CFA, MBA Finance, MS Finance contrasted

[Tman]

Looking for opinions...

What worth is a CFA for a person whose job is very finance related, but
has precious little to do with investements per-se?

I passed CFA Level 1 last summer, and am thinking about continuing with
the other three exams. Note that my background is in IT, and I just very
recently started working in the finance field, but that is where I want to
grow my career... My natural skills are very much in the quant and
analysis realm, and I am doing some basic M&A analysis and also brand
management for a set of products that are very financially complex. Sorry,
I hesitate to say more. . Anyways, I would characterize it as MBA-type
work with a heavy emphasis on quant finance analysis. Which is exactly
where I would like to grow with my career.

Now, I have the option to go for my MBA Finance or MS Finance subsidized
by the employer. Or I could finish my CFA. But I can't do both at once
because of time constraints.

My gut feel is to go with the CFA. I felt that when studying for the
Level I exam, I learned a lot more a lot faster than I ever did in
graduate school (I have a MS Comp Sci too). But is the CFA too tangential
to what I really want to do? I need some credential in addition to the
learning...

Thx!!
Tman.

 

[Brent D. Gardner, ChFC]

Looking for opinions...

What worth is a CFA for a person whose job is very finance related, but
has precious little to do with investements per-se?

I passed CFA Level 1 last summer, and am thinking about continuing with
the other three exams. Note that my background is in IT, and I just very
recently started working in the finance field, but that is where I want to
grow my career... My natural skills are very much in the quant and
analysis realm, and I am doing some basic M&A analysis and also brand
management for a set of products that are very financially complex. Sorry,
I hesitate to say more. . Anyways, I would characterize it as MBA-type
work with a heavy emphasis on quant finance analysis. Which is exactly
where I would like to grow with my career.

Now, I have the option to go for my MBA Finance or MS Finance subsidized
by the employer. Or I could finish my CFA. But I can't do both at once
because of time constraints.

My gut feel is to go with the CFA. I felt that when studying for the
Level I exam, I learned a lot more a lot faster than I ever did in
graduate school (I have a MS Comp Sci too). But is the CFA too tangential
to what I really want to do? I need some credential in addition to the
learning...

Thx!!
Tman.

Most CFA's that I know of are fund managers and investment advisors for
investment companies (mutual funds), as well as investment advisors for
other instututional investors (separate account managers, pension managers).
The next largest group probably work as internal investment managers for
insurance companies and banks.

Brent D. Gardner, ChFC
Chartered Financial Consultant
http://members.cox.net/brentdgardner1378/

"Be ever questioning. Ignorance is not bliss. It is oblivion. You don't go
to heaven if you die dumb. Become better informed. Learn from other's
mistakes. You could not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Hyman
George Rickover (1900-86), Admiral, US Navy, advocated development of
nuclear subs & ships

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant
(ChFC), designations owned and exclusively offered by The American College,
signify the highest standards of academic study and professional excellence
in the financial services industry.

 

[Greg]

Looking for opinions...

What worth is a CFA for a person whose job is very finance related, but
has precious little to do with investements per-se?

You'll be better off asking this question on this forum:

http://www.analystforum.com/phorums/list.php?f=1

Good luck,

greg