| Traditionally, the MBA has been the gold standard of | | | | receive more ‘specialized' study in a particular |
| business degrees. Recently, however there has | | | | area of concentration to prepare them for the |
| been a growing trend and demand in the workplace | | | | particular career field/track they intend to pursue |
| for those with a CFA designation. Many people are | | | | after graduation. The generalized nature of the |
| faced with the confusing decision to do one, the | | | | MBA provides a great platform of knowledge that |
| other or possibly both. But what's the best | | | | the student will be able to pull from his entire career. |
| choice? What does each one get you and is it | | | | Advantages Of The CFA |
| worth pursuing both the MBA and CFA, in a combined | | | | The CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst is a much |
| or separate program? After reading this article you | | | | more specialized degree compared to the MBA. The |
| should have a much clearer idea as to the answer to | | | | CFA prepares the student to pursue certain careers |
| these questions. | | | | as an investment professional. Most often these are |
| Advantages Of The MBA | | | | in the fields of portfolio management, investment |
| The MBA or Masters of Business Administration is the | | | | research, advisory services and investment banking. |
| traditional educational path into many finance and | | | | The CFA designation is obtained by passing a series |
| corporate fields. Whether investment banking, | | | | of three difficult examinations and is generally |
| trading, consulting or corporate development, for | | | | regarded as a more intense education in investment |
| decades the top business schools have been training | | | | principles and techniques than the typical MBA. While |
| the workforce for the world's leading corporation. | | | | it is possible for an MBA candidate to achieve such |
| There is a reason for this. Top MBA programs have | | | | training if his ‘concentration' is in investments, |
| traditionally offered a quality, broad exposure to the | | | | with a CFA an employer can be assured that the |
| various areas of business while offering a chance to | | | | candidate has the most rigorous training available in |
| ‘concentrate' in a targeted career path during | | | | this specialized skill set. |
| the second year. Top schools attract leading | | | | While this specialization can be an asset in certain job |
| business leaders, offer impressive internship and | | | | categories, the CFA does not give the broad based |
| networking opportunities and perhaps best of all, | | | | business education that the MBA offers. Those |
| offer direct recruiting directly by top firms in all areas | | | | looking to work in business development, marketing |
| of finance and corporate opportunity. | | | | or areas that are not ‘investment or portfolio' |
| The broad exposure to various areas of business | | | | emphasis might not need the intense but narrow CFA |
| including finance, marketing, capital markets, business | | | | education. However, as more and more people |
| development and others is the strength of the | | | | obtain the MBA and as it becomes less "unique" of a |
| MBA. Students receive a great ‘big picture' | | | | degree, obtaining the CFA has become a way for |
| overview of all the key ingredients that make | | | | serious students to ‘set themselves above' the |
| businesses successful. At the same time, they | | | | crowd. |