Invest in your career

Future-proof your investment career

Proactively managing your career has never been so important. The days when decisions made at university put you on a conveyor belt to the top of your chosen profession at well-defined stages are long gone. Taking personal responsibility for your career and making the most of your working life is an active and lifelong process.

CFA UK has asked its network of experts and industry leaders to share their story, insights and advice to guide you during this process. To find out more about what successful career development looks like, visit this page and follow our LinkedIn page for regular updates on new content and events.

CFA UK survey on career development

As part of our "Invest In Your Career" campaign, we asked you to share some insights into your approach to professional development and career needs. We found that 96% of you believe that lifelong learning is key to progression in your career and 89% regularly dedicate time to learning and upskilling.

Survey results

Harnessing curiosity to drive your career

Curiosity is intrinsic within us and yet is rarely practised the older we become and the more of an expert we are in our fields. By actively harnessing our innate curiosity, we can help ourselves transform. Karen Kwong presents tips how being curious can help your career.

Be curious

In conversation with Alexandra Haggard, CFA

We asked some of our members to share insights into their experience, what’s driving their career and how they got to where they are now. The fundamentals of the CFA Program led to accelerated career progression.

Read Alexandra's story

Automation: See an opportunity in every difficulty

The evolution of artificial intelligence and machine learning has enabled machines to perform human roles with greater speed, precision and efficiency. It is therefore not surprising that the coming to age of such technologies has been regarded as a threat by humans. Priyanka Chandran, CFA, Vice President, Deutsche Bank, tells us more about building a successful career in the age of automation.

Read Priyanka's blog

In conversation with Alan Livsey, CFA

We asked some of our members to share insights into their experience, what’s driving their career and how they got to where they are now. Passion, thirst for knowledge, networking and a proactive approach to professional development can go a long way.

Read Alan's story

Top tips on how to take your career to the next level

Going back to work after the summer holidays can be tough! But it’s also a good time to look at your career and decide what you want it to look like in the coming months or years. To give you a little inspiration, we’ve asked six successful professionals to tell us a bit about their career and share their top tips for progression.

Top tips

In conversation with Marshall Bailey, CFA and OBE

We asked some of our members to share insights into their experience, what’s driving their career and how they got to where they are now.

Read Marshall's story

Outrunning Time’s Arrow – How to download experience?

Control of our flaws is key to career success in the Machine Learning age. In the same way that the invention of the Sat-Nav has made car journeys easier (and saved many a marriage), a digital assistant recording our actions, contextualising them and revealing our behavioural quirks to ourselves, can speed up our personal development. Neiloy Ghosh, CFA and director, client services at Inalytics tells us more about what the future could look like for investment professionals.

Read Neiloy's blog

Capitalism needs to be more purposeful

Our industry’s effectiveness is best judged relative to its ability to produce sustainable societal wealth and well-being, which are measured directly by financial success. We have a key role in providing investors with foundational and continuous education on ESG and sustainability, says CFA Institute’s President and CEO Paul Smith.

Read article

Lifelong learning

As the academic year restarts and we all come back from holiday, it is unsurprising that many of us think about taking a course and sharpening our skills. Perhaps the summer break has reminded us of an ambition or caused us to reflect on our career progress – either way, many of us will spend some time in the next few weeks figuring out what we want to do and how we want to do it.

Read CEO Blog

In conversation with Lisa Lewin, CFA

Lisa's story

In conversation with Jason Baran, CFA

Jason uses his position as ‘investment expert’ in his firm to maximise his influence whilst using CFA Society UK resources to back up his thirst for professional knowledge.

Jason's story

Taking the plunge: 3 things you need to know before setting up your own business

Setting up your own boutique asset management company, hedge fund or independent research house is an increasingly viable and attractive career option for CFA charterholders. Considering taking the plunge? This article covers the 3 things you need to know first.

What you need to know

5 smart ways to get ahead with your job search in today’s market

Ten years ago, if you wanted to move jobs within the City, you updated your CV, put in a few calls to the relevant agency or headhunter, maybe asked a small number of trusted contacts if they knew of any suitable vacancies and then waited for the calls.

Read Jane's article and tips

Professional development

Our industry is changing fast, from clients' needs to regulation and technological disruption. Because proactively managing your professional development has never been so important, we've put together an extensive programme for you. Take a look at what's next.

Full programme