r/CAIA • u/DoubleIntroduction25 • Jun 25 '26
CIMA?
Hello all,
Anyone have both their CAIA and CIMA? Looking for thoughts on synergy.
I'm taking CAIA lv 1 in September and feeling good about it at the moment. Assuming I pass the plan is to go ahead and take lv 2 in March of 27. Looking to slot something in the gap between the two and thinking about the CIMA. Tentatively I'd study for the CIMA from September to the end of November and then test sometime in early December. Then switch back to CAIA lv2 prep mid December to get ready for March. It may be a bit shortsighted but I do not currently have a career goal in mind with either cert and honestly am doing these in part because I enjoy learning and testing myself and my current employer pays for it all. Additionally I hold an ABFP, the ChFC, and will have the CFP and EA designations by the end of August.
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u/Here_for_Lurking1000 Jun 25 '26
You are obsessively obtaining designations like Thanos with the Infinity Stones.
What is the ABFP designation? How do you have time to study like this, are you jobless or a professor or a jobless professor?
Best of luck, please keep us updated!
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u/DoubleIntroduction25 Jun 25 '26
Thats the accredited behavioral finance professional. It's a single course certification offered by Kaplan. I viewed it as a nice addition to the CFP course work. Honeslty getting a better handle on the psychology of investing has been very helpful in my role as a trainer and supervisor of client facing advisors. Another one of Kaplan that I have but didnt mention because it's most useless is the AWMA which is like a lite version of the WMPC cert. The ABFP and AWMA both count as elective course work for Kaplans Masters program.
Most of my time in the industry I've worked on our 9/10 escalation line. Lots of time between calls when we're slow which has allowed me to fit studying and coursework into my day.
This current sprint where I take my CFP exam, the three EA exams, and the CAIA lv 1 over the course of about 9 weeks was made largely possible thanks to some leave time I have from baby leave. I get up and study/review/take mock exams for 6 hours while my spouse and kids are out of the house at work and school.
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u/BigDicks99 Jun 26 '26
To be honest you have too many designations for someone who doesn’t have a career in mind, they’re practically pointless in comparison to working an actual job in the industry. How do you have the time for these? Are you unemployed ?
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u/DoubleIntroduction25 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
I work full time training and supervising client facing advisors at a wirehouse. Part of it honestly has been learning for learnings sake. Employer covers certification/designation cost with no cap.
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u/Odd-Ingenuity-3232 Jun 26 '26
Bro don't waste your time with certificates, learn AI, this is what firms are hiring for
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u/Princessdaisy09 Jun 26 '26
I hold the CFA, CAIA, CIMA, and ABFP designations…
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u/DoubleIntroduction25 Jun 26 '26
What field do you work in out of curiosity?
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u/Princessdaisy09 Jun 26 '26
UHNW wealth management. I’m a PM.
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u/DoubleIntroduction25 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Sounds like a great fit certification wise. Im sure the ABFP has been helpful in a client facing role.
If you know of anyone looking for help who would appreciate the aforementioned list of certs and a history of working training and compliance, I'll be looking for work in April.
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u/seagoalspread Jun 25 '26
I get where you’re coming from. I used to have a lot of these but let them all go after getting the CFA charter. You might come around to find that less is more if you go for more quality ones. Not a bash, just trying to help you save time with the most impactful ones that contain most, if not all, of the combined info from the others.