Why Add the CFA Charter After Another Credential?

For professionals who already hold respected designations—whether CPA, MBA, CA, or actuarial—the decision to pursue the CFA charter often raises eyebrows. Is it truly necessary, or is it more about image than substance? The motivations behind this choice, especially among Canadian professionals, reveal something deeper about credibility, identity, and long-term career strategy.

Beyond Signalling: What the CFA Charter Actually Adds

While other designations specialize in accounting, management, or operational finance, the CFA charter offers a deep, focused dive into investment analysis, portfolio construction, ethical practice, and the language of global capital markets. For someone trained in financial reporting or corporate strategy, the CFA curriculum represents a broadening of scope—into valuation, behavioral finance, derivatives, and risk management. It builds a bridge between accounting fluency and market intuition.

Career Repositioning and Strategic Optionality

Many mid-career professionals pursue the CFA to reposition themselves into asset management, research, or investment strategy roles. For those moving toward the ultra-competitive buy-side or seeking roles with direct exposure to capital markets, the CFA charter is often the most recognized and respected ticket. Others pursue it more defensively—to stay relevant in a volatile career landscape where roles evolve and industries shift. Holding the CFA opens doors that a CPA or MBA alone may not.

Identity, Not Just Competence

In Canada, this trend accelerated when the country’s accountancy bodies moved to unify its three accounting bodies under the umbrella CPA designation. Many ambitious professionals—especially those in the CA stream—sought out the CFA charter as a way to preserve a sense of elite distinction. I witnessed a wave of Canadian CPAs join my CFA classes during this transition. For them, the CFA wasn’t just about learning new material; it was about affirming their professional identity at a time of institutional change.

The Rewards: Breadth, Confidence, and Credibility

Adding the CFA can boost strategic confidence. It equips professionals to have deeper conversations with investment committees, CEOs, or clients. The global recognition of the charter also serves those who want mobility beyond Canada. For professionals with hybrid aspirations—such as moving from controllership to capital allocation, or from consulting into asset management—the CFA charter brings new fluency and a broader lens.

The Risks: Vanity Over Substance

But there are risks. For some, the CFA designation is simply another trophy—adding more letters in hopes of being taken more seriously. If the pursuit is more about show than service, the investment of time and energy can become misaligned. There’s also the risk of diminishing returns. Collecting credentials can become a form of professional hiding—avoiding the discomfort of real growth: managing people, speaking publicly, or making decisions with incomplete information.

A Question of Intent

Ultimately, adding the CFA letters after another credential is neither good nor bad. It depends on the intent. If it’s a thoughtful move to deepen knowledge, expand career options, or shift professional focus, then the CFA charter can be transformative. But if it’s driven by insecurity, image management, or peer pressure, it may offer less than expected.

My Perspective

Having taught CFA candidates for over 25 years, I’ve worked with professionals from all walks of finance—accountants, actuaries, engineers, and executives. I help people think through not just how to pass, but why they’re pursuing the charter in the first place. It’s a strategic decision that deserves time, reflection, and alignment with long-term goals—not a stampede to keep up appearances.