CFA v/s MBA. Or both and why ?

So i finally signed up for CFA Lev 1 after almost a year of agonizing over its utility. Im already pursuing an MBA (accounting, entrepreneurship and finance) from perhaps the best business school in the world - bar none. IMHO - so dont flame me. So what finally tilted me down this path ?

I was thinking the CFA would end up being double work. Two of my concentrations in the MBA are finance and accounting. So im pretty much AWARE on most of the topics in Econ, FSA, investments and quant methods. Yea - ive done full-on DCF(and APV) valuation, modelling and even structured a merger deal in my M&A Accounting class. So why a CFA ??

For one, MBA classes tend to be 10 weeks long. its just 10 weeks of intense accounting and move along to the next topic. If the next topic ends up being something in HR, you lose complete touch with the subject. You're aware of the topics, but its not your focus.

For another, since i do not work in finance / accounting/banking etc etc, there's nothing to keep me in touch with the subject.

Also (and i know its bad grammar - so shove it), i agree with a lot of the forum posts: an MBA is a generalist degree.... and it should be. It taught me a lot of business planning and competitive strategy. No matter how nazi one is on going into finance, one still has to understand that one operates in the real world of business. While making models, Ive discovered that there is no substitute to understanding "business economics". Those skills are a lot more important than simply creating a model. So an MBA IS important. I can tell you a 100 reasons why but we would digress at this point.

But if you're interested in a deep dive into topics like Corp fin and fundamental analysis, i think a CFA is the best thing to do. I think i would spend a lot more time working on topics that are of my interest than just what an MBA provides.

So where do i stand on the topic of "versus". I guess it depends on where your interests lie. If you want to understand fundamental analysis or share my vision of getting an investor. Id say get both. Of course, this is only if you can afford the time and cash (and im lucky enough to say, at this time I can afford both). If you just want to get a generalist degree get an MBA (stay tuned for my philosophy on an MBA) .

There is some truth to the matter of employers screening for a CFA but ill say from my discussions with my peers who work in the industry, they look at a lot other factors. So be judicious on this subject because your efforts on the CFA might just end up not helping you reach your goals in this environment.

Crawled out from under a rock.....

& finally caught some Web 2.0 sunshine ! Did you know that now you can directly publish every little minutiae crawling in your mind to the web ???

Seriously, i knew about blogs and all but was really reticent to put my thoughts out there. But my aunt and some close friends of mine apparently see some talent in an area id never wanted to explore.... but there you go.

What will this blog be about ? Well about investing mostly. Most of the blogs y'all will see over the next few weeks and months will be about my CFA exam (that im gonna appear for in June) .

So for folks who know me and expect my sardonic humor and usual literary brilliance - expect to find a healthy dose on Corp fin and Fin St. Analysis and my plodding through the CFA study session (more in the next posts). If that aint your kinda brew .. well read on anyway and send me flames (privately please :) )

To those who dont know me - i hope you do find a lot of value out of my experiences and thoughts. Im a utilitarian (i hope its meaning here is what i think it is !! ) and i expect by blogs to be practical and pragmatic - help you with your CFA or to provide a different viewpoint in the world of finance. So please dont expect some extreme, left-wing, "whats the meaning of life" kind of posts. (wink, wink to someone whom i commented to recently;) )

I expect to post on my readings and thoughts on General investing too - dont know what i will write about yet but i will as time goes on. My interests are Fundamental investing philosophies with a passing interest in Technical analysis. If you have leads / thoughts / books/articles/blogs .... bring it on! Ill do my best to respond.

Im a huge football fan !! American football that is - and overtime ive come to believe thats the only real kind. So to that friend who lives and dies with AC Milan - SORRY! NFL's where's its at. To my visitors - you might have to bear with and live with occasional posts and analogies to the world of investing.

Finally : the usual DISCLAIMER: the thougths expressed herein (on usual posts) are my own and are not sponsored or solicited through any paid means. These are random thoughts (duh ! its a blog) and if thine centrist self thinks this extreme any-wing - well - go get yourself examined. I will not tolerate offensive comments and i retain the right to censor stuff if i (or others ) deem it offensive. Again, this blog is aimed to be utilitarian - so help others as you would like yourself be helped.