Expert: Ed McFarland - 7/1/2004

Question
Hello Sir,

I wont take a lot of your valuable time. I graduated with degree in accounting and finance in May 2003. Then I took the CPA exam in November 2003 and passed all 4 parts. Then I started working in a private CPA firm in February 2004. Then in June 2004, I sat in the CFA level I exam. I will know the results by the end of July. Sir, I m wondering what is the best use of both certifications that are CPA and CFA (when I complete the program). I mean I dont want to work in a field where I m using only one of them and the other one is just being waisted. I hope you understand what I m trying to say. I want to make myself valuable over anyother candidate who is only CPA or CFA charterholder, but NOT BOTH. My other concern is that I m also planning to become a Certified Fraud Examiner in the near future after or before I complete the CFA program. As I mentioned earlier to you that whatever certification I do, I want something valuable out of it. But I think that CFA is investment side, and CFE is auditing side. So do you think they go together. I will really appreciate your detailed advice about it. Take care and I really appreciate your time. Thanks a lot.

Answer
The hard question, what do you want to be?

Both lead to fine careers, you need to focus on the parts that are most relevant.

There are plenty of designations you can earn, go and find somebody doing what you what to do and focus your energy that way. People in specific career tracks tend to hire people with like education and experience backgrounds.

Good luck.