Changing jobs and worried about CFA work experience – please help!

Hi,

I would have the same type of question. I have been working for a few years (3+) as a tax advisor in a big four / law firm environment mainly for real estate, private equity and pension funds. Day-to-day work include producing tax memorandums, structuring calls etc. The final investment route often relies on tax considerations but it is not as such advice on the investment itself I guess.

Would this type of professional activity considered as qualifying CFA work experience?

Thanks

Hi  @Katyusha77 

I am not an authoritative source, just chipping in: RFP roles should qualify in my opinion. As for your exec/admin IR role, it’ll also depend on how you break down your responsibilities and how they influence, or help others influence investment decisions. If you’re producing a report, providing information, etc, that helps an investment manager, that counts.

On a personal level, I would not pass up on a good role in hopes of an uncertain ‘better work-experience-qualifying’ CFA role in the future. The cost-benefit is just not worth it for me. 🙂

Just my 2 cents!

Hi @Subiti 

Your case is not a clear cut one (not to me at least). Using the work experience questionnaire (link here) may help. Barring that, giving the local CFA society for advice might work too.

Let me know if you need any further help on this.

Hi Zee,

Thanks a lot for your answer. To be honest, I think that I will try taking level 1 in any case as I would like to improve my overall knowledge in finance and my interest on the field is very high. Depending on the outcome I will then decide to continue with the other levels (or level 1 again) or consider that its enough for my purposes…

As regards the (very useful) questionnaire, I answered yes to the following questions:

• Do you determine capital structure and funding needs through equity, debt, and alternative investments […].
• Do you conduct asset allocation analysis or apply investment knowledge to develop, analyze, and/or explain investment policy statements or strategies designed to achieve investor goals as part of the overall investment process?
• Are you engaged in investment/financial advising or planning for corporations, institutions, or individuals (other than yourself or your family)?
• Do you spend a majority of your time overseeing legal/regulatory compliance matters, performing due diligence, and/or ensuring that investment firms adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards of practice?

It seems that my work experience is very likely to qualify as relevant.