hey therei am in my early 30's and am a portoflio manager in the UK looking to step up my career...which is better to do? the CASS Exec MBA with a focus on finance or the CFA?any advice welcome, thanks.

The CFA seems to becoming more and more of a standard qualification for fund managers. It is much more tightly focused than ther MBA and probably a whole lot more relevant to your job unless you are doing very quant style management strategies. You are likely to do a hole lot more relevant finance on the CFA.The MBA is a good generalist qualification that will open up more doors later on in your career if you want eg to go into management at some stage. However the finance element tends to be fairly light (even on specialist finance MBA's - and the Cass / City MBA has a good repuation in the City). (other well respected exec MBA's near London are Ashridge and LBS).So it's a bit like apples and pairs - both are nice but they're definitely different fruit.Personally I would opt for CFA on the basis of ROI (the course from BPP plus exam fees are a tiny fraction of the MBA fees) - you get a comaprable career boost for a whle lot less cash. Bear in mind though that you do lose a little in later career flexibility.(disclosure - MBA holder - but not from Cass/City)

QuoteSo it's a bit like apples and pairs - both are nice but they're definitely different fruit. hmmmm

>> You are likely to do a hole lot more relevant finance on the CFA.ooooooohhh Matron... it gets worse.I can only appologise

thanks for that..as i've already done the IIMR what about doing the CASS Exec since the CFA is basically a re-tread of what I've learnt in the IIMR? Plus like you said I may want to step out of Port Mangt someday and diversify elsewhere in finance which the MBA would allow me to do, no? I could always do CFA afterwards...

If you've already covered the syalbus once then pointless doing the same stuff just to get extra letters.By the same toekn why would you want to do an MBA in Finance? Surely an MBA in any other discipline would be a whole lot more use. eg strategy or IT or operations? or just follow the "generalist" stream (my suggestion).

thks, yeah I'll prob do the Exec MBA @ cass but focus on strategy, etc....BTW apart from cost how does imperial's exec compare?

thks, yeah I'll prob do the Exec MBA @ cass but focus on strategy, etc....BTW apart from cost how does imperial's exec compare?

There are about 8 schools in the UK where there is no appreciable difference in the prospects for their MBA grads. City and Imperial are both part of this bunch and you're no better off with A than B.LBS grads tend to do a little better - but the ROI may be less because of the higher cost and longer time frame (you pay your money and take your choice <G>).

thks again linux - btw whic mba school did you goto? and did it help you to change careers?

thks again linux - btw which mba school did you goto? and did it help you to change careers?

I am surprised at the feedback you are getting in this thread. This is quite an important decision and a lot depends on what you envisage doing once you have the qualification. I am also sceptical about the lack of differentiation between schools.CFA is an excellent qualification but I don't think it carries as much weight in the UK as it does elsewhere. It is very widely recognized on the buy side but that may not matter if you are trying to move into say corporate finance or similar.If you have several years of City experience you may well not need the extra qualification to secure a position in a new field (even if the course work might help you do the actual work). Doing either an MBA or CFA while working is really hard (from what I observe; I have neither but have worked with a number of people who have done this).

Hi silverqp,I was a portfolio manager...when I had to choose, I preferred to take a master in finance... I believe it is better, especially if u have the possibility to "have a break" for one year. But CFA is good too... especially if u want to continue to work on a buy side....but be preparred to hate those books!!!!!

>> I am also sceptical about the lack of differentiation between schools.Interested in what you think the differentiation might be.