhD-Finance after facing difficulty in passing CFA exams (and now they are pursuing theor PhD program smoothly with no delays). I also know post graduate master students who attended a derivatives course with a Ph.D graduate and a CFA and found a huge gap between both favoring the CFA (not necessarily a reflection of population but at least this is an experience). These are some of my experiences about the subject.

I am not saying that one is more prestigious than another as there are many factors affect this. However, I am for one, supporting the fact that pursuing a CFA is harder than a PhD (at least in most cases).

In addition, the PhD programs vary from easy to difficult. You can get your PhD in three years from a moderate university and at the end of the day you are called a Doctor. However, there is one and only one provider for CFA charter.

[infinitybenzo]

What bias or biases does the above investor exhibit? (5 minutes)