Career conversations: Standing out from the competition

What really took me to the next level in my career, particularly as a young person was going through the CFA Program. It was a journey that was well worth it. I learned more than I did probably in university. Now I have the CFA credentials to boost my credibility with clients and help the firm grow. My name is Lily Taft.

I'm a CFA® Charterholder and a portfolio manager at Mainstreet Research Wealth Management. I actually grew up in a household where my father was a financial advisor, so I was exposed to the financial industry from a very young age and I've always been good with numbers. I went to business school where I studied finance and interned for a couple of different types of financial companies.

And finance was particularly a good fit for me because there's the human element to our work. It's such a joy within my job to be able to connect with individuals on an emotional level, help them understand their portfolio. I was motivated to do the CFA® Program for a couple of different reasons. The first one was definitely to build my credibility.

It can be hard to build trust when you are so young, but that CFA credential really gives you an edge against your competition. This is an exam that thousands of people take around the world. As most people know, there's a very low pass rate, so there is a quality barrier aspect to the CFA® exam. My journey through the CFA Program, it's a very rewarding journey.

People know that this process is a long one. So to be able to get through that is a huge accomplishment and also a stamp of character thanks to the support that the leadership provided me. Not only was my CFA Program paid for by my firm, but I also received some time off to help study for the exam. Even just a few days really does make a world of difference.

I have a couple of pieces of advice for others going through a CFA certification. First one would be to really ask for support from your friends and family members. You're going to need to rely on your friends to be there for you to have a cup of coffee with you and just listen while you're going through so much at once. Once you're in wealth management, particularly as a CFA Charterholder, I would advise to really focus on the emotional intelligence aspect of the job.

So by setting yourself apart and focusing on how you can emotionally be there for your clients is so important and something that the CFA Program touches on. But you can really take it to the next level after the program in the industry.