Hi AlwaysStudying23,
Love your username!

Thanks for posting your profile. Firstly, let me congratulate you for passing two levels of the CFA exam. I went through the same process and that's not an easy exam! I am also happy to see you work at a large asset manager (I myself worked at an institutional asset manager pre-MBA). Business schools like to see candidates from all different areas of Finance, and your expertise in this area can help differentiate you.
Your instinct is correct on the test score - you would ideally get your GRE score closer to the average at the schools on your list. Given your finance background, have you considered switching over to the GMAT instead? Candidates with strong quant skills tend to like the test format of the GMAT more. The study material is similar for both tests.
I think if you can bump up the test score this month, you still have time to apply in R2, especially given that you already have 5 years of work experience. Most candidates apply when they have 3-6 years of work experience under their belt. Of course, you would still be in this range if you apply next year, albeit on the upper end of the range. At the larger macro level, usually b-school applications go up when the economy weakens. If you are ready this year, it's a good time to apply!
As you pull your apps together, be sure to describe what motivates you to be passionate about your career goals. Why are you considering a pivot into consulting? If you can articulate this compellingly in your essays, that would be the key to your application success. If you would like to discuss your profile in more detail, feel free to schedule a 1:1 consultation with us. Wishing you the best in your MBA journey!
Sincerely,
Debbie