Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the CFA Japan Year End Party. It was nice to catch up with some people I know and meet some new faces. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that one of my friends earned his CFA designation this year (congratulations, Andres!). When you see an example of somebody actually getting through all the three levels, it gives you some hope and confidence in your own endeavor. What really made an impression on me, however, was the number of people who had no corporate logos on their business cards. Some of them started their own business, some are just hanging out waiting for a decent employment opportunity. There are really tough times...