Private Equity Career - CFA Level 2 results awaited. Does FRM make sense as a complementary qualification?

[unni1114]

Hey Guys,
Am in a bit of dilemma and would request some thoughts.
I am a private equity executive with 4+ years of experience in growth private equity. Am awaiting L2 results. Have been researching additional qualifications to fortify my position in the job arena. Narrowed down on FRM and CAIA.
Research suggests that CAIA is frightfully expensive though gradually gaining recognition (not yet in India albeit). FRM appears to be a more reasonable qualification to pursue with a shorter gestation period and a higher recall even in India. Though the focus is risk management, I remember someone opining that FRM is a complement to CFA.
Does pursuing FRM still make sense given that I don’ t propose to shift to risk management anytime in my career?

 

[FeRMioN]

Short Answer - No
FRM is concentrated on Risk Management. Suggest you check out the syllabus (LOs) - see if they are of interest and whether you will apply something in your forseeable future career or would require such knowledge. Then Decide.

 

[unni1114]

Thanks for your response, FeRMioN.
Whilst I analyse the LOs of FRM more deeply, any suggestions on alternative qualifications that could be pursued? What is your take on CAIA?
Cheers,
Unni

 

[orang3eph]

unni1114 wrote:
Research suggests that CAIA is frightfully expensive…

For a PE executive?

 

[FeRMioN]

CAIA is generally opined as being one of the least “value for money” qualifications in the market.
What’s your opinion?

orang3eph wrote:

unni1114 wrote:
Research suggests that CAIA is frightfully expensive…

For a PE executive?

 

[orang3eph]

FeRMioN wrote:
CAIA is generally opined as being one of the least “value for money” qualifications in the market.

Probably true, in that it will add little educationally to someone who already is a CFA/FRM charterholder. Yet, I’ve heard that their networking events are superb, so maybe there is some intangible value after all.
Anyway, it just struck me as odd that a PE executive would worry about $2800 + $350/year.

 

[unni1114]

Hey orang3eph,
I was a mid-level PE executive till last year after which I expiremented by moving over the proverbial “other side of the table” i.e. Corporate Finance. However, I could not operate at my optimum level with the Damocle’s sword of deal origination and conclusion hanging over my head. Consequently, I quit my job and took time out to prepare for the CFA L2 exam. Currently, I am hunting for a job on the PE side again and hence the expression “frightfully expensive”.
Given my current situation, what’s your take on the FRM designation? I probably would require to research the benefits of the netwroking events conducted by CAIA in India, if there is a compelling reason to pursue the same perhaps post-employment.

 

[FeRMioN]

Have not seen much action by the CAIA community in India.
You probably need to get in touch with the local society, to find if going for it really provides bang for the buck.