Career conversations: Making connections to drive meaningful engagement

As a business owner, having the CFA® charter gave me both the confidence and also the credibility, which was recognized by both my peers and also by my clients. My name is Arielle Jacobs-Bittoni. I am a CFA® Charterholder and a certified financial planner.

I am an entrepreneur, a wife, and also a mother. I run Good Balance Financial Planning, a fee-only registered investment advisory firm serving professional women and couples in the Los Angeles area.

My career has taken a winding path. I began my career as a financial economic litigation consultant, and in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, I transitioned into the mortgage industry, and ultimately became a senior structurer where I was actively involved in creating mortgage-backed securities. The financial crisis of 2008 caused me to pivot into the municipal space, where I was an institutional salesperson. After becoming a mother and having some time to reflect on my journey, I decided to transition into wealth management, where I am today.

I discovered the CFA Program while I was working in the mortgage industry. I was very excited to learn that you can pursue the CFA® designation while working, and to make it even more compelling, my employer sponsored me. So it made it a very complimentary choice and very attractive to me.  

My CFA® journey was definitely challenging. I took advantage of companies that offered test preparation. They offered materials that reviewed all of the different areas that the CFA® test covers, and also gave specific study schedules and a lot of aids that were helpful.

Being involved in the CFA® Society has been rewarding for me in many ways. I have made meaningful connections and many close friendships that have fueled me to become more engaged in greater diversity and inclusion initiatives. Some of these initiatives include co-founding the nonprofit collaborative Women in Investment Management, co-chairing the Gender Diversity Subcommittee CFA® Institute, and continuing to chair the Women's Advisory Council for CFA Los Angeles.

To address young women who are interested in pursuing the CFA® designation, my advice would be just don't let it intimidate you. Earning the CFA® designation demonstrates a high caliber of knowledge and also has the potential to open doors as you progress through your career. There are many organizations today that didn't exist before, that are committed to providing support and mentorship.  

Earning the CFA® charter is an accomplishment that is incredibly challenging and can sometimes result in some setbacks. But I would say that sometimes our failures are teaching moments that allow us the time to reflect on what our true priorities are.