For students as well as working professionals in the financial or investment domain, the CFA is a valuable qualification to put them among the biggest experts in their field. However, due to several factors revolving around time, effort, and cost, many people wonder whether the exam is really worth attempting. For you to get an answer to this question, you need to consider this exam’s difficulty. To tackle this difficulty, people generally take admission in a CFA online course. Other factors that you should consider to make this choice include your own background and present stage of career, as well as your future aspirations.
Factors to Consider Before Pursuing CFA
Before you start your CFA preparation, you need to consider several factors in deciding if giving your efforts to the exam is a good step or not. You need to know this, as many people drop out right after failing the Level 1 exam due to not being able to give the appropriate time required for preparation. The following are some of those factors;
1. Jobs and Industry Demand
The CFA qualification is made primarily for you to get a professional career in investment management and capital markets roles, shedding light on financial analysis, valuation, portfolio construction, and risk management. With expertise in such concepts, you can get employed across asset management firms, investment banks, private equity firms, institutional investors, etc., and that too with huge competition. Industry insights around job roles for CFA-qualified professionals show:
- Higher relevance in buy-side finance compared to corporate finance
- Strong demand in roles involving equity, fixed income, and alternative investments
- Limited roles based around accounting, auditing, or routine banking operations
2. Time Commitment
Being globally renowned as well as one of the toughest qualifications for people in the investment and financial domain, the preparation, even with a CFA online course, demands a lot of time from you. This preparation is not something that can start or end randomly, but is something that demands consistency from you. The three levels of CFA, making it a multi-year commitment, only add to how complex your training could become. Time taken for preparation and clearing this exam includes:
- 2.5 to 4 years are generally taken to complete all three levels
- Balancing studies with full-time jobs, long work hours, or academic commitments
- Facing burnout due to overlapping exam cycles and career pressure
3. Career Goals
Before doing CFA, do some research on what the most beneficial careers are for you after qualification. If your long-term goal is aligned with investment analysis and portfolio management domains, then CFA will prove to be an appropriate choice for you. However, this qualification may provide limited benefits to your career in domains like:
- Marketing
- Human Resources
- Operations Management
4. Suitability With Your Present Stage of Career
The qualification of CFA directly affects your career profile, depending on what stage of your career you are in, as it is open to students who have graduated or are in their final year, as well as professionals. If you are a student, then you should do some internships or have relevant exposure to the practical ways of work in your domain of interest. As a working professional, you can benefit if you are in:
- Finance, banking, or investment-related roles
- Analytical positions where CFA knowledge can be applied immediately
5. Return on Investment (ROI)
Before stepping on the CFA route and pursuing a CFA online course, you should measure the return on investment (ROI) you will get by considering the time and opportunity cost you put in, along with the career outcome this qualification will give you. The majority of people struggle after starting their CFA preparation, as they do not know what to do after their qualification. The key ROI considerations include:
- Total cost that varies by exam attempts
- Salary growth that depends on role, location, and experience
- The highest returns are seen a few years after your qualification, combined with work experience
Career Opportunities After CFA
The CFA charter is most valuable in roles where concepts like analytical depth and investment judgment need to be put to use. Among the many career opportunities you can find after your qualification, the following are some of the most common ones:
1. Portfolio Manager
The role of a portfolio manager usually requires significant experience. Here, CFA acts as your credibility enhancer rather than making you an instant qualifier for this role. Your role as a portfolio manager includes the use of concepts like portfolio theory, asset allocation models, and risk management frameworks, all of which are a part of the CFA curriculum. Your key responsibilities in this role would include:
- Managing equity, debt, or multi-asset portfolios
- Aligning investment strategy with client objectives
- Monitoring market risks and benchmarks
2. Equity Analyst
Typically, an equity analyst specialises in stock analysis and its alignment with company fundamentals, growth prospects, and market positioning. The CFA provides structured frameworks for equity valuation and behavioural finance, both of which are critical for a successful career in equity research. This role includes the following responsibilities:
- Keep a check on specific sectors or market segments
- Publish investment notes or recommendations
- Interact with fund managers and institutional clients
3. Research Analyst
A research analyst plays a primary role in the investment decisions of a company by evaluating the companies, sectors, and economic trends. The concepts most relevant to this job role taught in the CFA online course are financial statement analysis and valuation. Your typical responsibilities in this position involve:
- Building financial models and valuation reports
- Tracking industry trends
- Highlighting the pros and cons of any investment idea
Highest Paying Jobs After CFA in India
| Job Role | Average Salary (INR per annum) |
| Portfolio Manager | ₹20 – ₹35 LPA |
| Investment Banking Associate | ₹18 – ₹30 LPA |
| Risk Manager | ₹12 – ₹20 LPA |
| Equity Research Analyst | ₹10 – ₹18 LPA |
| Credit Analyst | ₹9 – ₹16 LPA |
Conclusion
In the present era of finance and investment domains, holding a CFA qualification is highly beneficial to your professional career, whether you are currently in it or will start in the future. With appropriate preparation, the curriculum of CFA offers expertise in investment management, research, and analytics. However, it is best only when your career goals align with it. Otherwise, the ROI you get in your professional life will only disappoint you.
If you wish to prepare for the CFA exam, then Fintelligents is the best place to get guidance for your preparation. We at Fintelligents have a long experience of training candidates for excellence through our online as well as offline courses for almost a decade, offering several benefits in the form of an expert faculty along with an affordable fee.
Enroll at Fintelligents for your CFA exam preparation and take your finance and investment career to new heights.
FAQs
Q. Will CFA be replaced by AI?
No, CFA charterholders cannot be entirely replaced by AI. Many of their regular tasks can be enhanced and a bit simplified with the assistance of AI. Meanwhile, a qualifier of this exam will remain in demand due to their critical judgment, ethical reasoning, and client relationship building.
Q. Is a job guaranteed after CFA?
No, CFA does not guarantee you a job. However, holding this qualification increases your chances of getting a high-paying job due to its credibility as well as the expertise in the most complex topics of your domain that you prove to yourself by clearing the exam.
Q. What careers can I get with a CFA?
With a CFA qualification, you can get a valuable career revolving around asset and wealth management, investment banking, commercial banking, and consulting. The common job roles for a CFA charterholder include equity analyst, portfolio manager, investment banking associate, and risk manager.
