If you enjoy crunching numbers and understand that numbers are what makes the world go around, then choosing a career in finance is one of the best decisions you will ever make. There are endless career opportunities found in the finance industry with many of these leading to annual salary levels well over $100,000 US ($64,205.50 GBP). Not every job in the finance industry requires you to have a degree; however, with this type of credential, you will find an increase in your employment opportunities as well as an increase in your income.
So, let’s cut to the chase.
If you think a career in Finance is your answer, then you’ve come to the right place. This blog is about CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst. It is an International Financial Certification that is valued very greatly by organizations across the globe.
Benefits of a CFA Credential can be depicted below with the list of top global companies that hire CFA charterholders:
Company | CFA charterholders |
|---|---|
The CFA Institute provides the following breakdown. Find the pie chart below showing the career prospects for CFA charterholders:
- 22% Portfolio Manager
- 15% Research Analyst
- 7% Chief Executive
- 6% Consultant
- 5% Risk Manager
- 5% Financial Advisor
- 5% Financial Analyst
- 5% Relationship Manager
- 4% Investment Banking Analyst
- 3% Strategist
- 3% Traders
- 3% Accountant/Auditor
- 3% Manager of Managers
- 11% Others
- 4% Unemployed
This chart is not going to guarantee you unlimited success and money. But what it will guarantee you is a direction. If what you are good at and what interests you falls in these categories, then CFA is the answer for you.
Yes, hard-work and perseverance in cracking the exams is of utmost importance to you. But it is not a short-cut to success. Only the work you put in is going to guarantee your professional success.
The Value of CFA in Organizations
When you are faced with the rhetorical question “Will the CFA be worth it?’’, what you do is fall back on old-fashioned techniques and do your research. You find out about surveys that compare the salaries between CFA and non-CFA professionals. There are many such surveys online and they cover a variety of countries.
Because the membership of CFA in different countries is growing, the value is also growing proportionately. CFA membership might be increasing in the United States, but it is increasing greatly in other countries that are now coming to realize the value and benefits of CFA and hiring one with a CFA Credential.
According to Bob Johnson, former deputy CEO of the CFA Institute "…that’s a sign of growing interest in the certification by employers, and the greater availability of training at colleges."
The Finish Line
It is unmistakable that awareness about CFA is mounting and that there is a noteworthy advantage in terms of professional growth and reward for those who obtain it. Nonetheless, the choice to commit to the painstaking study necessary cannot be taken nonchalantly. The CFA Charter, although complex to obtain, provides fantastic benefits but only within certain business and industries sectors. The issue of whether to commit to pursuing the certification and consequent title requires introspection and research.
If you ultimately decide to become a CFA candidate, ensure your resolution is based on a great zeal for investing and the matter to be studied. To put it simply, if your ambitions and strengths lie within the industries and careers that require the CFA designation, then it will make sense for you to commit to obtaining a CFA Credential.
If you have queries, feel free to post in the comments section below or visit our forum. All the best for your future endeavors!
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