BPP, CFA stands for Chartered Financial Analyst. It is a grueling program that requires three day long tests over three separate years. You have to be an analyst or portfolio manager to take the tests. They are pretty lax about what is an analyst or portfolio manager, but they know they don't allow anyone who could possibly be called a broker. -g- Total prejudice. They teach five areas: accounting, economics, quantitative analysis, fundamental analysis, and portfolio asset allocation. Basically, the answer to all their questions is to fight the last war in investments and do not be the least bit creative so you, too, can underperform the index by the amount of your management fees. -g- As a futures and options geek, I found the CFA program totally 1950s in outlook, though they do require you to learn some of the dumber current thoughts from academia. However, the initials after your name does seem to impress personnel directors and lawyers at money firms. I think that if you lose money for clients, but are credentialed, it is considered ok. -g-
I don't know anything about the Series 7. That is for salespeople and I never was one. However, unlike the CFA, I don't dislike them because they are salespeople. I dislike them because I am a curmudgeon. -g- You may want to contact some of the brokers on SI, though most try to hide their affiliation. I did take one of those tests for futures brokers, though I don't remember the number, as my lawyers were deluded into thinking it necessary and that 12 folks at our firm needed to take it. It lasted about 3 hours and was not easy. I got a good score, but I'd been doing futures for 15 years at the time, so I should have. -g- Afterwards, my lawyers got a ruling from the CFTC that we didn't need it. Thanks, guys. -g- I think you do have to be sponsored by a broker, but I'm not certain. MB |
