Hey there, I have been offered a new job and I don’t know if I should take it because I’m not sure if it qualifies as valid work experience for the CFA. It’s at a big 5 FI in Toronto, role is: Investment Specialist for their online trading platform. Essentially it’s an inbound call center job with sales target - I call it, being a phone advisor. All investment specialists must be registered with IIROC and be able to buy/sell options as well. I would be assisting clients (on the phone) in regards to opening accounts, placing trades, and any other inquiry they might have. Here is the official job description:
Advocate for our clients to ensure they get to where they need to go with as little effort as possible. This could mean; opening accounts, supporting transfers, processing trades, showing client how to self-serve on an award winning platform.
Participate in exceptional training and become an IIROC licensed Investment Representative with Options
Be a valued team member; we will invest in you and your education in becoming fully licensed for the role
Receive dedicated coaching, leadership support and thrive in a learning environment
Have the opportunity to participate in special projects and other ad hoc work assignments
Contribute to the success of a strong team with a sense of purpose
Resolve client challenges and report any discrepancies to the Assistant Manager or Manager, Investment Specialist Team
Ensure adherence to IIROC rules and regulations
Discover, recognize and act upon opportunities to help our clients achieve their financial goals and expand our business relationships
I know it seems vague, but do you think it will count towards the CFA and CIM designations? I’m kinda worried. Thanks!
Wait a second, you are a LII candidate now and you are deciding a potential job offer base on if it can qualify for CFA work experience? Let me put this way, by the time you pass all 3 exams, make a nice case to your local CFA chapter sponsor and address-up your previous work experience, you should get the charter. You should decide this job offer base on your career goal and how this job can get your close, of course, money is a big part of the equation too; CFA work experience will be very low on the list of deciding-factors.
S2000, I asked them and they didn’t give me a definitive answer. They told me to check the website and match it up with what I would be doing.
Nonetheless, I wanted to ask here because there’s a wider audience here with a lot of experience. It looks like it should be valid work experience right? Also, why is there a spammer in my thread?
Strictly focusing on your question as it relates to qualifying experience…id lean towards no. Have to influence the investment decision, and it sounds like this is a customer service role, where another group would be handling that aspect.
Whether you should still take the job is a whole different discussion. You may have the opportunity to move into an analyst role etc. Is this your first job?
When you apply for regular CFA Institute membership, you will be asked to attest that your work experience meets the following qualifications:
At least four years (48 months) of experience in:
Evaluating or applying financial, economic, and/or statistical data as part of the investment decision-making process; supervising persons who conduct such activities; or teaching such activities.
For a position to qualify, at least 50% of your time should be spent directly involved in the investment decision-making process or producing a work product that informs or adds value to that process. Work must be full time and can be earned before, during, or after participation in the CFA Program. Managing your own investments or the investments of your family or friends (without compensation) does not qualify.
For a position to qualify, at least 50% of your time should be spent directly involved in the investment-decision process or producing a work product that informs or adds value to that process.
For one, it seems like you have to attest and there is no verification from CFAI. Secondly, you can be involved in producing a work product that informs or adds value to the investment decision-making process. Investment decision can be for the client and even the company you work for (corp finance). If you can get involved with budgeting; newsletters to clients that will inform them; etc then this would qualify.
analystdude: yes it’s one of my first jobs in the industry, yet my third career…I’m not a young guy anymore - early 30s, so I don’t think I can waste too much time with customer service roles.
rsparks: i understand, thanks. Yes even though it’s mainly a CR role, buying/selling securities for clients, but also giving them up-to-date market info to make informed decisions is a part of it. Therefore, I think it contributes to the investment decision process and it def adds value.
I wanted to gather some more info as i am preparing my write up for the WE requirements as part of membership process.
i have worked in 3 different firms (Deal Advisory/M&A) in big 4 companies and wanted to know whether i need to have one sponsor from every employer, or is it OK to have from say only 2 out of 3?
Given that the nature of my work across these 3 firms are nearly similar (although i climbed up the ladder, so from Junior Consultant to Manager along the years), do i need to repeat the work done under 3 different headers (for 3 different employers) or i can sort of prepare a condensed list per type of services (e.g. transactional valuations, financial due diligences, lead advisory, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), etc?
Do i need to state that i spend at least 50% of my time in preparing work products which will be used (in my case by Boards, investment committees) for finalising their acquisitions (mainly unquoted shares) since this is the only thing i do - i.e. i spend 100% of my time doing this work.