I know a CFA who is over 40 and still has the demeanour of a 10 year old smiley kid (I cannot take him seriously as an adult). He has a gambling problem and has defrauded friends and employers, in every case somehow managing to get away with all his bullshit.
Point being, he continues to get hired in quite high paying jobs. It might be different in the US, but based on this walking fuckup floating through life, I have the impression that being a CFA is the world's most boring golden ticket. Yeah, sure, it's a grim life, but it seems like you can just coast through your professional life, pretty easily.
Personally, that leads me to somewhat suspect Brian's qualifications.