[mystical guy]

I have 4 degrees and a couple certifications – CIA, CPA, CISA. I was wondering if anyone could recommend the next intellectual challenge I could pursue?

I have heard that the CFA is becoming “obsolete.” The CMA focuses on Management Accounting, the CFP & CFE are both a joke. Any suggestions for getting a certification that will challenge me, keep me busy when I come home from 9 hour Audit job, and improve my earnings potential in the future?

Much appreciated….

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[mystical guy]

@funtiks – I know VBA, C++, SQL, and another one called ColdFusion. Also, ACL Script and IDEA Script. But I guess I could develop my understanding of Python and Java. hmmm…

@cleverfairy – kind of funny I asked about that. Almost seems like some of the projects I have completed for work qualified for Six Sigma in my company, but I found them not challenging enough, maybe because I have too much experience in that area.

@tncincy & @tuanxn – I thought about teaching and having my own CPA firm/CPA tutorial course…etc. I even talked to a professor friend of mine and he suggested that I start teaching at a Community College. I have a bit of experience lecturing. A kid at work ended up asking me for help writing codes and figuring out Math/Accounting problems. I'm now a mentor haha..Good feeling.

@jrb0048 – I have glanced over CMA materials and it seems to me like I'm just too competent for the level required to pass the CMA. I'm kinda sad to note that some of these exams are not being made hard enough, because if they wanted to, they could challenge us a bit more. (Of course, within reason, not those long wordy questions I see in Gleim that are just a waste of time, rather than a decent challenge).

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[jrb0048]

Haha ya i feel ya. How was the CIA btw? I am doing that one next.

Audit- 86 5/27/2015
Regulation- 89 7/2/2015
Bec- 83 7/23/2015
Far- 80 8/31/2015
Ethics-62, 90
CMA-
Part 1: Passed 12/10/2015
Part 2: Passed 3/11/2016

CIA- Pass 1/29/16/// CRMA- Pass 2/9/16// CCSA- Pass 2/21/2016/// CFE- Pass 2/29/2016/// CFSA- Pass 3/15/2016

[mystical guy]

@jrb0048

CIA was a good one. I studied for all of the parts for around 3 weeks (not really studying, just browsing through MCQs and reading Practice Advisories from IIA website).

Got through each first try. Depending on your comfort level with BEC/CMA, I would say that you won't need a lot of time for the CIA. It's something you can casually go over and do well, but Parts 1 & 2 are tricky. Wait a minute, I think I just winged Part 2, but you'll have to at least read the Practice Advisories.

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[Skynet]

Train to become a Jedi.

I heard the Jedi Mind Trick takes years to master.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[12tang]

Learn a new language. I think that will challenge you the most.

Tell me about IFRS in Chinese!!!

BEC - PASS

FAR - PASS

AUD - PASS

REG - PASS

BOOM!  JUST LIKE THAT, I GOT MY LIFE BACK!  =D

Using Becker self-study
FAR: (82) 175 hours - 1st attempt
BEC: (XX)
AUD: (69) 45hrs of study - 1st attempt
REG: (XX)

[makiu]

@mystical guy
I think they are taking applications for CPA in MARS, you could be proud to set your own IFRS standards…..

Done with planet earth CPA!!!!

[makiu]

“May the Force be with you”,

[Skynet]

I'm assuming that IFRS for Mars would be “Interplanetary Financial Reporting Standards”?

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[Anonymous]

How is the CFA license becoming obsolete? Asking because I am thinking of pursuing it myself

[monikernc]

Mystical – browse the coursera catalog. Lots of free options out there in many different fields.

AUD - 93
BEC - 82
FAR - 76
REG - 88

How have you been?
Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
If you want things to change you have to do something different.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[How many letters do you need]

Already have the CMA/CPA myself but as my career is taking more of high level accounting/possible consultancy shift (as opposed to the corporate accounting/cost accounting/FP&A direction of 3 years ago), I'm actually thinking about letting the CMA slide and instead go more toward the AICPA certs (CFF/ABV). Those annual fees really add up and quite honestly just not sure the CMA is worth it for me anymore….Who wants it? Ill start the bidding at $500….

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[ohiostategirlcpa]

@How

I'd hold on to the CMA. Your career cannot be going as well as you think it is, if you cannot afford the $235 annual membership.

I prefer the CMA really, it shows you truly understand the “innards” of business processes, operations, decision-making. It is more of a consultant's certification.

The CPA exam was far more superficial in terms of content. People can pass with just a cursory understanding. The essays are graded by a computer checking for grammatical errors, for God's sake.

F91 A95 R90 B94
CMA since 2015
(Gleim books/PDFs, MCQs, SIMS)

[Last Chance CPA]

@mystical guy – Why so much education in so many varied areas? I ask because I have an MBA, PMP, and passed the CPA exams, and I am now learning coding at a later age. But I am doing it because I have some time on my hands and I don't like my current work situation. There has to be some point of overkill as well. I would focus on becoming partner or running your own successful firm.

Just my two pennies…

AUD - 75
BEC - 75
FAR - 76
REG - 76

I want those initials next to my name!!!!

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[EuroAddict]

Why not just concentrate on your career? Just b/c you have certifications doesn't make you any more prepared etc. You got the big one, CPA, now use that to your advantage and work.

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[Martin]

I have a friend who studied medicine and then went to law school. I think that might be close to 12 years of education. He is now going for his PHD in Chemistry. He pretty much did the same as the OP, but in a bigger and more challenging scale. I guess there are people who love to study, and never make money. I also know an Accountant who studied for 4 years, but was never able to pass the CPA exam, he has his own tax practice and makes over 250K per year.At the end of the day, you just have to do what makes you happy.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Author]

Replies