EDITOR: How did you first hear about CFA Institute and the CFA Program?

STUMM: My best friend Monica and many colleagues at UBS were studying for the CFA examinations. My partner, Bruno, encouraged me to enroll with him, but I didn’t exactly know what the CFA designation was. Unlike some other programs, the CFA Program was not expensive (I was 25 when I started, so this was an important issue) and everyone recommended it to help with career advancement.

EDITOR: Can you remember any particular strategies or tactics that got you through the three CFA exams?

STUMM: I learned with my partner; this was a great strategy! I was too lazy and didn’t have the discipline to do it by myself, so Bruno was the grind, and we had great teamwork. We also had complementary strengths and weaknesses; he was more into accounting and equity analysis, and I was more into bonds and portfolio management. We learned from the recommended literature and four weeks before the exam, we concentrated on sample exams. This seemed to be a successful strategy. We were lucky to pass all three exams together in a row.

EDITOR: For someone considering the CFA Program, what can you offer as the most compelling reason to pursue the CFA charter?

STUMM: It’s the gold standard in the industry; it’s not expensive at all, so you do not have to depend on an employer to pay for it. The surveys of CFA Institute prove that there is a higher average salary for professionals with the CFA designation. And you can stay at home and get an internationally known qualification.

EDITOR: Was it worth the effort to earn your CFA charter?

STUMM: Definitely, yes. You are recognized as a proven professional with the theoretical and practical know-how. Social and professional development events in your society provide the opportunity to get in touch with other professionals. Efforts are being made by CFA Institute to serve you with information on the latest research as well as setting ethical standards in the industry.

EDITOR: What have been the fun and interesting parts of your career?

STUMM: To see that the markets in reality are not as easy as they are in theory. Every day is different and keeps you learning and exploring, so it never gets boring.

EDITOR: What knowledge gained from the CFA Program do you use in day-to-day business activities?

STUMM: In my job as portfolio manager I manage stocks and bonds, so I need to understand almost every single topic in the CFA Program curriculum.

EDITOR: What did you learn from the CFA Program that you would not have learned any place else?

STUMM: Ethics. Before the program, I hadn’t spent much time thinking about ethics, but this is the only way to gain the trust of clients in our industry. For me, signing the CFA Institute annual policy [professional conduct] statement is very important.

EDITOR: CFA Institute members who hold the CFA charter often speak of the connections or networking opportunities that open up once they earn the designation. Do you have any personal experience to illustrate this?

STUMM: I’m an active member because I think it is fun. As a board member of the Swiss CFA Society and member of the Annual Conference 2006 committee, I meet with lots of people from all over the world. If you wish to network, this is a way to meet people.

EDITOR: Any other words of encouragement or comments about the CFA Institute or the CFA Program?

STUMM: It’s worth getting the CFA charter if you want to succeed in the financial industry, but there’s no shortcut to get it.