[Jamessemma]

I graduated from college with a double major in accounting and financing. I am currently studying for my CPA exam and curious on what to do after completing the CPA exam. My goals is to one day possibly open up my own place. After completing the CPA exam i am debating if i should do some kind of financing license. A couple of the options are CFA (Chartered Financial Analysis), Series 7 exam a loan or insurance license, or any other kind of licenses. I am unfamiliar with much of the CFA and series 7 exam and was curious if anyone has any advice on what i should do with the finance degree and what people recommend would be the best move. Time and study is not a problem with me, just want to possibly put my licenses in use.

If you were in my situation, what would you do and why? Or what do you recommend to do? Also if you know any benefits from having CPA and other financing licenses (in a company or owning your own). Thank you very much, been thinking on what to do after and want to hear other feedback on what everyone else thinks.

BEC: 82
FAR: 80
REG: 81
AUD: Last exam, end of may 2016.

Key to passing the exam is understanding the topic chapter and sections, not just memorizing what you read. The more you practice multiple choice, the greater chance you have to passing the exam.

[tcheney3]

I too have my Accounting and Finance Degrees and to be honest there isn't much overlap between the industries. You won't be able to get your CFA without 4 years of financial work experience and even then the test is absolutely brutal and it can only be taken once a year. The licenses won't be that beneficial in starting your own business because I doubt you will attract clients just because you have the certifications. Real world knowledge will go further. I would like to know what other people think.

BEC - 82
REG - 86
FAR - 85
AUD - 84 and I'm out!!!!!
Ethics - 95
In Skynet's Honor:
Act I: Shutdown Skynet and prevent Judgment Day.
Act II: Add a comma and three letters to my title.
Act III: Time Travel and marry a young Denise Richards (and prevent subsequent plastic surgery),return to present.
Act IV: Serve as Successor to Elon Musk as CEO of Tesla.
Act V: Ensure Judgment Day has been stopped. Utopia achieved.

[Mayo]

I'd say CFP + CPA is probably your best bet if you want to get in the financial planner business. Otherwise, you have to really weight the cost/benefit of the time spent on them.

For example, passing 1 or 2 levels of the CFA exam *might* help you get attention in FP&A. However, if you don't already have a good baseline of experience, it's not a huge factor. So the 300+ hrs of studying time per level is almost wasted without the right combination of experience.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Author]

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