Career conversations: Charting a path to portfolio management

During high school, there were options of science, engineering and finance. My mother advised me to have all the options ready for the future. So I started off my education journey from science, and then I moved towards engineering. During those four years, I got to know that I was very much towards numbers and this is what helped me in choosing a financial career.  

My name is Misbah Pervaiz. I am working in Atlas Asset Management as a Portfolio Manager. I started my career as an underwriter and realized that I was not cut out for it. I was more interested towards investing, how markets operate, how taxes are done, and how portfolio management works. And these were the flavors that were offered by CFA Program.

I researched about it and found that it was a globally recognized credential. CFA (Program) is a rigorous program. It prepares you for a multitude of financial avenues.  

Once I got clarity regarding my educational path, I started preparing for CFA® Level I exam. I registered early, so I had ample time to go over the curriculum in a very structured manner. And then progressed towards preparing for Level II and Level III.

When I first appeared for Level II in June, 2017, I did not clear it then. That was the first time I had failed an exam. It was a very disturbing time for me, but with the support of my family, I decided to give the program another try.

After clearing Level II, I joined Atlas Asset Management. My colleagues were very supportive and helpful while I was preparing for the exam. Interestingly, I failed the Level III exam twice due to health issues in my immediate family, and then came the COVID-19 pandemic. I finally cleared Level III in 2022.

The CFA (Program) journey has given me an opportunity to stand out among the crowd as not everyone opts for it. The CFA® credentials have allowed me to grow in my current company. I'm now making more informed decisions about client portfolios.

For someone taking the CFA® certification, I would give two major advices. Number one, have a good support system and a partner that believes in you. I had it and I'm truly thankful for it. Number two, know that the CFA Program is a rigorous one. You'll have to sacrifice a lot while completing it, be it your family or social life. But in the end, it's all worth it.