(Note: As requested by some of the readers who PM me recently regarding the CFA program, I think it's for me to write something to share my experience in studying the CFA program. As I completed the CFA program quite some time ago, I need to recall my memory on the study. Maybe I can finish writting the story few days later)
10 years ago while I was studying at the New Era college, that was the first time I got to know about the CFA program from my economic lectuer. He told the class that the CFA program is one of the most rigorous professional program. At that moment, the CFA program was something very far to achieve, indeed I was struggling to catch up the study in the college.
When I started to work in an investment bank 2 years later as my first job, it was the second time I heard about the CFA program from a senior who is a CFA Charterholder. He recommended me to sit for the CFA program if I intend to start a career in the investment/finance sector and he could be one of my sponsors for the application of the CFA Charter titles if I can complete the CFA program. However, I was confused what would be my ultimate career path and thus I did not take his advice. After staying 20 months in the bank, I switched my career to work as an application engineer, and I was busily travelling abroad whenever I was assigned to work on oversea projects.
I like numbers and I think logically, and both IT programming and finance do consist the elements I am looking for. However, things do not go into the way I was expecting as I realised that I should just stick into working at the financial related job. I did a lot of investment research and slowly built up my own investment portfolio even after I was left the bank, and this is where I finally noticed it could be my passion lay in.
It could be a flip-flop, but I decided to make the call instead of getting myself too far and wasting my limited life of working. I left my second job in July 2008 and planned to take a 6-month break to study level I of the CFA program, and it happened before the outburst of the financial crisis in September 2008. So coincidence that I was seem like making a right call this time as if I would have stayed on in the job, I would not have had any bonus and salary increment for the next years, according to the source of my ex-colleague.
Why I took the CFA program? What are the reasons trigger me to pursue the CFA program? These drill down to my passion on investment and for career enhancement purpose. As I mentioned that I did a lot of investment research not only for my own passion but I also rely on investment research to generate more passive income, so by studying CFA will further enhance my knowledge and subsequently it will turn my investment portfolio to generate better return. In addition, if I would like to switch back from the IT line to the financial sector, with CFA certification will equip me with a better skillset that is in demand in the financial sector.
(to be continued)
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