Haters will hate! My view about CFA...

andynyc - very interesting comment about the personality/Level 4 exam, mate.
 
sooraj wrote:
andynyc - very interesting comment about the personality/Level 4 exam, mate.
How many times would you be allowed to fail the personality test though?
 
Alladin wrote:
sooraj wrote:
andynyc - very interesting comment about the personality/Level 4 exam, mate.
How many times would you be allowed to fail the personality test though?
Only once if you are French. Other folks get 2-3 tries in case they were having a bad day.
 
Despite OP’s handicap of being French, I agree almost universally with everything he says. In fact, I have probably said that stuff before on AF. Of course, there are some details that must be taken into account.
1) Some people make half-assed attempts at CFA exams, so it’s not always wasting a lot of effort. For instance, if I take 3 tries to pass L1 but did not study the first two times, that’s not really wasting a lot of time. If, however, you study seriously and fail multiple times, you are probably better off doing something else with your limited life.
2) Yes, many people are trying to get into “finance” without knowing much about the field. However - one piece of information is readily available: market compensation rates. I believe many people will be willing to risk a horrible lifestyle once they see those numbers. Of course, passing some CFA exams doesn’t do much to get you into one of the most guarded professions in the world. The point I am trying to make is about leaping into a profession that you don’t know much about.
 
Hypothetically,say you failed a level of CFA multiple times after serious study…what would you do with your ‘limited life’? Would you suddenly be disinterested in finance, quit your finance job that does not seem to hinge on your cfa level / charter status but more on performance (as is the case for some ppl refered to by OP)…If you had a degree in finance from a good university, but fail at job interviews would you still try to pass the cfa exams in the hopes of future opportunites (while being fully cognizant ofthe fact that CFA is not too useful as a break in tool), or would you try to forget the fact that you laboured for a degree in finance and work in starbucks with a sour feeling of jealousy and shame in you heart?
 
Micholien,
I’m taking Level II for the 4th time in 2013. And if I fail I’ll take it a 5th, and then a 6th, and then a 7th. I’m sure you’d be singing quite a different tune had you yourself failed.
xoxo
MissCleo
 
Alladin wrote:
Hypothetically,say you failed a level of CFA multiple times after serious study…what would you do with your ‘limited life’? Would you suddenly be disinterested in finance, quit your finance job that does not seem to hinge on your cfa level / charter status but more on performance (as is the case for some ppl refered to by OP)…If you had a degree in finance from a good university, but fail at job interviews would you still try to pass the cfa exams in the hopes of future opportunites (while being fully cognizant ofthe fact that CFA is not too useful as a break in tool), or would you try to forget the fact that you laboured for a degree in finance and work in starbucks with a sour feeling of jealousy and shame in you heart?
I would just not do the CFA program. You don’t need the CFA to work in finance. Giving up on CFA is not the same as giving up in a finance career. If I failed to get a job in finance, I would do something else. Starbucks and finance are not the only two jobs in the world, even for people who studied finance-related things in university. I would not pursue the CFA while failing multiple times to chase a pipe dream.
 
ohai wrote:
Alladin wrote:
Hypothetically,say you failed a level of CFA multiple times after serious study…what would you do with your ‘limited life’? Would you suddenly be disinterested in finance, quit your finance job that does not seem to hinge on your cfa level / charter status but more on performance (as is the case for some ppl refered to by OP)…If you had a degree in finance from a good university, but fail at job interviews would you still try to pass the cfa exams in the hopes of future opportunites (while being fully cognizant ofthe fact that CFA is not too useful as a break in tool), or would you try to forget the fact that you laboured for a degree in finance and work in starbucks with a sour feeling of jealousy and shame in you heart?
I would just not do the CFA program. You don’t need the CFA to work in finance. Giving up on CFA is not the same as giving up in a finance career. If I failed to get a job in finance, I would do something else. Starbucks and finance are not the only two jobs in the world, even for people who studied finance-related things in university. I would not pursue the CFA while failing multiple times to chase a pipe dream.
haha i was using starbucks for dramatic effect…not implying it was the only thing other than finance. I agree with you though.
 
Jehanzaib Zafar wrote:
some very good arguments are being made here from both sides and there is not much i can add to it. Just throwing a question to Micholien. My brother cleared level all three levels the first time of asking after putting in no less than 1000 hours of studying in each level (and these are very conservative figures) and he barely scraped through each level. I know a friend of his who had identical scores in all the subjects but somehow failed (band 10) after putting up less than 100 hours of studying in level 3 last year. Add the fact that my brother has never been employed by a financial institution unlike his friend who has 5 years of handson experience. who would you rather have to be your money manager? My brother or his friend?
Like I said i believe that CFA is just a complement to something much more important, investment experience. I doont know them so I cant tell. I would put my money with the one who after i talk to him many times seems to me to be the most sound and also if possible has a track record. I know of great investors who dont have a CFA and they will always exist. Also great investors goes beyond just working in the finance industry; for example great CEOs of companies you would not consider financial who have been there forever and shown to be great businessman through capital allocation are great investors and that is not investors as one would think of (Hedge fund mutual fund manager)
 
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