First, the CFA is not the only way! While the CFA will help to broaden your knowledge in finance/investments, i have found from people’s experience that it is generally more useful to improve your position while in the industry than it is as a door opener. Additionally, I found from the little experience I’ve had that most people from your background will likely be more attractive in core quants/trading than traditional portfolio management or equity research.
But all that is just from my experience and what i think. Studying for the CFA is more of a time quest than it is a daunting brain work. In my experience studying for the first level, most subject areas are generally simple concepts that anyone from outside the industry could grasp easily.
The challenge is in the fact that the overall curriculum is quite enormous, and when you factor in the fact that every single learning outcome statement is a potential question for the exam, then you may understand why the fail rates are generally a bit high year on year.
So how best to tackle it? Start reading early. If you are planning to sit the exam in June, you should have started reading yesterday!…make sure you study using the learning outcome statements. I found that it is easier to lose track of important objectives of each topics with the barrage of meterials you are presented with. learning with the LOS makes you stay focus.
…plus you should also be ready to do away with socials and hang outs with best buddies.