How do you know if CFA is right for you?

Particularly if you are entering a field like investment management or seeking to become an economist or financial advisor or planner, the CFA can be a definite boost. However, the CFA is a major time investment. You should be very confident that you want to achieve the designation before you commit .

Should I get CFA or CFP first?

It really depends on your preferred career route: if you're into financial planning, CFP is the clear choice . If you're less sure but keen on a career in finance, perhaps CFA is a better choice for a broader finance base before you decide, although it is notably a more difficult qualification to get.

What is the pass rate for the CFP exam?

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards said Monday that the pass rate for the March 2024 CFP certification exam was 68% . The exam, administered during a March 12-19 testing window to 3,683 candidates, broke last March's record of 3,527 exam-takers, according to the CFP Board.

What percentage of advisors have a CFA?

If you bend it as much as you can and say they are all in the US, then 3757 out of 223,400 (yes, the years are imprecise), you get about 1.7% of financial advisors in the US with the CFA designation. The number could be less, it could be more, but that's the rough math.

How much does CFA increase salary?

A CFA Can Improve Your Salary And on top of that, CFA candidates experience pay increases after passing each subsequent level, earning an average of 29% more after they pass Level I of the CFA exam and 34% more after passing the Level II exam . So, if you were wondering, “Is CFA Level 1 worth it?” It certainly is.

What percentage of people pass the CFA on the first try?

Here's what you should know about pass rates on the CFA: Average pass rates tend to fluctuate. Level 1 pass rates have hovered around 37% Level 2 pass rates have been around 45%

Am I qualified for CFA?

You must have at least 4,000 hours of experience, completed in a minimum of 36 months . Qualified hours must be directly related to the investment decision-making process or producing a work product that informs or adds value to that process.

Is it a good idea to get a CFA?

According to the CFA Institute, this credential "is the professional standard of choice for more than 31,000 investment firms worldwide."1 It can be especially helpful if you don't have an undergraduate degree in finance, economics, or accounting, and your goal is a job or career in the finance industry.

When should you pursue a CFA?

This is a personal choice, but we have found that students who take CFA level I during their time at university tend to be more successful with their studies than those who wait until later in their career.

What is the average age to pass the CFA exam?

The CFA Program isn't easy. Every exam requires 300 hours of study, which is tough when you also have a job and a family. In 2014, the CFA Institute tells us that the average CFA I candidate was aged 26.5, that the average CFA II was aged 28.2 and that the average CFA III candidate was aged 29.7 .

CFA vs. CFP: Which Is Right for You? (2024)

CFA vs. CFP: Which Is Right for You? (1)

Key Takeaways:

A CFA (chartered financial analyst) specializes in financial analytics.
A CFP (certified financial professional) specializes in financial planning.
Both certifications require the candidate to pass one or more exams and pay fees.

Chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP) are common certifications for individuals working in finance, including financial advisors. These are designed to tell a client (or employer) that the holder has received education in certain types of financial work. The certification processesrequire applicants to have different amounts of experience and education. Let’s go over what separates these two certifications so that you can choose the right one for you.

If you are looking for a financial advisor,SmartAsset’s free toolcan match you with up to three who serve your area.

What Do Financial Advisors Do?

Financial advisors are experts in financial planning, investment management and other areas of financial services. They mainly help clients, which could be individuals, groups or other firms, achieve financial goals. Some financial advisors advise clients on a broad range of topics.

Others will focus specifically on one financial topic or situation. For example, a financial advisor who’s also a certified public accountant (CPA) may focus on tax management. Some advisors also work with specific clients, likeprofessional athletes or individuals creating estate plans.

In order to showcase their expertise in a tangible way, advisors may put in the work to receive advanced certifications. Two of the most common options are chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified financial planner (CFP) certifications.

What Is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)?

Financial professionals holding this charter designation have tested skills and expertise in portfolio management, investment analysis, financial reporting and specific business concentrations. With more than 170,000 active charter holders in 2023, this designation is globally recognized as a “gold standard” for financial analysis.

This designation is given by the CFA Institute, an international organization that specializes in certification programs for investment professionals. Candidates must pass three exams that cover a range of finance topics, including accounting, money management, security analysis, and others.

The institute says that candidates invest more than 300 hours of study to pass each of the three exams. Only 36% and 44% of those who took the first and second exams, respectively, passed in November 2022, while 48% passed the third exam as of August 2022. Candidates pay a $350 one-time enrollment fee.

What Is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)?

Financial professionals holding this designation are experts in different financial planning areas, including tax and estate planning, retirement and insurance.

The CFP designation is awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board), a nonprofit that sets and maintains standards for personal financial planning. Candidates must pass the CFP Board exam and commit to ongoing annual education programs that test and maintain their skills and certification current.

CFPs generally help clients create a financial plan to manage investments, retirement, insurance and taxes. These professionals are held up to a high ethical standard and have a fiduciary obligation to make decisions that protect the financial interests of their clients.

CFA vs. CFP: What Are the Key Differences?

As we already covered, CFAs specialize in financial analytics. According to the CFA Institute, the two most common occupations for a CFA are portfolio manager and research analyst. Working with a CFA is common for people who want help with investing and asset allocation.

A CFP, comparatively, focuses onfinancial planning. Common occupations for CFPs include financial planner, wealth manager and financial advisor. While both of these certifications are common, CFP is the more common certification for a financial advisor because it is more tailored to financial planning with individuals.

If you’re looking for a financial advisor, you can be confident that someone with either of these certifications has gone through the work of understanding how to manage your finances. Inversely, if you want to bolster your resume withone of these certifications, the one you choose will depend on the kind of work that you want to do.

The table below sums up key differences in focus, education and experience requirements, and salaries and fees:

CFA vs. CFP Comparison

Category	CFA	CFP
Professional Focus	– Investment management	– Long-term financial planning
Education/Experience Requirements and Exams	– Requires a bachelor’s degree or work equivalent. – Must pass three six-hour exams on economics, corporate finance, equity investment strategies, quantitative methods, financial reporting and analysis. – A CFA charter holder averages almost 1,000 hours of study for all three exams and has four years experience.	– Requires bachelor’s degree. – Must complete financial planning coursework. – Has to pass multiple choice exam (taken in two three-hour sessions) on financial planning, education planning, insurance planning, income planning, estate planning, retirement planning and risk management. – CFP holders have 6,000 hours of professional experience in financial planning, or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship experience, in addition to other requirements.
Salary	– The CFA Institute says a CFA charter holder can earn between $126,000 and $177,000.	– Comparably.com data from Feb. 2023 shows the average CFP salary in the U.S. is $121,099. The total range is between $39,300 and $187,200.

General Requirements for Becoming a CFA

CFA vs. CFP: Which Is Right for You? (2)

The CFA Institute administers the CFA certification program. In order to receive certification, you must become a member of the CFA Society and pay the annual membership dues.

Completing the CFA program requires that you have a bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent) and four years of professional work experience in an investment decision-making process. There are also three levels of exams that applicants must pass. Each level has a different focus and consists of multiple parts.

The first exam level tests basic knowledge and focuses on investment tools. The second level of exams focuses on asset valuation and emphasizes more complex analysis. Finally, the third set of exams focuses on portfolio management.

In general, CFA holders primarily work in occupations that center on investing. The certification is advantageous in occupations that relate to investing and portfolio analysis.

As a side note, “certified financial advisor” is a common misnomer for the CFA certification. Although this might sound like a logical title for a financial advisor designation, it is entirely inaccurate. So the next time you come across a CFA, remember that it stands for chartered financial analyst.

General Requirements for Becoming a CFP

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards oversees the CFP certification. Like the CFA program, applicants need to meet certaineducation and experience requirements. In order to earn the CFP, you need a bachelor’s degree and some college-level study in financial planning. Applicants must have 6,000 hours of experience with financial planning (or 4,000 hours through an apprenticeship program).

There is then an exam which takes place during two three-hour sessions on a single day. The multiple-choice exam uses real-life situations to assess an applicant’s ability to use broad financial planning knowledge. Overall, the CFP program is shorter and less rigorous than the CFA program. If you think this could be the program for you, you canlearn more aboutCFP certification requirementshere.

How Do Other Designations Compare With CFA and CFP?

Financial advisors hold many designations that aim to serve clients in similar but different ways. As we covered earlier, a CFP can help you create a financial plan but others like a CFA can offer financial analysis for investments and portfolio management for individuals and corporations.

Many advisors have multiple designations, which allow them to specialize competitively in their focuses. Let’s take a look at other common certifications and how they can help with your financial needs:

Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC):Financial professionals holding this designation complete coursework in financial education. Like CFPs, they must further their education by earning additional credits after getting theChFC designation. While ChFCs can overlap with CFPs in financial planning services, they can also stand out in modern financial areas as experts in estate planning for same-sex couples and employee benefits.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA):This designation is common among tax preparers and accountants, and demonstrates that a financial professional has at least two years of public accounting experience and passed the Uniform CPA Exam. Advisors with this license can help clients optimize a tax plan to help reach investment and retirement goals.
Chartered Investment Counselor (CIC):These financial professionals are high-level experts with proven investment counseling and portfolio management skills. CIC holders have at least five years of work experience at an Investment Adviser Association-member firm, where more than half of their job focuses on investment counseling and portfolio management. CICs are must re-certify annually and typically work with large portfolios.

Bottom Line

CFA vs. CFP: Which Is Right for You? (3)

CFA and CFP certifications are both common for financial advisors. For prospective clients, working with an advisor who has one or the other may not make a huge difference. Both certification programs teach applicants how to handle someone’s financial future. CFAs typically work more in the field of financial analytics and investing, while CFPs usually focus on financial planning with individual clients. Keep in mind that getting a CFA is also a longer process with more exams.

Tips for Finding a Financial Advisor

Before working with a financial advisor, it’s a good idea to consider your goals and where you generally stand in regard to meeting them.Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals get started now.
We covered two common certifications in this article, but there are a number of others. For example, a CPA may be more helpful for tax planning and a chartered life underwriter (CLU) is probably your best choice for life insurance help. As you look around, be sure to check out this list of the top financial advisor certifications.