renown Vs what you learn

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Sims

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This is my dilema:
I work the corporate finance department for a pubic company. Half my time is M&A related the other is working with analysts covering us. Later on I would like to work exclusively M&A.
I have an accounting background (CGA here in Canada, very similar to CPA in US but more finance oriented).
Either I do CFA or a a title not very well known, CBV (only 2,000 members).

I estimate CFA to be about 42% relevant to me when I take out the ethics, FSA(my accounting background) and PM(I have no intention of doing PM). This by taking out what they are worth on the total points of the 3 exams.

The CBV is about 80% relevant cause its 6 courses including 2 electives and very M&A oriented. So I would be better at what I do, exept it doesn't have a lot of renown here in Canada and none internationaly.

They both require about the same time investment.

So, what is best, have a title with renown that make you better or one without renown that makes you a lot better.

Thanks for your appreciated input.
 
Sims Wrote:
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>
> So, what is best, have a title with renown that
> make you better or one without renown that makes
> you a lot better.


Better at/for what? Your current job or to change jobs/career? Why get either one? Why not take conitinuing education/graduate courses that specifically address areas where you want to improve your skill set? Why am i asking all of these questions?
 
Super I Wrote:
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>
> Better at/for what? Your current job or to change
> jobs/career? Why get either one? Why not take
> conitinuing education/graduate courses that
> specifically address areas where you want to
> improve your skill set? Why am i asking all of
> these questions?


Better for a career in finance without portfolio management. For my current job and for a future job, long term would be VP finance in a large company (public company), at least as an ambition.
For your last question '' Why not take conitinuing education/graduate courses that specifically address areas where you want to improve your skill set?'' well that is my dilema, the CBV would be the ''continuing education'' but its not as flashy as CFA.
 
Hmm.. my $0.02.

If I read your question right, it can be rephrased as: "Is it better for me to spend my time studying material that is tailored specifically to my present goal of M&A, or is it better for me to spend my time studying for a certification that is more widely recognized and (presumably) admired?"

Hard to say for sure, but I'm leaning toward the CFA, based on the following points:

1) Studying for the CFA doesn't preclude you from studying M&A materials in the CBV, though it will mean more work.

2) How sure are you that you will still be M&A focused 5 years down the road? If you are young (I don't know if you are), your interests may well change. If the CFA is completely inapplicable, then maybe there's a point of not doing it, but if it is partly applicable, and there is any chance you might be interested in other types of finance, CFA seems like a better bet for a changing world.

3) If you do decide that M&A is your life's dream and there's little chance of changing it, you have to ask whether prospective employers are going to see the CBV and say "aha, he/she is clearly better than that other candidate that just has a CFA, because he/she has a CBV." If you think that is true, and you are sure you are only going to be doing M&A, then I think you're set. Otherwise, if you're just trying to get a better foundation for M&A stuff, why not get study materials for CBV and read through them for work.

just some thoughts...
 
bchadwick Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hmm.. my $0.02.
>
> If I read your question right, it can be rephrased
> as: "Is it better for me to spend my time
> studying material that is tailored specifically to
> my present goal of M&A, or is it better for me to
> spend my time studying for a certification that is
> more widely recognized and (presumably) admired?"
>
> Hard to say for sure, but I'm leaning toward the
> CFA, based on the following points:
>
> 1) Studying for the CFA doesn't preclude you from
> studying M&A materials in the CBV, though it will
> mean more work.
>
> 2) How sure are you that you will still be M&A
> focused 5 years down the road? If you are young
> (I don't know if you are), your interests may well
> change. If the CFA is completely inapplicable,
> then maybe there's a point of not doing it, but if
> it is partly applicable, and there is any chance
> you might be interested in other types of finance,
> CFA seems like a better bet for a changing world.
>
> 3) If you do decide that M&A is your life's dream
> and there's little chance of changing it, you have
> to ask whether prospective employers are going to
> see the CBV and say "aha, he/she is clearly better
> than that other candidate that just has a CFA,
> because he/she has a CBV." If you think that is
> true, and you are sure you are only going to be
> doing M&A, then I think you're set. Otherwise, if
> you're just trying to get a better foundation for
> M&A stuff, why not get study materials for CBV and
> read through them for work.
>
> just some thoughts...

Thx, very helpfull, the versatility aspect of the CFA is worth somthing for someone more of a generalist like myself despite my interest in M&A.
 
i would like to see the calculations that got you to 42%... i also agree could you just do both?
 
deucefranchise Wrote:
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> i would like to see the calculations that got you
> to 42%... i also agree could you just do both?


I got to it a few months ago and I now can't find the outline with points for each exam on the website. If you find it you can post it here.

For each level add whatever is not PM, ethics and FSA, then devide by the total of all 3 levels.
 
Maybe I missed something, but how is accounting not relevant in M&A?
 
darkstar Wrote:
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> Maybe I missed something, but how is accounting
> not relevant in M&A?


It is very relevant only i already have an accounting backgroud with corporate finance experience, thus the FSA section would no be value added to me.
 
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