[hello712love]

CFA Exam? I worked for a big 4 for about 7 years in tax and moved to a hedge fund when I was a second year manager. It’s a 50 people growing hedge fund in NYC.

The work/life balance has been great and the level of stress is little to none compared to big 4. However, I feel stagnant and there isn’t much learning opportunity. Honestly, I feel like I am getting dumber everyday…

Thus, I am thinking about taking CFA exam level 1-3 to see if it will help me with my tax career in financial service field. Not sure it can help me get a controller position.
I thought about tax lawyer route… but I concluded that going to the law school and time/money spent there isn’t really worth it.

I have always worked in financial services so I figure that having CFA might help me when I jump to another opportunity. Eventually, I’d like to move to a bit bigger hedge fund or a big bank or could go back to a big 4 for their flexibility, which I highly doubt at this point tho.

Any advice?

Thanks,

[Ana]

How would CFA help tax career? Isn't that more for investing? I would think being an EA would be more helpful in tax. Tax isn't my field so just wondering.

[kay]

EA does nothing when you already have your CPA, on the other hand if your focus is on tax, look into taking the exam to be admitted to practice in front of the tax court as a non attorney.
Unless your interested in personally managing and advising clients on investments and the tax strategy around them, I don't think become a certified financial advisor or planner will be all that beneficial in the tax world.
If you would like to be able to represent clients in front of the IRS at a higher level then during audits, getting admitted to practice in front of the tax court would help you immensely without going to law school.

[M123]

There are a lot of people asking about certs but it looks like you're actually getting experience that “counts” for CFA, correct?

But the jumping around from “will CFA help tax career”,”will I make controller” sounds like a bit of ambivalence.

Have you talked to some CFAs? Do you have any mentors or role models who can help you with your choices? Can you find someone doing what you want to be doing and ask them what it takes and what would be a waste of time ?

 
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[Author]

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