Career conversations: A strong work ethic will help you get ahead

The CFA® Program is about immersing yourself in financial knowledge to gain a deep understanding of the capital markets and the global economy, so that you can progress in your professional career. My name is Oren Cabir. I've been a CFA® Charterholder since 2016. I specialize working with clients, analyzing investments and navigating the capital markets.

When I first moved from Israel to the United States, I noticed a big wide discrepancy between the two economies of the two different countries. I realized that the capital markets of the United States are the most stable and the most credible in the world, so I wanted to take a deeper dive and understand exactly how the capital markets work, how the stock market works, and how the bond markets work. That led me to purchase my first stock as a young teenager, and I was very quickly very interested in the markets.

I decided to pursue an economics major at UCLA, and from there on I decided to start a career in the financial services industry. After UCLA, I started working in the fixed-income trading desk, working on a structured product desk, and it was a very enriching experience because I worked on such a small team that I could wear multiple hats and do many, many different things.

I had a very close relationship and worked closely with the CIO of the private bank itself, which gave me very knowledgeable experience. I worked on complex products called structured products, which gave me a deep understanding as to how products work in the financial services industry.

I realized early in my career that the CFA Program is the gold standard in the industry, and I wanted to gain as much knowledge as possible and put myself in the best position as possible to try to advance in my career. I balance my working hours with studying, which was very difficult, but through dedication and hard work, I actually progressed through it.

What led me to transition from the fixed-income trading desk to the investment management industry is I wanted to use my deep knowledge, understanding and experience to guide others and contribute in a different manner. It helped me in my career and now I'm focused on the investment management industry and working with others through the financial journey.

It's important to strike a balance between professionalism and also being personable with your clients. I think a key part is establishing credibility early on, sharing the CFA® Charterholder and your experiences and background. I do that with my clients, but I also ask a lot of personal questions and I share a little bit about my own personal life.

Breaking down complex concepts for clients is extremely important. I think a key part of the role is being able to explain the intricacies of the global economy and showing how different things are intertwined with one another. And it's important to be able to explain all of these very complex subjects into simple words that other people can understand quickly and easily.

A valuable lesson that I learned in my professional career is to do the work that you strive to do. And as an example, when I was an investment analyst, I wanted to be an associate portfolio manager, but I was working as if I was an associate portfolio manager and doing that job before I got the title and the promotion.

The advice I would give to those seeking and pursuing the CFA Program is to start early when studying, to give yourself time and space because there's a lot of material to go through. I would also encourage you to really understand the dedication and commitment that it takes to go through the program. However, I would also say that it's important to keep in mind why you're going through the program and to understand that this is the gold standard in the industry.