CFA Charter within the Retirement Services sector?

[Guest delisioj5]

I have a question, I am currently a Plan Administrator and have a STRONG interest in taking the CFA exam(s). Does anyone know what areas (Compliance, Client Services, etc.) within the Retirement Services industry that a CFA charter would compliment well (if at all)? Thanks in adavnce to anybody that can answer this question.

John

[Archimage]

I am not a CFA nor do I claim to be an expert regarding the CFA material. I will tell you my opinion in case it helps. I can't see how the CFA designation would help you out as a plan administrator. The CFA would only be of value to you if you have an interest in actually managing other companies and/or people's money. If you have no interest in being a money manager or similar career, the CFA is not for you. If you are looking for a designation to further your knowledge in plan administration then you should look to an ASPA designation or CEBS.

[Appleby]

...or NIPA http://www.nipa.org

[Guest delisioj5]

Thanks for the replies, everybody. I decided to stay away from the CFA exam for now.

I did just sign up for the Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist exam as well as waiting on my PA-1, PA-2, and PA-3 scores from ASPA.

I would like to (ideally) come out with the CRPS, CPC, APA, and CEBS designations.

From what I'm hearing, ASPA is the best (designation to have) regarding DC/DB plans and CEBS is more HR driven, could anybody confirm that? As always thanks in advance for any answer(s).

[Appleby]

You may want to check out the CRSP at http://www.aba.com/ICBCertifications/CRSP.htm as well. I have that and the CRPS- which I got first. I decided to get the CRSP because it had continuing education credits and the CRPS does not – at least not in my state. A certification that requires CE credits not only shows that you took the course and passed the exam, but that you are keeping abreast of changes and new developments or taking refresher courses.

See http://www.nasd.com/Investor/Resources/Des...lDesigByOrg.asp for a comparison of some of the designations

[Appleby]

For anyone else who may be interested and have not yet made up their minds, see http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?s...t=0entry53017 for a comparison of the NIPA and ASPA designations

[Guest kowen]

CEBS is more general than the ASPA designations. It covers retirement and health and welfare plans, as well as HR. I took it under the old format which had 10 courses, one of which was HR. I think the new format has 5 mandatory courses and 3 electives. There are now more HR and Comp courses available.

[Guest CashBalance]

How about taking a law degree?

ha ha