MBA Or CFA? - Which Should You Get?

Traditionally, the MBA has been the gold standardcareers as an investment professional. Most often
of business degrees. Recently, however there hasthese are in the fields of portfolio management,
been a growing trend and demand in theinvestment research, advisory services and
workplace for those with a CFA designation. Manyinvestment banking. The CFA designation is
people are faced with the confusing decision to doobtained by passing a series of three difficult
one, the other or possibly both. But what's theexaminations and is generally regarded as a more
best choice? What does each one get you and isintense education in investment principles and
it worth pursuing both the MBA and CFA, in atechniques than the typical MBA.
combined or separate program? After reading thisWhile it is possible for an MBA candidate to
article you should have a much clearer idea as toachieve such training if his 'concentration' is in
the answer to these questions.investments, with a CFA an employer can be
Advantages Of The MBAassured that the candidate has the most rigorous
The MBA or Masters of Business Administration istraining available in this specialized skill set. While
the traditional educational path into many financethis specialization can be an asset in certain job
and corporate fields. Whether investment banking,categories, the CFA does not give the broad
trading, consulting or corporate development, forbased business education that the MBA offers.
decades the top business schools have beenThose looking to work in business development,
training the workforce for the world's leadingmarketing or areas that are not 'investment or
corporation. There is a reason for this. Top MBAportfolio' emphasis might not need the intense but
programs have traditionally offered a quality,narrow CFA education.
broad exposure to the various areas of businessHowever, as more and more people obtain the
while offering a chance to 'concentrate' in aMBA and as it becomes less "unique" of a degree,
targeted career path during the second year.obtaining the CFA has become a way for serious
Top schools attract leading business leaders, offerstudents to 'set themselves above' the crowd.
impressive internship and networking opportunitiesMBA, CFA or Both
and perhaps best of all, offer direct recruitingThe decision on whether to pursue the MBA, CFA
directly by top firms in all areas of finance andor both depends on the individual students goals
corporate opportunity. The broad exposure toand the career plans they have. While the Masters
various areas of business including finance,of Business Administration offers a terrific broad
marketing, capital markets, business developmenteducation in business, the Chartered Financial
and others is the strength of the MBA. StudentsAnalyst offers the specialized skill set that
receive a great 'big picture' overview of all thetargeted investment careers desire. Certain
key ingredients that make businesses successful.companies now consider the CFA designation as a
At the same time, they receive more 'specialized'more powerful education when it comes to
study in a particular area of concentration toportfolio and wealth management as well as
prepare them for the particular career field/trackinvestment analysis.
they intend to pursue after graduation. TheFor the truly ambitious that want to set
generalized nature of the MBA provides a greatthemselves above their peers, pursuing both the
platform of knowledge that the student will beMBA and the CFA might be the answer. As time
able to pull from his entire career.moves on, specialization is increasingly the key to
Advantages Of The CFAsucceeding in the competitive workplace. The
The CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst is a muchMBA and CFA provide the serious career-minded
more specialized degree compared to the MBA.with the tools to set themselves apart and gain
The CFA prepares the student to pursue certainthe advantage in the corporate world.