I periodically recycle old posts on my blog to ensure that new clients can benefit from valuable content they may have missed and this post is one such example.
When someone asks me if getting the CFA charter is worth it, my answer is always, “Well, it depends, what do you want out of it?” If you are considering the CFA or already knee-deep in it, you better have a clear end goal in mind. Is it a shiny badge on LinkedIn you are after? Or do you actually enjoy the thought of spending hundreds of hours buried in formulas and case studies?
As for me, beyond having a finance degree, I do not have any fancy certifications to impress anyone with alphabet soup after my name. I was too busy for that, juggling research and trading like a circus act. Sure, having the “CFA” or “MBA” stamped on your profile makes for a great conversation starter at cocktail parties, but to me, what really matters is can you navigate the chaotic world of markets, survive the rollercoaster of volatility, and most importantly actually succeed in the real world?
I work with some of the top fund managers, many of whom honed their craft on the trading floor, not in ivy-covered classrooms. Some of the sharpest minds I know never bothered with fancy titles or tier-one degrees. They let their performance speak louder than any certificate hanging on a wall.
Hold that fire! Now, do not get me wrong. I have worked alongside plenty of CFA and MBA holders too, and many of them are great at what they do. However, having a few extra letters after your name is not the golden ticket to success.
In the real world of investing, it is not about how impressive your credentials look on paper, it is about having the guts, the smarts, and the experience to survive and thrive. At the end of the day, no credential will save you from a bad trade, but the right experience might.
So, before you commit to the CFA, ask yourself some questions. Are you chasing knowledge, or are you chasing letters? In our show business, it is the skills that really keep the show going.
Who knows? Maybe once I retire, I will finally take the CFA, just so I can impress my neighbors at the next barbecue. After all, it is never too late for a little showing off, right?