"Will CFA become the new MBA?" (The Financial Times)

[S2000magician]

@swatbsba

Any thoughts on how impactful having a CFA Charter would be on a top-15 MBA application?

Any thoughts on whether impactful is a real word?

[bchad]

I believe “impactful” is a legitimate word, but only the linguistically incompetent use it.

[Wendy]

@lxwarr30

I hope to be one of these exceptions soon. I’m surprised that more people with the CFA or progression don’t view MBA as a route to go if they’re not content… I think it’s a good investment if you get into somewhere good.

The cost of a good full-time MBA is about $100k in tuition plus 2 years of lost salary.

For the average person, this adds up to about a quarter-million dollars.

New MBA grads start at a salary of about $100k.

If you’re currently working in the military or Peace Corps etc, the investment in an MBA is totally worthwhile.

If you’re already earning $75k+, and already working in your desired industry, a full-time MBA is hard to justify. Most CFAs will fall into this camp.

[jayman_137]

@Wendy

@lxwarr30

I hope to be one of these exceptions soon. I’m surprised that more people with the CFA or progression don’t view MBA as a route to go if they’re not content… I think it’s a good investment if you get into somewhere good.

The cost of a good full-time MBA is about $100k in tuition plus 2 years of lost salary.

For the average person, this adds up to about a quarter-million dollars.

New MBA grads start at a salary of about $100k.

If you’re currently working in the military or Peace Corps etc, the investment in an MBA is totally worthwhile.

If you’re already earning $75k+, and already working in your desired industry, a full-time MBA is hard to justify. Most CFAs will fall into this camp.

And this is why top EMBA programs are so stinking expensive…

[Wendy]

My objection to EMBA programs is that they lack the single most-valuable component of an MBA education, namely the recruiting opportunities.

An EMBA costs less overall – but it’s also worth much less.

[ksc1940]

@Wendy

My objection to EMBA programs is that they lack the single most-valuable component of an MBA education, namely the recruiting opportunities.

An EMBA costs less overall – but it’s also worth much less.

Depends on the Executive MBA program in question. Some allow access to on-campus recruiting for full-time jobs; others don’t.

[swatbsba]

@bchad

I believe “impactful” is a legitimate word, but only the linguistically incompetent use it.

Wow. That’s pretty harsh. Haven’t won any Pulitzer Prizes for my writing, but I’m assuming that you have. Kudos, friend.

[Wendy]

@bchad

I believe “impactful” is a legitimate word, but only the linguistically incompetent use it.

“It’s not that the Times devalues science…It’s just a lot of what we think is good, impactful journalism gets produced in the course of a year here,” said Pulitzer Prize finalist Dennis Overbye of The New York Times.

[MrSmart]

CFA has the edge on MBA for Asset Managment or Equity Research jobs.

Other than that, even the soft skills you acquire in a top MBA program are gold on itself.

[S2000magician]

@Wendy

@bchad

I believe “impactful” is a legitimate word, but only the linguistically incompetent use it.

“It’s not that the Times devalues science…It’s just a lot of what we think is good, impactful journalism gets produced in the course of a year here,” said Pulitzer Prize finalist Dennis Overbye of The New York Times.

Solid, direct evidence in favor of bchad’s thesis.

Thanks, Wendy.

[swatbsba]

Don’t you have missles to design or something?

[ksc1940]

@MrSmart

CFA has the edge on MBA for Asset Managment or Equity Research jobs.

Other than that, even the soft skills you acquire in a top MBA program are gold on itself.

In terms of pure knowledge, yes, the CFA curriculum will have more relevant material for AM and equity research than most MBA courses. But when it comes to gaining access to firms and making a career transition, a top MBA program beats the CFA every time. A CFA charterholder working in middle office somewhere is not going to have access to the likes of PIMCO, Fidelity, State Street, Wellington, Blackrock, Capital Group, etc. Students at top b-schools do.

[S2000magician]

@swatbsba

Don’t you have missles to design or something?

Warheads.

Other people designed the delivery systems (rockets, missiles, cannon projectiles, gimbals, whatever).

[S2000magician]

@ksc1940

@MrSmart

CFA has the edge on MBA for Asset Managment or Equity Research jobs.

Other than that, even the soft skills you acquire in a top MBA program are gold on itself.

In terms of pure knowledge, yes, the CFA curriculum will have more relevant material for AM and equity research than most MBA courses. But when it comes to gaining access to firms and making a career transition, a top MBA program beats the CFA every time. A CFA charterholder working in middle office somewhere is not going to have access to the likes of _ PIMCO _, Fidelity, State Street, Wellington, Blackrock, Capital Group, etc. Students at top b-schools do.

I didn’t have a degree from a top business school, nor a CFA charter, when I got hired as a mortgage securities analyst at PIMCO; I got my CFA charter whilst working there.

Admittedly, that was in 1995; things may have changed since then.