CFA Membership Lapse to Avoid Fees

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Has anyone decided to let their membership lapse in order to avoid paying the annual fees?
For example, if you are in a job that doesn’t require it.
Seems like CFA is mainly for getting a new job, but doesn’t help in many cases when you have a job already.
 
One of the important parts for completing the CFA program is to have the letters on my card. I know that might sound silly, but as a young guy I need to boost my reputation as much as possible. People may look at someone who is young and think, “I can’t trust this guy to manage my portfolio.” When you have a designation as prestigious as CFA behind your name, there is a baseline level of trust and expertise that is built in. I think it is very important when you have a job already. It may be different on the institutional side, but on the retail side working with individual investors, it really does help.
 
You’ve met a retail investor that is familiar with the charter? What does this person look like? I always thought it was a myth. Greenie will be shocked as well I’m sure.
 
What does CFA stand for? Certified…Financial Advisor? Sounds like a ripoff of the CFP to me. I’ve never heard Suze Orman recommend you to find a CFA.
 
In investment banking nobody puts MBA on their business cards and I think having CFA on it would be gauche.
 
Just to state the obvious: Investment banking isn’t asset management.
Most people I see with the charter use it on their email signatures and their business cards. I agree it is gauche to use MBA, but then it’s an academic qualification not a professional certification.
Most of the people I know who don’t use CFA are senior (10years+) so it doesn’t matter so much or they got the charter at a time when it wasn’t seen as the beast it is now.
I guess a lot of it depends on whether your employer pays you dure or not. They should if you’re in a CFA relevant role, if you’re not and they don’t maybe it’s not so important.
 
@OP: I’m facing a similar dilemma. My firm will not pay my dues, even though the designation is very much relevant to my work. I work in a Middle Office role, designing customised asset allocations for clients, but not a client facing role. Almost everyone in the Front Office is a Charterholder. So it seems I have no choice but to renew the CFAI dues. Won’t be renewing with the local society, however..
 
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