5 Reasons to Become a CFA® Charterholder

Preparing for the exams can be a rigorous and demanding process, for good reason. The CFA charter is one of the highest distinctions you can earn in the investment management profession. If you’ve considered advancing your career by adding those three letters to your business card, we’ve outlined five good reasons you should enroll in the CFA Program and take the first step toward becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Watch "5 Reasons to Become a CFA® Charterholder" Video:
5 Benefits of Earning the CFA® Charter
Reason 1: Better Job Prospects
According to CFA Institute, the top ten employers of Chartered Financial Analysts are:
- JP Morgan Chase
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- HSBC
- Bank of America
- Merrill Lynch
- UBS
- Ernst & Young
- RBC
- Citigroup
- Morgan Stanley
- Wells Fargo
Reason 2: The CFA Charter is Affordable
While an MBA can cost over $100,000, the CFA charter only costs between $3,050 and $12,000, depending on when you register, what study materials you buy, and how many exams you end up taking. For a professional qualification, that is quite a bargain. You also don’t have to quit your job, unlike in some full-time MBA programs. While hectic, it is manageable to study for the CFA exam while you work.
Reason 3: Career Advancement Opportunities
Completing the CFA Program allows you to become a CFA Institute member, which is a global network of over 135,000 investment professionals. That’s a pretty impressive club to join for the networking opportunities alone. The charter prepares you well for a variety of investment-related jobs, such as portfolio manager, risk manager, and research analyst. Seven percent of CFA charterholders even go on to be chief-level executives.
Join Kaplan Schweser’s Expert CFA Instructors for a Series of Free Webinars Discussing the Career Benefits of the CFA Program
Reason 4: The CFA Charter is Globally Recognized
As we said, CFA Institute has a global network of over 135,000 investment professionals. The CFA charter is recognized by regulators, universities, and certification programs in at least 30 countries and territories. You’ll gain unmatched career resources and relationships, as well as access to jobs around the world that require a CFA charter or candidacy.
Reason 5: Real-World Expertise
A CFA charter is considered niche in the larger business world compared to the MBA, which addresses a broad array of topics with less depth. Getting your CFA charter allows you to gain analytical skills and expertise in quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting, investment analysis, and portfolio management. This set of skills and knowledge you will develop as you become a CFA charterholder will serve you well throughout your career.
So, How Do You Become a Chartered Financial Analyst?
Now that you know the top benefits of getting the CFA charter, you might be thinking of firing up Google and searching for “how do you become a CFA?” We’ll save you the trouble. Start now by learning how to become a CFA charterholder.
Free eBook: Before You Decide to Sit for the CFA® Program Exam
Free eBook: CFA® Program Fundamentals, 2nd Edition
Ready to Pass the CFA® Exam?