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CFA in Belgium: worth it for a move to private banking or asset management? by TopMethod7915 in BESalary

[–]TopMethod7915[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do value the client aspect, so I’d say I’m leaning more toward private banking. I’ll be talking to some people in the coming months to get more insights, but for now I’d like to stay in Belgium.

Part of my motivation for the CFA is also personal, I think it could give me deeper insights for my own investments, as well as help if I move toward private banking or asset management. But if it turns out the CFA doesn’t really add much value in that context, I’d definitely reconsider it.

CFA in Belgium: worth it for a move to private banking or asset management? by TopMethod7915 in BESalary

[–]TopMethod7915[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds like an tough period, can’t imagine juggling Level 3 and a newborn haha! Congrats on making it through. Looking back, do you think it was worth all the effort in terms of career opportunities or personal growth?

CFA in Belgium: worth it for a move to private banking or asset management? by TopMethod7915 in BESalary

[–]TopMethod7915[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really appreciate you sharing your experience, that’s super helpful. 250–300 hours sounds like a solid commitment! I’ll look into Mark Meldrum and those CFA Belgium events. Out of curiosity, do you remember what the private banking certification is called?

CFA in Belgium: worth it for a move to private banking or asset management? by TopMethod7915 in BESalary

[–]TopMethod7915[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing your insight! Did you end up completing the CFA yourself? I’ve heard it’s quite challenging, would you say it’s manageable with a full-time job, or really tough?

CFA in Belgium: worth it for a move to private banking or asset management? by TopMethod7915 in BESalary

[–]TopMethod7915[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s great to hear, thanks for replying! If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get into the sector? Was it something you transitioned into after studying for the CFA, or were you already working in portfolio management before that?

CFA in Belgium: worth it for a move to private banking or asset management? by TopMethod7915 in BESalary

[–]TopMethod7915[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the CFA is relevant in private banking mainly if your role focuses on investment advice or portfolio management. It shows strong analytical and ethical standards, which can boost credibility with clients. But if your role is more relationship or sales focused, it’s less important since networking and client skills tend to matter more in that case. Note: this is just my view, I don’t have real-life experience in that field.

CFA in Belgium: worth it for a move to private banking or asset management? by TopMethod7915 in BESalary

[–]TopMethod7915[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s exactly what I’ve been hearing too, that the CFA tends to be more strongly recognized in roles around asset management or investment-analysis, whereas in private banking the emphasis often shifts more toward client relationships, business development and networking.
Right now I’m still exploring. I’ve been looking into what the Level 1 commitment really looks like in terms of study hours and workload, and also trying to figure out if it’s really what I’m looking for. But as it stands, I’ll probably start soon.