Formal education nowadays has become a common, no longer premium, need. Most people spent almost half of their lifetime to take formal education, from elementary school to college. After all of those investments, should people, especially the professionals, take certification programs like CFA and FRM?

Ricky Ichsan, CFA, FRM, CFP, ERMCP, CFOS, CRMP, the Managing Director of Ghera Multi Wahana, said that the rapid growth in the investment and financial worlds and a lot of financial and operational problems occurred lately because of the vulnerability of the companies’ risk management have spurred the need to create a standard which investors and employers can rely on when dealing with investment and financial professionals. Understanding of proper risk management can prevent many unwanted disasters is also significantly crucial.

“At this time, education is a necessity. However, there are reasons why we should take certification programs,” he explained, during the Executive Briefing Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM) Preparatory Program: “Grab the Advantages during a Turbulent Time”, that was held on Wednesday, January 11^th 2017, at BINUS JWC Campus, Senayan.

The reasons of that, he continued, are although formal education is a must, it is no longer adequate. Therefore, it takes professional competence to fill the needs. The competency-based learning cannot be obtained by attending the class alone.

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA ®) is a prestigious professional designation for finance and investment analysts. The examination is conducted once a year every June for Level 2 & 3 exams and twice a year in June and December for Level 1 exams and is facilitated simultaneously worldwide by the CFA INSTITUTE.

CFA is a symbol of integrity and professional excellence. CFA standards are recognized internationally. There are many MBA programs and business schools, but there is only one CFA designation. Some of the organizations that employ CFA Charter holders are investment and management companies, consulting companies, investment bankers, insurance, pension funds, banks, and other financial institutions.

Meanwhile, the Financial Risk Manager (FRM®) is a prestigious professional designation for professionals that are involved in financial and risk management. The assessment Examination is conducted once a year every November and is held all over the world by GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals) at the same time.

Taking the certification program like CFA and FRM will result in prestigious designation (title) that can be put behind the holder’s name, recognition from employers around the world, access to high-end global job opportunities with great income potential, and the holder can be viewed as one of the most competent individuals in industry.

“Professional title like CFA and FRM will result in instant recognition,” said Ricky Ichsan.

(ERON)