I'm a trader for a small hedge fund who is going to reapply to MBA programs this upcoming year (wharton, columbai, booth, nyu) and am also thinking of taking the CFA level I in december. I've asked a number of people about the CFA, and they said that it was "helpful" but were ambiguous when I asked them for specifics, in particular regarding getting better jobs. It's pretty clear that an MBA from a top school will open a lot of doors, due to networking, pedigree, campus recruiting, etc., and that it's very beneficial for career switchers. But I'm not quite sure if a CFA without an MBA can really boost one's career prospects.
Thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.