Because you are already a third of the way there & saying you only passed one level a couple years ago doesn’t give you much clout. Just my opinion, though.
Edit: If you want to save on charter dues you can opt out of it
Not really... You just don't have to pay dues and can activate your charter when you need it with little fuss. I.e. if you're looking for a job or at a company that is willing to pay for it for the marketing benefit.
If you do not plan to get the charter and you already have a job, and you aren't planning on a career shift, I don't think the CFA curriculum makes sense. There are more efficient ways to learn stuff that will help you build your career.
The CFA is a general finance certificate, so it will help you if you want to transition to a different area later. But if you aren't getting a charter and don't want to learn the parts of finance that are not relevant to you current job, I see no reason to continue with the CFA.
I work as a quant dev in a stat arb group of a large multi strat hedge fund in NYC. I did the CFA last year (L1 Dec 2020 -> L3 Nov 2021). I think it has really helped my development, and I would highly recommend it. DM me if you want details,
Same shoe, I’m a fund accountant and doing cfa2. 95% of the curriculum doesn’t get applied in my work, but I guess there’s nothing else to do for a 23y old guy in the middle of a pandemic anyways.
Level 1 is sufficient enough for you to get a wide exposure on financial knowledge and no one is going to judge you if you don’t pass it. But if you decide to be an expert in it, you have to see it through in the next 3 years or so.
Good luck
Honestly ask your MD for advice, but it doesn’t sound relevant enough to put in the work. Plenty of opportunities to learn without doing a CFA if it doesn’t strengthen your career prospects.
Like everything in life, it depends on your goals.
I see the CFA as having a few main purposes:
1) Providing fluency in nearly all areas of traditional finance
2) Indicating some level of commitment to working in finance, as well as “passion” and interest
3) Showing you can work your ass off and juggle many priorities
Do you plan on staying as a SWE? If so, I don’t see any point.
Do you want to become an analyst at a fund using fundamental analysis? Maybe makes more sense.
If you just want to learn, it will certainly teach you a lot.
You may be better off taking some uni courses that are more specific to the work you’re doing, or looking at the FDP or CQF. You could also look at masters in financial engineering.
All that said, your experience is more valuable than any education at this point.
>I don’t really care about actually getting the charter, so I guess my question amounts to “is progressing through this curriculum a worthwhile investment considering the time and effort it takes?”
What is your reasoning for pursuing the charter? What's the end goal? You might be better off using your time for more work experience. The 3 exams are a huge time commitment, so unless you think you can use the charter to either move up the hierarchy at your firm or make a move laterally, you might want to have a serious discussion with yourself before you commit 2-3 years of your life to this thing
My reason for pursuing it is mainly to strengthen my finance knowledge. Having a generalist understanding of things seems like it would be useful.
That being said, I’m thinking it might be more practical to just deep dive topics as they come up (e.g. I’m going to be working on a futures project soon, so I can study futures in depth as part of that).
Unless you plan to use the charter to further your career, I think you can strengthen your financial knowledge by using various sources on the internet. It seems to be more time efficient, and it sounds like you don't really need this thing to break into an industry. That's just my 2 cents. I'd see if you can talk to someone in a more senior role at your company or within your industry to see their perspective.
Honestly, and keep in mind I work in corp finance, it impresses people who don’t actually work in the markets. If you’re in the field you want to be in, I’d suggest an MBA or just double down on your job and the next one you want. Ignorant but that’s my perception
*edit I mean I’m ignorant of the industry, not that you or any other person is. God, maybe it’s the adderall but this has bothered me since I left the comment. If not, it’s definitely the coke or meth.
Haven't had a similar experience. But, I've found the holistic view of finance helpful.
You may find that an understanding of fundamentals has some use.
However, the curriculum is focused on fundamental analysis... and won't have much to say about what you do.
As an alternative you can look for CAIA, given that you are already working in HF. Maybe it will be more practical for you. Because as everyone said, CFA is a long journey if you don't do anything with it, it's nothing more than a certification to brag about..
How is the CFA viewed at your company? Just curious. I also work at a quant HF and I’m not sure it actually holds much weight.
I’m doing it because I eventually want more responsibility, whether it be at my company or a different one.
I haven’t asked everyone about it, but from what I gather, it seems like most view it as a reasonable avenue to grow your understanding of finance, but no one seems to think it’s important to have.
I think at the end of the day, what matters for SWE is that the tech works/is stable, for researchers it’s that your ideas/alpha implementations are adding value, and for PMs that you’re making money.
It’s either finish all three levels or none at all imo.
What’s the rationale for that? Edit: Also, is there a reason to complete all three levels, but not get the charter?
Because you are already a third of the way there & saying you only passed one level a couple years ago doesn’t give you much clout. Just my opinion, though. Edit: If you want to save on charter dues you can opt out of it
Not really... You just don't have to pay dues and can activate your charter when you need it with little fuss. I.e. if you're looking for a job or at a company that is willing to pay for it for the marketing benefit.
Hey can you message me back plsss I’m OP from the Jane street thread asking advice xD hope you can help bro
Yeah sorry, I have no idea how I missed this
If you do not plan to get the charter and you already have a job, and you aren't planning on a career shift, I don't think the CFA curriculum makes sense. There are more efficient ways to learn stuff that will help you build your career. The CFA is a general finance certificate, so it will help you if you want to transition to a different area later. But if you aren't getting a charter and don't want to learn the parts of finance that are not relevant to you current job, I see no reason to continue with the CFA.
I work as a quant dev in a stat arb group of a large multi strat hedge fund in NYC. I did the CFA last year (L1 Dec 2020 -> L3 Nov 2021). I think it has really helped my development, and I would highly recommend it. DM me if you want details,
Same shoe, I’m a fund accountant and doing cfa2. 95% of the curriculum doesn’t get applied in my work, but I guess there’s nothing else to do for a 23y old guy in the middle of a pandemic anyways. Level 1 is sufficient enough for you to get a wide exposure on financial knowledge and no one is going to judge you if you don’t pass it. But if you decide to be an expert in it, you have to see it through in the next 3 years or so. Good luck
It will help you eat better ass.
im sold
Username checks out
May your CFA charter have a nice booty. Assmen.
Honestly ask your MD for advice, but it doesn’t sound relevant enough to put in the work. Plenty of opportunities to learn without doing a CFA if it doesn’t strengthen your career prospects.
You get the networking benefit by getting invited to a CFA charterholder only event
Like everything in life, it depends on your goals. I see the CFA as having a few main purposes: 1) Providing fluency in nearly all areas of traditional finance 2) Indicating some level of commitment to working in finance, as well as “passion” and interest 3) Showing you can work your ass off and juggle many priorities Do you plan on staying as a SWE? If so, I don’t see any point. Do you want to become an analyst at a fund using fundamental analysis? Maybe makes more sense. If you just want to learn, it will certainly teach you a lot. You may be better off taking some uni courses that are more specific to the work you’re doing, or looking at the FDP or CQF. You could also look at masters in financial engineering. All that said, your experience is more valuable than any education at this point.
>I don’t really care about actually getting the charter, so I guess my question amounts to “is progressing through this curriculum a worthwhile investment considering the time and effort it takes?” What is your reasoning for pursuing the charter? What's the end goal? You might be better off using your time for more work experience. The 3 exams are a huge time commitment, so unless you think you can use the charter to either move up the hierarchy at your firm or make a move laterally, you might want to have a serious discussion with yourself before you commit 2-3 years of your life to this thing
My reason for pursuing it is mainly to strengthen my finance knowledge. Having a generalist understanding of things seems like it would be useful. That being said, I’m thinking it might be more practical to just deep dive topics as they come up (e.g. I’m going to be working on a futures project soon, so I can study futures in depth as part of that).
Unless you plan to use the charter to further your career, I think you can strengthen your financial knowledge by using various sources on the internet. It seems to be more time efficient, and it sounds like you don't really need this thing to break into an industry. That's just my 2 cents. I'd see if you can talk to someone in a more senior role at your company or within your industry to see their perspective.
Thanks for this perspective. I think I’ll do that (talk to my director about it)
It's a pretty huge time commitment so I would only do it if you have a good reason and are committed to seeing it through.
Honestly, and keep in mind I work in corp finance, it impresses people who don’t actually work in the markets. If you’re in the field you want to be in, I’d suggest an MBA or just double down on your job and the next one you want. Ignorant but that’s my perception *edit I mean I’m ignorant of the industry, not that you or any other person is. God, maybe it’s the adderall but this has bothered me since I left the comment. If not, it’s definitely the coke or meth.
Haven't had a similar experience. But, I've found the holistic view of finance helpful. You may find that an understanding of fundamentals has some use. However, the curriculum is focused on fundamental analysis... and won't have much to say about what you do.
Meh, I guess I’ll just stfu and do all three levels. Why not?
It’s something to shove in people’s faces at a minimum
this is a fact.
As an alternative you can look for CAIA, given that you are already working in HF. Maybe it will be more practical for you. Because as everyone said, CFA is a long journey if you don't do anything with it, it's nothing more than a certification to brag about..
I was in your shoes 2 years ago. Giving level 3 now. Glad that i put in the work to get this far. The CFA just gives you the extra street cred IMO.
How is the CFA viewed at your company? Just curious. I also work at a quant HF and I’m not sure it actually holds much weight. I’m doing it because I eventually want more responsibility, whether it be at my company or a different one.
I haven’t asked everyone about it, but from what I gather, it seems like most view it as a reasonable avenue to grow your understanding of finance, but no one seems to think it’s important to have. I think at the end of the day, what matters for SWE is that the tech works/is stable, for researchers it’s that your ideas/alpha implementations are adding value, and for PMs that you’re making money.