CFA Society
 

Hi,

I am currently a first year student at Queen's School of Business, hoping to land a career in institutional or private client asset management. I read that a CFA seems to be a requirement to get into asset management or portfolio management, and since I am just a first year student, qualifying for a CFA is too early for me. This summer I will be gaining some experience in investment management through a summer analyst position with Sun Life Financial in Ontario. There, I will be learning and assisting the management of a part of senior financial advisors' books, and I'll know further whether it is a career I would like to go into.

However, I was just wondering whether you guys see any benefits in joining a CFA Society (in Toronto in my case, since I am studying in Ontario) as an associate member, which is a membership for people who do not qualify for a CFA but would like to be part of their "society". I guess benefits really are getting access to their news feed and other coverages as a financial analyst. I would just like to get some opinions from people who are part of this society and any other benefits for joining this society (both personally and in the eyes of future employers).

Thanks in advance.

If it allows u to network and is normal for ppl at ur level, then yes

I would think, as ur not even doing level 1, it's too early

Do you have any other suggestions, as a student, regarding steps to take in building a career towards asset management?

Thank you!

Ya, ur a first yr in uni

Get good grades, make lots of friends/connections, join a bunch of societies and clubs

Most importantly enjoy ur time

Those really r the most serious and best answers