I keep seeing posts online saying the CFA certification is only useful for investment management roles or very specific finance jobs. People claim that if you want to work in investment banking, private equity, or venture capital, you should skip the CFA and do other things instead.
This confuses me because I’m currently studying for it and the material covers so much more than just portfolio management. The curriculum includes corporate finance, equity analysis, fixed income, derivatives, economics, and ethics. It seems like comprehensive financial knowledge that would be valuable anywhere in finance.
I decided to pursue the CFA because of how much you learn, the clear study structure, and the professional recognition that comes with it. I know it’s not a guarantee of anything and you still need experience, good networking, and other skills to advance your career. But having the charter does seem to help with making connections and getting noticed by employers.
Am I missing something here? Why do so many people downplay the value of all that knowledge and professional credibility?
Absolutely! Many critics lack experience or simply gave up on the journey. The CFA is challenging, but the diverse knowledge gained is invaluable across finance roles. You’re on the right track, keep pushing forward!
Most criticism comes from people who’ve never taken the exams or worked with charterholders. I’ve been in finance 8 years and got my CFA three years ago - the knowledge base is genuinely impressive and opened doors I didn’t expect. It won’t get you into Goldman IB by itself, but the analytical skills and breadth of knowledge are solid. The criticism usually comes from people who couldn’t commit to studying or are justifying not pursuing it. Don’t let the noise get to you - if you’re learning and it fits your goals, keep grinding.
The backlash comes down to opportunity cost and how different parts of finance actually hire. Investment banking and PE firms care way more about target school MBAs, deal experience, and who you know than certifications. That’s 900+ hours you could spend networking or getting real experience instead of studying.
But here’s what the critics miss - CFA value depends completely on where you’re headed. If you want research, asset management, or client advisory roles, it’s absolutely worth it. The curriculum really does build expertise that employers recognize.
This analysis helped me think through the same decision:
The critics aren’t wrong - they’re just coming from different career angles. Your reasoning makes sense for what you want to do.
