The CFA® charterholder experience: knowledge, community and career growth
Key takeaways
Lewis Jackson used the CFA Program to transition from wealth management into funds management, but now considers the CFA community, networking opportunities, and continuous professional development among the designation’s greatest long-term benefits.
- The CFA Program helped Jackson build investment expertise, advance his career, and transition into funds management.
- Becoming a CFA charterholder connected him with a network of like-minded professionals and helped him establish industry relationships after relocating to Melbourne.
- CFA Institute’s research, events, and focus on ethics and lifelong learning help charterholders stay informed and adapt to an evolving investment industry.
Lewis Jackson became a CFA charterholder for the skills and knowledge on offer, but has stayed for the community and the career support.
A 10-year veteran of the finance world, Lewis Jackson spent four years in wealth management before moving into funds management in 2020. His CFA charterholder experience has played a key role throughout his career, helping him develop the skills, knowledge, and professional network needed to progress in the industry.
Today, he is a vice president in the client team of a large funds management firm, based in Melbourne.
Although investment management was just one aspect of his role in wealth management, Jackson admits it was the area he gravitated toward the most. CFA Institute was already on his radar as the gold standard qualification for investment professionals. “I started studying for the CFA Program because I was very interested in that investment area, and that helped me to pivot from wealth management into funds management.”
“It makes you stand out among other employees. I’ve been able to progress quite quickly during my time in funds management, and I certainly think having that qualification was a factor. The knowledge you get from the CFA Institute designation helps you communicate investment concepts at a higher level with other people in the industry.”
Although he initially signed up to CFA Program for the knowledge and skills, Jackson says the community aspect of being a CFA charterholder cannot be underestimated. “It’s not the reason that I did it, but it’s probably become the biggest benefit,” he says. Because it represents an elite group of people who have pursued a higher standard of education, it feels exclusive, Jackson explains. “When you see ‘CFA’ after somebody’s name, you know that this person’s done hundreds of hours of study and sacrificed huge parts of their life. They’ve had to really grind to get that qualification. It carries weight.”
Finding community through CFA Society Australia post-Covid
Jackson became a charterholder at the end of 2022. The world was emerging from Covid lockdowns and he’d just moved from Perth to Melbourne to start a new job. “That’s where the community aspect came in for me,” he explains. “It was a great way for me to settle into a new city, get plugged into the industry there, and adjust back to normal life.”
Initially attending CFA Society Australia events, his participation has morphed into volunteering with the Society’s Professional Learning Committee, organizing and hosting webinars and in-person events. “I go to a lot of the events — almost all the social events and as many of the learning events as I can get to, even the ones where it’s not directly relevant to my job. It’s great to learn about an area that you’re not often exposed to in your job. Written content provided by CFA Institute is good as well — the Financial Analysts Journal is a great resource, and I try and keep up with CFA Institute research.”
How do CFA charterholders stay current in a changing investment industry?
The culture of continuous learning and development that is both encouraged and supported by CFA Institute helps to make you a better investment professional, Jackson believes. “It’s a dynamic industry. Things are always changing, so you need an always-on learning mindset to stay at the cutting edge of everything. I think that CFA charterholders tend to fall into a certain personality type; it tends to attract individuals who are hungry for knowledge and want to keep learning.”
And with the entire finance industry built on trust, Jackson values the focus CFA Institute has on ethical behavior and its rigorous approach to helping CFA charterholders navigate complex ethical issues. “You’re also part of a community where everyone has agreed to uphold the same standards.”
Being able to turn to fellow CFA charterholders as an informal sounding board on topical issues, and chew over topics with like-minded people at a similar professional level is invaluable, Jackson says.
At a time of huge industry upheaval, CFA Institute resources are essential to navigating the twists and turns of industry evolution. “Take something like AI – no one’s really worked out exactly how that’s going to look in the investment landscape. If you’re engaging with CFA Institute content, going to Society events and continuously learning, a lot of those hot topics are covered.”
Why the CFA Program is worth it: three key benefits
Despite being well established in the industry now, the CFA Institute community continues to play an important role in Jackson’s professional life. “I work on the sales and relationship management side of the business, so relationships are very important to my role. CFA Institute has been great for meeting other charterholders and industry professionals.”
And when Jackson’s younger colleagues ask him if they should do a CFA Program, he cites three reasons why they should consider it. “The first is the knowledge: to make yourself a better investment professional and have that ability to speak the same language as the people that you’re doing business with. The second is, frankly, the prestige. The CFA designation certainly carries weight. The third reason is that networking and community aspect. To me, that’s the full package.”
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