Financial Advisor to Financial Analyst?
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The two careers have some similarities, but being an FA will not, in fact it may hurt, your chances of entering research at a large firm. The skill sets are very different.
If you want to be an analyst, my recommendation is to decide what industries you'd like to follow and then get a job in the finance department in one of those companies. After 3 years, get a research job or go business school and then seek a job in whatever equity research looks like at that point. That's pretty much the average analyst's bio.The CFA exam is tough. It is nothing like the FINRA or NASD or whatever it is exams. If you are serious, find your local CFA chapter and take their cram course; it will at least get you focused on what you need to know - whic is substantial. Then you get to pay a large test fee and see a room full of others with the same goal. Plan on 3 years because thats how long it takes to get chartered. By then you may see a better economy and get a job.