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

Song: I first heard about the CFA Program when I started as a summer intern at Fleet Bank (now acquired by Bank of America) in 1999. My supervisor, who was already a vice president at that time, told me that she just sat for the CFA Level I exam. It didn’t take me very long to decide to sit for the exam the following year when I realized that the CFA charter would have a positive influence on my future career.

Editor: Briefly describe your position at Greenwich-Van Hedge Fund Advisors.

Song: Focusing on both retail and institutional clients, Greenwich-Van now manages a wide range of in-house products and offers customized portfolio consulting, due diligence, separately managed accounts, and structured products of hedge funds to clients worldwide. Currently, I am senior vice president of Greenwich-Van Advisors and general manager of its Hong Kong office. I am responsible for quantitative research of hedge funds and portfolio management of an Asian fund of funds.

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

Song: I took one sample exam provided on the CFA Institute website before I studied for each level of the exam. It helped me to find my weaknesses and, more importantly, to understand the level of detail I would need to study. Then, I went over all the topics following the study guide. I took another sample exam after that and concentrated on the topics where I didn’t do well. This strategy worked well for me, and I passed all three exams in a row.

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

Song: While one can’t become a specialist in every financial area by studying the CFA Program, the program is probably the most efficient way currently available for candidates to acquire fundamental knowledge and skills in almost every field of the financial industry.

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

Song: Absolutely. Not only did I learn a lot during the exam preparation, it actually helped me land my first job. I still remember after I told one of the senior officers at Bear Stearns who interviewed me that I had finished all three levels of the CFA exam—I hadn’t earned the charter yet because I didn’t have enough work experience—he became more interested in me and said that he always encouraged his people to sit for the exam.

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

Song: Working in a dynamic environment and always being challenged by new problems.

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

Song: I have gained a lot of practical knowledge and skills that I hadn’t learned before I enrolled in the CFA Program.

Editor: How is the CFA designation perceived in Hong Kong?

Song: The Hong Kong Society of Financial Analysts (HKSFA, a CFA Institute Society) currently has over 2,600 members and is one of the six largest societies in the world. The Academic and Accreditation Advisory Committee of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) approved the CFA designation as a recognized industry qualification for the licensing of Responsible Officers.  

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?

Song: I first joined the New York society after I earned my charter and made quite a few friends by regularly attending the meetings and seminars held by the society. I joined the HKSFA when I moved to Hong Kong in 2005 and immediately got to know a lot of people by attending the monthly happy hour and several workshops organized by the HKSFA. The HKSFA does a really great job in providing a convenient communication channel among its members.

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

Song: CFA Institute currently has no chapter in mainland China. Several friends of mine have had to join the HKSFA after they earned their designations, although it is not very convenient for them to attend the activities held by HKSFA. It would benefit greatly both the charterholders and candidates if a local chapter can be established in mainland China.