If you're thinking about a job in finance, you're probably pondering the alphabet soup of financial certificates. If you want a low-cost certification that will provide you global recognition and a thorough understanding of finance, consider the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) title.
For good reason, studying for exams may be a tough and hard process. The CFA charter is one of the greatest honors in the investment management profession. If you've thought about furthering your career by adding those three letters to your business card, here are five compelling reasons to enroll in the CFA Program and take the first step toward becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst.
5 Benefits of Earning the CFA Charter
Reason 1: Better Job Prospects
While nothing on your resume guarantees you a job (even the CFA charter), the charter will boost your finance credentials. People in the industry know the time and discipline it requires to become a CFA charterholder. Earning the charter demonstrates your work ethic, analytical abilities, and ethical grounding to employers.
The CFA charter is not the golden ticket to landing your dream job; however, it will give you deep knowledge in the areas of investment analysis, asset management, and ethics. It will also speak volumes to your credentials and work performance. Firms that focus on the “buy side” (investing institutions like mutual funds, pension funds, and insurance firms that buy large portions of securities for money-management purposes) prefer CFA charterholders to MBAs. And that’s powerful motivation to ask how to become a CFA.
According to CFA Institute, the top ten employers of Chartered Financial Analysts are:
- JP Morgan Chase
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- HSBC
- Bank of America
- Merrill Lynch
- UBS
- Ernst & Young
- RBC
- Citigroup
- Morgan Stanley
- Wells Fargo
Reason 2: The CFA Charter is Affordable
While an MBA can cost over $100,000, the CFA charter only costs between $3,050 and $12,000, depending on when you register, what study materials you buy, and how many exams you end up taking. For a professional qualification, that is quite a bargain. You also don’t have to quit your job, unlike in some full-time MBA programs. While hectic, it is manageable to study for the CFA exam while you work.
Reason 3: Career Advancement Opportunities
Completing the CFA Program allows you to become a CFA Institute member, which is a global network of over 135,000 investment professionals. That’s a pretty impressive club to join for the networking opportunities alone. The charter prepares you well for a variety of investment-related jobs, such as portfolio manager, risk manager, and research analyst. Seven percent of CFA charterholders even go on to be chief-level executives.
Reason 4: The CFA Charter is Globally Recognized
As we said, CFA Institute has a global network of over 135,000 investment professionals. The CFA charter is recognized by regulators, universities, and certification programs in at least 30 countries and territories. You’ll gain unmatched career resources and relationships, as well as access to jobs around the world that require a CFA charter or candidacy.
Reason 5: Real-World Expertise
A CFA charter is considered niche in the larger business world compared to the MBA, which addresses a broad array of topics with less depth. Getting your CFA charter allows you to gain analytical skills and expertise in quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting, investment analysis, and portfolio management. This set of skills and knowledge you will develop as you become a CFA charterholder will serve you well throughout your career.
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