CFA or CAIA

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swift135

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hI,

i have been working the operations side of the hedge fund industry, with the aim to move to the front office. I am considering taking a futher qualification CFA or CAIA, which one do you recommend?

thx
 
CFA is the safer bet, it is still debateable whether CAIA will be a meaningful designation. CAIA material seems way more interesting though, but it's also very expensive to the point where one may question if it's more about money than education.
 
Hi,

Thanks for your replies. My manager could not recommend either of both exams since he is not very familiar with them.

Killamanjaro, did you take the CAIA exams?

thx
 
CFA. According to the CAIA website, the level I exam will no longer use Bodie Kane. They are assuming you already have that background. Agreed that it is more interesting though.
 
i just downloaded the CAIA level 1 sample questions off the official CAIA website. it looks A LOT like the CFA. dare i say even easier?

i am still debateing to get the CAIA in addition to my CFA.
 
No I didn't take the CAIA. This is the first time I'm hearing about it. I have a couple of those books because those are texts used in my undergrad program. Some universities tailor their programs based on a particular designation.
 
I was looking at the practice test for CAIA and it appears that anyone who has passed the Level I or II or CFA should be able to go in there and easily pass the CAIA exam. What is the point of that designation?
 
Its one of those "alternative" investments. Everyone's going certificate crazy so why not capitalize on it -- charging just as much as or more than the designations that count.
 
I dont know if this "legitimizes" the CAIA exam, but Schweser is jumping on board and offering study notes now for the CAIA exams.

I work for a CDO Investment Manager, and the CAIA and CFA designations are looked on about the same.
 
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