Based on what I knew about CFA exam, it usually takes 3 years to let you be a CFA (since the exam each level once a year, once you passed all levels you need somebody who are CFA to help you be a CFA).
I am working for a Hedge Fund investment firm as a back office supporting team member ( accountant). Since I have accounting and finance degree, I always curious if I can move to investment industry. After several months working here, I give up this idea. It is a very stressful job , all our portforlie managers are young guys, I dont know when they go home everyday, I saw they were at office all the time. My boss looks very tired too.
It requires lots communications with clients as well, more than CPA firm ( I worked for a local firm before). Sure there are lots of kind of investment firms and lots of different roles in a firm. I suppose you are going to be more involve with investment.
We always have meeting, all kind of, I don't think I can be happy to handle huge amount of investment at all. So I am going to go back to CPA firm.
By the way, there is only one guy in my firm hold CFA, I don't think he got this job becasue he is a CFA, he just passed exam recently.
Good luck.
