Hi - I am currently working at a bank in one of the Planning and Analysis teams. My current role is not one of the roles that makes one eligible for the CFA charter. I am currently 28. Does it make sense for me to pursue the CFA? Should I first look to first get a relevant job before I start pursuing the CFA. Help wanted!!!

I am interested in hearing your advice as well. I am considering pursuing a CFA as part of a move into finance (possibly asset management). I graduated cum laude from Harvard in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in Government, and I have been working in operations/services for technology companies for about two years. I've been promoted up three levels already, but I don't have any finance background. I am in Boston now, but I may be moving to Los Angeles within the next 1-3 years. I am interested to hear your thoughts on the best way for me to break into finance. I appreciate your time. Thank you.

I understand that I can study it. Yes I want to switch out of Planning and analysis and want to move into a corporate finance role. However finding that role right now would be difficult. Would pursuing a CFA say completing Level 1 help in this search? Completing level 3 without relevant experience wouldn't make sense, right?

A Career Discussions Discussion About Is The CFA For Me?

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This topic has 4 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated Jan-1810:02 pm by perspective.

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- spatnik
  Participant
  29 Oct 2017 at 5:39 pm
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  Hi – I am currently working at a bank in one of the Planning and Analysis teams. My current role is not one of the roles that makes one eligible for the CFA charter. I am currently 28. Does it make sense for me to pursue the CFA? Should I first look to first get a relevant job before I start pursuing the CFA. Help wanted!!!
- perspective
  Participant
  - Undecided
  24 Jan 2018 at 10:02 pm
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  I am interested in hearing your advice as well. I am considering pursuing a CFA as part of a move into finance (possibly asset management). I graduated cum laude from Harvard in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Government, and I have been working in operations/services for technology companies for about two years. I’ve been promoted up three levels already, but I don’t have any finance background. I am in Boston now, but I may be moving to Los Angeles within the next 1-3 years. I am interested to hear your thoughts on the best way for me to break into finance. I appreciate your time. Thank you.
- spatnik
  Participant
  29 Oct 2017 at 8:01 pm
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  3
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  I understand that I can study it. Yes I want to switch out of Planning and analysis and want to move into a corporate finance role. However finding that role right now would be difficult. Would pursuing a CFA say completing Level 1 help in this search? Completing level 3 without relevant experience wouldn’t make sense, right?
- Sophie Macon
  Keymaster
  29 Oct 2017 at 7:23 pm
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  @spatnik – there is no ‘particular role’ that makes one eligible for the CFA charter really! So you most certainly are qualified to study for it.
  
  Whether it makes sense for you to pursue the CFA qualification depends on your career goals really! To generalise, CFA is a great addition for asset management, research, corporate finance roles. Are you planning to switch out of Planning and Analysis?
- ensenmason
  Participant
  - CFA Level 2
  29 Oct 2017 at 9:57 pm
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  There are so many things to consider. What is your learning style like? Classroom or self-study better? The CFA is all self study and requires amazing dedication. If classroom is better for you, perhaps an MBA with a finance emphasis might be a better thing to pursue. The CFA takes an average of 4 years to complete, and 2 years of experience is required, so you can easily sit for level I, see if it’s for you and still have plenty of time to get the relevant experience.
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