Do you REALLY need to pursue other professional degrees after CA?

Do you really need to pursue other professional degrees with CA?

Whatever your answer is, this article is for you.

Have you seen CAs doing other professional courses like CS, LLB, CFA, CWA & others but still finding difficulties to achieve their desired lifestyle?

Have you seen CAs looking for always next professional degree considering that additional professional degree will give them what they are looking for?

Whether they have really achieved what they had thought before joining the other professional courses?

Yes or No?

If your answer is No, have you ever thought why it is happening?

Here, I’m not degrading other professional degrees or decision of CAs who pursue those courses…

What I’m trying to tell you is….

MERELY PURSUING PROFESSIONAL DEGREES ONE AFTER ANOTHER WILL NOT HELP YOU!!

I believe, in many cases, people keep doing one after another professional course thinking that next course will give them better life, more money and more satisfaction.

Let me ask you this…

Why people pursue other professional courses after or along with CA???

Think about it! Maybe you have pursued other courses. Maybe your friends. Maybe your relatives.

What I have observed is that, most CAs are doing other professional courses because –

• Their friends are doing it;
• Someone in their closed acquaintance suggested them to do this course because “it is trending”;
• They thought it would give them a better job with a better pay;
• It’s better to do such courses because “CV mein add ho jayega to achi job milegi!”;
• It will help them to showcase to the world and to their closed relatives which will help them to find a better girl (being a Marwadi, I have come across this reason as well from Marwadi friends)

Are these really good answers as to why one should pursue other professional qualification?

I believe NO.

Just because you need more money or better girl or to accompany friend, this cannot be a good reason to pursue other professional courses.

Let me share a real-life incident with you:

One of my friend introduced me to his friend and while having conversation, I came to know he was pursuing CFA.

Me: You are working in taxation field right now. So, why are you doing CFA then?

He: Because nowadays everyone is doing CFA and it adds value to our CV.

Me: You have any plans to pursue finance or sort of field for which CFA is more relevant?

He: Most probably NO.

I was literally shocked to listen his answer because there was no justification for pursing other course. It must have cost him lakhs of rupees.

How illogical it is to do something which you are not clear about...

Let me share what I have observed very commonly with CAs or who are in queue to become CA…

When I was doing my CA during 2012-2015, there was a TREND of doing CS along with CA. Most of the times, reason was to accumulate one more degree because it comes with less efforts and it increases weight of CV.

Now a days, it is TREND to pursue CFA along with CA.

Even I had enrolled for CS. I paid money for CS foundation but never gave exams. Then I again paid for getting CS foundation exemption. And after spending good amount of money, I thought that what value it is adding to me except for adding 2 more words in my CV?

Again, after almost 2 years, I enrolled for LLB course because then, I was working in tax domain. But after some time, I dropped it because I did not see VALUE for myself.

It is very good that CAs believe in pursuing other professional courses, but my perspective is –

• Have a good and valid reason to pursue other courses. E.g. If you are planning to do CFA, ask yourself – “How does it help me in in long term?”
• If you really want to take your life to a next level, invest in real life education by acquiring new skills.
• Don’t just go for other professional courses, rather evaluate whether its for you or not.

Because you would agree that CA is an amazing professional course, and most sought in commerce stream.

I personally believe and suggest following:

1. Determine your long-term goal (if not aware about long term, think about mid or short terms)
2. Basis your goal, evaluate which courses are really value addition to match with your vision
3. Pursue only those courses which give you the most value and thereby help to achieve results.

PS. This is my opinion and there is no intention to suggest anything bad about other professional courses.

I would like to know your thoughts and comments.

Your friend,

Shubham