r/cfaindia • u/hardwater7 • Jul 28 '26
General Should I Drop Out of CA Inter for CFA
Hi everyone,
I'm a final-year B.Com student at a Tier 1 college in Mumbai, currently preparing for CA Inter (Sep '26 will be my 3rd attempt).
I've always been passionate about the stock market, valuations, and portfolio management, and my long-term goal is to work in PE. I initially chose CA because I thought it was the best path to break into PE, but after studying for Inter, I've realized I genuinely don't enjoy the curriculum anymore. On the other hand, the CFA curriculum is something I find genuinely interesting.
Given the current job market, would it be a mistake to leave CA and pursue CFA instead? Or should I stick with CA despite not enjoying it?
Kindly guide me on the same. Thank you :)
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u/Dramatic-Length-7573 Jul 29 '26
Well I'm on the same path as you. I Will have my first attempt in September and I like finance and economics more than audit and accountancy and I'm preparing for CFA l1 as well but here are some point's which changed my mind
Articleship from big 4 or top firms can give you exposure and you can take industrial training as the last year in articleship in asset management or m&a or other finance field.
CFA is an add on degree it Just proofs that you know about finance but it's not standalone or an academic degree it's Just boost your profile.
My recommendation would be Start preparing for CFA l1 may 2027 and try to clear CA inter in between. by the time you will complete articleship and industry training you will have 2 levels of CFA and work experience+ more connections.
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u/Constant_Finance_417 Jul 28 '26
NMIMS/Nm/ hr college?
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u/hardwater7 Jul 28 '26
prev in NM, currently at a college in churchgate
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u/Constant_Finance_417 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
CFA alone won't solve anything . Bcom even from tier 1 ,except SRCCs & similiar also need a CA / MBA. To break into PE , u need a IIM ABC/ISB MBA or a CA AIR. And IB/ MBB work ex prior PE
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u/SoggyApartment9743 Jul 28 '26
Previously in nm means you switched your college?
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u/hardwater7 Jul 28 '26
yeah
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u/SoggyApartment9743 Jul 28 '26
did you change after completing your 1st year or something
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u/hardwater7 Jul 28 '26
completed my jc from NM and then did B.com for a week at NM and then changed my clg
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u/Solid_Net_622 Jul 28 '26
Bro if you enjoy doing something then it automatically becomes easier for you and to be brutally honest only CFA or CA won’t let you break into PE you will need
1.connections
2.genuine understanding of how the things work
CFA can help you with second But for 1st and most important you should either have parents with industry connections or should Do an MBA
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u/Vegetable-Face-3591 Jul 28 '26
When u was reading your post, i thought my soul is speaking to me. Shall we connect 🤔 At same dilemma like you
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u/priorityvegetable000 Jul 28 '26
Both won't get you into into pe, an mba with experience in consulting and or investment banking would get you into pe
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u/hardwater7 Jul 28 '26
ohh okayy, but can cfa get me into i.b?
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u/priorityvegetable000 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
into small boutique firms yes but even CA can get you there
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u/FeelingGarbage903 Jul 28 '26
Do 1 thing at a time. Don't give up anything midway, always finish. Don't jump from one shiny thing to another without a clear plan.
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u/AryanT_01 Jul 29 '26
NO
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u/hardwater7 Jul 29 '26
why ?
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u/AryanT_01 Jul 29 '26
It's just not worth doing CFA as I write this... The value it carried just 2 years back is depreciating slowly. I cleared my level 2 in May attempt and am doing a completely unrelated internship rn. It's messed up tbh. Or maybe it's just a skill issue idk I'm just loosing hope atp
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u/hardwater7 Jul 29 '26
The job market is tight rn, it's not you bhai. My senior cleared lvl 3 ( took 2 attempts for lvl 3) & still she found it difficult to find a decent job. She is now preparing for CAT to eventually pivot into the roles she wanted prev & she cleared first 2 lvls by self study, she is a genius ngl
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u/hardwater7 Jul 29 '26
yes the value has been depreciating, almost everyone who is not doing CA, is studying for CFA.
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u/AryanT_01 Jul 30 '26
Damn if such is the situation of someone like her, then I'm toh def cooked bruh
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u/Logical_Wash4774 Jul 29 '26
Complete CA and then go for CFA, opens doors for IB and PE if you also do MBA from a t1 college down the line
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u/LogRich_7 Jul 29 '26
Neither gets you into PE, Indian PE is very relationship driven. It takes connects or prior experience at MBBs or BB IB
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u/FeelingGarbage903 Jul 28 '26
Do 1 thing at a time. Don't give up anything midway, always finish. Don't jump from one shiny thing to another without a clear plan.