SANDY TECHFANATIC

Health Tip of the Day - Who knew?!!!!

1. To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka. The stuff dissolves adhesive.

2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill a trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set five minutes and wash clean. The alcohol in the vodka kills mould and mildew.

3. To clean your eyeglasses,simply wipe the lenses with a soft, clean cloth dampened with vodka. The alcohol in the vodka cleans the glass and kills germs.

4. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving. The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.

5. Spray vodka on wine stains, scrub with a brush, and then blot dry.

6. Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.

7. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.

8. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle with vodka and spray bees or wasps to kill them.

9 Pour one-half cup vodka and one-half cup water into a Ziploc freezer bag and freeze for a slushy, refreshing ice pack for aches, pain or black eyes.

10. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar with freshly packed lavender flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply the tincture to aches and pains.

11. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.

12. To cure foot odour, wash your feet with vodka.

13 Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting.

14. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the urushiol oil from your skin.

15. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth. Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.

LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER

Dear Mr. Prime minister

I am a typical mouse from Mumbai. In the local train compartment which has
capacity of 100 persons, I travel with 500 more mouse. Mouse at least squeak
but we don't even do that.

Today I heard your speech. In which you said 'NO BODY WOULD BE SPARED'. I
would like to remind you that fourteen years has passed since serial bomb
blast in Mumbai took place. Dawood was the main conspirator. Till today he
is not caught. All our bolywood actors, our builders, our Gutka king meets
him but your Government can not catch him. Reason is simple; all your
ministers are hand in glove with him. If any attempt is made to catch him
everybody will be exposed. Your statement 'NOBODY WOULD BE SPARED' is
nothing but a cruel joke on this unfortunate people of India.

Enough is enough. As such after seeing terrorist attack carried out by about
a dozen young boys I realize that if same thing continues days are not away
when terrorist will attack by air, destroy our nuclear reactor and there
will be one more Hiroshima.

We the people are left with only one mantra. Womb to Bomb to Tomb. You
promised Mumbaikar Shanghai what you have given us is Jalianwala Baug.

Today only your home minister resigned. What took you so long to kick out
this joker? Only reason was that he was loyal to Gandhi family. Loyalty to
Gandhi family is more important than blood of innocent people, isn't it?

I am born and brought up in Mumbai for last Thirty eight years. Believe me
corruption in Maharashtra is worse than that in Bihar. Look at all the
politician, Sharad Pawar, Chagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Bal Thackray ,
Gopinath Munde, Raj Thackray, Vilasrao Deshmukh all are rolling in
money. Vilasrao
Deshmukh is one of the worst Chief minister I have seen. His only business
is to increase the FSI every other day, make money and send it to Delhi so
Congress can fight next election. Now the clown has found new way and will
increase FSI for fisherman so they can build concrete house right on sea
shore. Next time terrorist can comfortably live in those house , enjoy the
beauty of sea and then attack the Mumbai at their will.

Recently I had to purchase house in Mumbai. I met about two dozen builders.
Everybody wanted about 30% in black. A common person like me knows this and
with all your intelligent agency & CBI you and your finance minister are not
aware of it. Where all the black money goes? To the underworld isn't it? Our
politicians take help of these goondas to vacate people by force. I myself
was victim of it. If you have time please come to me, I will tell you
everything.

If this has been land of fools, idiots then I would not have ever cared to
write you this letter. Just see the tragedy, on one side we are reaching
moon, people are so intelligent and on other side you politician has
converted nectar into deadly poison. I am everything Hindu, Muslim,
Christian, Schedule caste, OBC, Muslim OBC, Christian Schedule caste, Creamy
Schedule caste only what I am not is INDIAN. You politician have raped every
part of mother India by your policy of divide and rule.

Take example of former president Abdul Kalam. Such a intelligent person,
such a fine human being. You politician didn't even spare him. Your party
along with opposition joined the hands, because politician feels they are
supreme and there is no place for good person.

Dear Mr Prime minister you are one of the most intelligent person, most
learned person. Just wake up, be a real SARDAR. First and foremost expose
all selfish politician. Ask Swiss bank to give name of all Indian account
holder. Give reins of CBI to independent agency. Let them find wolf among
us. There will be political upheaval but that will better than dance of
death which we are witnessing every day. Just give us ambient where we can
work honestly and without fear. Let there be rule of law. Everything else
will be taken care of.

Choice is yours Mr. Prime Minister. Do you want to be lead by one person or
you want to lead the nation of 100 Crore people?

BSE Certification on Securities Markets (BCSM)







EXAMINATION PLAN & CERTIFICATION

The passing of this examination entitles the candidate to receive BSE Certification on Securities Markets (BCSM).

BTI conducts a test of 100 marks consisting of 60 questions. The questions are of objective type having multiple choice. A quarter mark is deducted for each wrong answer.

BCSM is awarded to only those candidates who obtain a minimum of 50% marks.

There is no minimum eligibility criterion for taking the test.



Persons interested in taking the test in Mumbai may approach the BTI with 4 passport size colour photographs and a DD of Rs. 843.00 drawn in favour of "Bombay Stock Exchange, Limited" payable at Mumbai.
Persons interested in taking the test at any of the following centres other than Mumbai may approach the respective centres with 4 passport size colour photographs and a DD of Rs.843.00 drawn in favour of "Bombay Stock Exchange, Ltd." and payable at the respective centre.


Click here to view the list of Test Centres

OBJECTIVES OF THE TEST
To ensure that the participants in stock market have adequate knowledge of the Stock Exchange operations.

TEST SYLLABUS

Secondary Market, Trading Clearing and Settlement, Rolling Settlement, BOLT, Mutual Funds, Tax Provisions, Dematerialisation of Shares, Surveillance, Sensex and Other Indices, Futures and Options, Inspection of Brokers' Books, Ethics and Code of Conduct of Brokers/Sub-brokers, Primary Market, Book Building & IPOs, Listing, Investors' Grievances Redressal System available with BSE, SEBI & CLB, Debt Market and Internet Trading.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Stock Brokers, Sub-brokers, Mutual Funds, DPs and Investors.

DURATION & TIME

90 minutes


FEES

FOR APPEARING AT MUMBAI CENTER

Rs. 843.00 payable through DD in favour of "Bombay Stock Exchange, Limited" payable at Mumbai per participant per attempt inclusive of test workbook, Service Tax and Education Cess.

THE CTM PROGRAM

With the significant developments that have taken place in the Capital, Money, and Foreign Exchange Markets in the recent years affecting volatility in exchange rates and accentuating liquidity constraints, corporates and banks have started paying closer attention to the treasury and forex management function. The globalization of the economy with mobilization and deployment of funds from/in other countries is also necessitating growing attention in the area of treasury and forex management.

Treasury Management

Treasury Management is fast emerging as a specialization in many companies and the accounting function is being delinked from the finance function. Highly focused knowledge of capital markets, money markets, instruments and investment avenues, treasury and risk management and related areas, has become essential for managing the treasury profit center successfully.

Forex Management

In the field of Forex Management, the opportunities to raise money outside India, and the factors which influence the evaluation of overseas capital investment projects, are not completely understood. The network of payments and the international investments have elevated the study of finance to a multinational scale. Events in distant lands, whether they involve changes in the prices of oil and gold, election results, the outbreak of war, or the establishment of peace, have effects which instantly reverberate around the globe. In this increasingly integrated and interdependent financial environment, the links between money and capital markets have become extremely close.

In the wake of these interesting developments in the field of Treasury and Forex Management, ACTM (India) in collaboration with the Association of Chartered Treasury Managers (ACTM), USA has developed a unique Professional Certification Program in Treasury and Forex Management titled "The Certified Treasury Manager" Program for the benefit of postgraduate students in management and professionals/working executives engaged or interested in the area of treasury and forex management. Successful completion of the CTM Program leads to the Membership in Association of Certified Treasury Managers, India. The members are entitled to use the "CTM" in short. The members are also entitled to become affiliate members in the Association of Chartered Treasury Managers, USA.

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Objectives

The Certified Treasury Manager Program is a highly specialized course imparting focused knowledge in the areas of treasury, forex and risk management.

The CTM Program has the following objectives :

To develop a new body of knowledge and skills and make it available for those seeking challenging careers in the new era of liberalization and globalization.
To provide a conceptual framework for understanding the Money Markets and the Foreign Exchange Markets.
To cultivate appreciation of the inter-linkages between the Money Markets and Foreign Exchange Markets and the practical implications of these linkages.
To improve the ability for measuring and managing financial risks in corporates and banks.
To impart skills in treasury and foreign exchange management which are relevant in the electronic age, where managers will be operating in a web enabled environment.
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For Whom

Keeping in mind the avenues open to candidates who take up the CTM Program, this course would be useful for : Finance and Accounting Professionals like CFAs, CAs, CWAs, CSs, MBAs who seek careers in treasury/forex departments of banks/corporates.

Professionals employed in the forex departments of banks or with forex dealers.
Professionals working in the treasury/investments departments of corporates/banks.
Entrepreneurs and managers controlling export businesses.
Candidates pursuing professional courses like CFA, CA, CWA, CS, CAIIB etc.
Candidates pursuing full-time postgraduate programs in commerce, economics, mathematics, statistics and management.
Other individuals associated with international business and funds.
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Skills to Succeed

The surge of activity in the money and forex markets require constant monitoring and managing. To succeed in these areas, candidates should possess the following skills.

Mathematical Aptitude
Computer Skills
Ability to withstand pressure
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Eligibility

The following categories of candidates are eligible to enroll into the CTM Program

CFAs/CAs/CWAs/CSs.
Candidates with PG qualifications like PGDBA/MBA/MMS/MFC/MIB/ MBE/MCom/ MA (Eco)/MSc (Maths)/MSc (Stats), etc.
The following categories of candidates are also eligible to enroll into the CTM Program, provided they are graduates.
Candidates who passed CFA (Level I), CA (Inter), CWA (Inter), CS (Inter) or CAIIB (Part I).
Bankers with CAIIB qualification.
Full-time students of the PGDBA/MBA/MMS/MFC/MIB/MBE/MCom programs with Business Schools/University Departments, IIMs and other reputed institutions.
Full-time students of MA (Eco)/MSc (Maths)/MSc (Stats).
Executives with minimum 5 years experience in executive capacity in corporate/banking sector with relevant experience in treasury or foreign exchange areas.
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Duration

The CTM Program may be completed in a period of one year.

Period of Validity of Enrollment

The enrollment of a candidate in the CTM Program is valid for three years from the date of enrollment. Candidates who are unable to complete the program within the three-year validity period, but, keen on continuing in the program, are required to register de novo.

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Program Structure

The CTM Program covers all the important topics related to treasury and foreign exchange. The broad areas in which the body of knowledge is developed and the candidates will be examined, are divided into two Groups consisting of two Parts each.

The structure of the CTM Program and details of marks and time allotted for each Part is given below:

Group/Part
Marks allotted
Duration of
Examination
GROUP A
Part I : Treasury Management
Part II : Foreign Exchange Management

100
100

3 hours
3 hours
GROUP B
Part III : Risk Management - I
Part IV : Risk Management - II

100
100

3 hours
3 hours
The CTM Candidates are required to undertake a Project Work as an integral part of the Program.

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Learning Benefits

The candidates enrolling into the CTM program are likely to get several learning benefits from each one of the subjects of study. Each subject is given in-depth coverage so that the candidates derive immediate and practical benefits. Broadly speaking, the candidates acquire three types of skills:

Basic Skills
Application Skills
Integrative Skills
The more important learning benefits are identified below:

You will be able to understand the scope and functions of treasury management and its linkages with corporate finance and functional areas of management.
You will get to know the financial forecasting techniques and how to apply them in treasury management.
You will appreciate the significance of effective liquidity management under conditions of surplus and deficit.
You will have an understanding of long-term financial planning and the tools and techniques used for estimations.
You will learn about financial markets and instruments and the emerging trends.
You will learn about basics of international economics and international finance including international financial markets and instruments markets and instruments instruments instruments instruments instruments.
You will appreciate the methods of financing international trade.
You will understand the key aspects relating to forex markets and determination of exchange rates.
You will learn about risk management and various tools and techniques.
You will know how to manage risks with various derivative instruments.
You will grasp the accounting and tax implications of various derivatives.
You will get an insight into handling financial crisis situations including bankruptcy.
You will grasp the nuances of financial management of multinational corporations including treasury management in MNCs.
You will appreciate the key role of management of relationships with bankers and institutions.
You will grasp the basics of internal treasury controls through effective MIS.
You will get exposure to speculation and ethical dilemmas in treasury management

Earlier individuals used to approach self proclaimed financial advisors for advice. Over a period of time things changed, one started looking at banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies, tax consultants for advice. However, individuals still aren’t getting the counsel that takes an integrated view of their life and financial goals. Even professionals like CAs, CWAs, CFAs are aptly qualified to handle one’s personal finance for instance Chartered Accountants specialise in accounting, CWA specializes in costing, CFA specialises in portfolio management and investment analysis, MBA in finance specializes in general finance and management.
Therefore today the need for a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) is growing. A CFP has specialisation in areas of insurance, investment, taxation, estate planning and retirement planning. A CFP doesn't see an individual’s financial needs such as insurance or investment in isolation but considers all aspects in totality.

SCOPE OF CPF
An increasing number of banks like ICICI bank, Standard Chartered Bank and others are making it mandatory for their Relationship Managers to acquire the CFP certification. Regulatory bodies like SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA etc are gradually educating and encouraging individuals to consult CFPs for their financial needs.

According to a recent report, there will be a need for 50,000 CFPs in India in the next few years. Currently India has around 450 + CPFs. As mentioned above, jobs would be offered in banks, insurance sector, financial services sector.

Overview of comprehensive Financial Planning

What is overall comprehensive Financial Planning
The place, role & importance of each module in this process
Holistic approach & code of ethics
Personal/Intra personal communication skills required.
Risk Management & Insurance Planning

Different kinds of risks & how to manage them
How dose insurance works
Doctrines of insurance
How the cost of insurance is determined
Rating practices in general insurance
How to plan the insurance –Life stage wise
Once case study
Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits

Need for Retirement Planning
How to determine the retirement corpus & planning for it’s achievement
Statutory retirement benefits offered by the Govt. / Pvt. Employees
Mathematical calculation of Gratuity / EDLI / Leave Encashment / EPS 1995 / EPF / PPF
Tax treatment of the above
Group Insurance schemes
OASIS
Investment Planning

Different classes of assets and their characteristics
Liquid Assets
Call money / Notice money / T Bills / Commercial Paper / Commercial Deposits
MMMF’s
Fixed Interest Earning Securities
Govt / PSU / Corporate Bonds /
Understanding the Concept & Calculation of YTM
Growth Assets
Equity
Valuation of Shares
Calculation of EPS / Dividend Yield / P.E. ratios
Mutual Funds
Selection process
Subtopic
Real Estate
Risk Profile
Asset Allocation
Strategic / Tactical
Rebalancing techniques
Concept of returns
Various types of returns and how to calculate them mathematically
Concept of Risk
Various types of risk & to measure them
Risk Adjusted Returns
Standard Deviation / Sharpe Ratio / Treynor Ratio / Jensen Ratio
Risk hedging Techniques
Forwards / Futures / SWAP / Options
Portfolio Design based on life stages & risk profile
Case Study
Taxation & Estate Planning

1. Tax Avoidance / Tax Evasion / Tax Planning
2. Ways & Means of Taxation Planning for Salaried Individuals, firms, Companies
3. Use of Taxation Planning in Management Decision Making Process like –
Make or Buy, Choice of Entity, Capital Structure etc.
4. Residential Status & Applicable Tax Laws to them
5. Taxation Laws & Rules applicable to Individuals / HUF / Firms / Companies / Co. Op. Soc. Etc.

Advance Financial Planning


HOW 2 BECOME CFP
The 4-step process involving 4 Es to become a Financial Planner.

1. Education.

Eligibility.
Ensure you have the requisite education requirement: HSC Marksheet / Graduation / Post Graduation from a recognized university.

Skills.
Ensure you have the skills required to be a Financial Planner:

Ability to understand the Financial Planning process
Ability to gain trust and build relationships with clients
Ensure you have the technical competence in the following areas:

Insurance Planning
Investment Planning
Tax Planning
Retirement Planning
Cash Flow Analysis Budgeting and other mathematical skills
2. Experience

The experience requirement centers on work that involves personal financial planning. It is designed to provide the public with the assurance that the candidate understands the counseling nature of personal financial planning. For CFPCM certification examination, the candidate is required to have a minimum of three years of relevant work experience.

3. Examination

Appear for the globally recognized CFPCM certification examination.

What’s the CFPCM exam all about?
Get your technical skills tested in the following areas:

* Risk Management & Insurance Planning
* Investment Planning
* Retirement Planning
* Tax and Estate Planning
* Advance Plan Construction

All the above exams are conducted by the FPSB in every alternate month, across 7 cities in India.
Click here to know the exam details»

Who gives the CFPCM certification in India?
CFPCM is conducted by Financial Planning Standards Board of India (part of Financial Planning Standard Board Council located at Denver, USA) and is recognized by its Indian charter members.

Be CFPCM certified.
CFPCM is a global certification, which endows the holder with the freedom to practice in more than 19 countries (You only need to clear one module on local tax laws to be eligible to practice in these 19 countries). The CFPCM certification is regarded as a premier qualification in financial advisory services and is among the leading career choices in developed countries.

With a CFPCM certification, you will get on a golden career path alongside fellow Financial Planners from 20 countries.

How do you register for the exam?
1. Become an FPSB India Student member.
You can register with FPSB India by paying a Student Registration fee of Rs. 5000.The Student Registration is valid for 1 year. To download form click here
FPSB India Student Regisration form

2. Exam Details and Fees.
FPSB, India conducts the exam every two months. The test fees are Rs. 1000 per test for the first 4 modules and Rs. 5000 for the last module. The Examination is outsourced to NSE, for which you will have to fill the NCFM form and attach a Passport size photograph , To download form click here
Note: Please make separate DDs for Registration and Exam Fees favoring Financial Planning Standards Board, India payable at Mumbai.
NCFM Examination form

4. Ethics

On completion of the education, examination and experience requirements, the candidate for CFPCM Certification receives a Declaration Packet which includes an ethics statement form. Prior to certification, the candidates will be required to disclose past or pending litigation or agency proceedings, and to acknowledge the right of FPSB to enforce its Professional Standards through its Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. By fulfilling this requirement, the candidate demonstrates to the public that he/she has agreed to provide personal financial planning in the clients best interest and to act in accordance with the highest ethical and professional standards for the practice of financial planning.


CFP Examinations for Modules 1,2,3,4 are now conducted everyday. Student has to schedule his/her own Examination on the website www.nseindia.com. All the four modules will be conducted online viz. on real time basis.
Note: The CFP Examination are as follows

Examination 1 - (Risk Management and Insurance Planning), Examination 2 - (Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits), Examination 3 - (Investment Planning) and
Examination 4 - (Tax Planning & Estate Planning)
A candidate needs to be registered with FPSB India and have a NCFM Number to register for CFP examination.
A candidate can register with FPSB India by submitting the New FPSB India Registration Form along with a DD of Rs. 7500/- drawn in favour of “Financial Planning Standards Board India ” payable at Mumbai to his education service provider.
One can obtain a NCFM Number by registering himself/herself on the NSE website as follows
Log on to the website www.nseindia.com
Click on NCFM on the top menu bar of the website
Select – Online Register / Enroll
Click - New User? Register here
Fill up the online form completely
Check the filled up form thoroughly. Ensure that your name, date of birth, email id and mobile number has been filled up correctly.
Click on Submit after checking the form once again
The NCFM Number will be sent on your email id.
NOTE: In case you have already taken any other module or exam from NSE/NCFM you would already have a NCFM number, DO NOT create a new NCFM number in that case

A Fresh candidate can appear for any module examination (except 5th module) after 60 days of his /her registration with FPSB India. A candidate will not be able to view the CFP modules on NSE site in case he has not registered with FPSB India.
After obtaining the NCFM Number or candidates already having NCFM Number, in both the cases, the candidates will have to create their User ID & Password on the NSE website as follows
Log on to www.nseindia.com
Click on NCFM on the top menu bar of the website
Select Online Register / Enroll
Click on “Existing NCFM Candidates can click here to obtain their User ID & Password”

After creating the user id and password, upload your recent passport size photograph on the NSE website.
Note: It is mandatory for all students to upload their photographs with NSE, if not done earlier. The same has to be done at www.nseindia.com

Choose the module you want to appear for. For example Risk Management and Insurance Planning
Select the name of City where you want to take the test and the date/month/year you wish to take the exam.
Note: CFP Exams for modules 1,2 3,4 are now conducted in 71 cities in India . The examinations will be centrally administered by National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), at their test centers.Examination Centers for Module 1, 2, 3 & 4 will be decided as per the vacancies and slots available with NSE at the time of enrolment for the Examination.

View the seats available.
Note: All the Exams are of 2 hours duration. Students can schedule any number of Examinations as per availability of seat.

Book your seat
Note: Request for carry forward of examination OR request for change in exam dates, change in exam & change in exam centre etc. would NOT be entertained by FPSB India under any circumstances, hence select the date carefully

Pay the Examination Fee. Examination fee can be paid in three ways i.e. online by debit/credit card or by cash at the designated ICICI Bank branches or net banking. Enrolment/registration for Examination can be done only on payment of fee to NSE. For more details refer website www.nseindia.com .
Note: The Examination Fee has been revised as below:

For students taking the examinations during the dates 14th July 2008 to 9th August 2008: Rs 1,000/- per ExaminationFor students taking the examinations from 11th August 2008 to 31st March 2009: Rs 1,500/- per Examination
For students taking the examinations from 1st April 2009 onwards: Rs 2,000/- per Examination

Admit card (Hall ticket) will be generated by the system. Students are required to take a printout of their admit card and carry the same to the test center. The student will be informed about the examination schedule via SMS alert.
Candidates have to carry a photo ID Proof to the exam hall. For example, PAN Card, Driving License, Passport.
Candidate who do not attend the Examination in spite of registering for the exam will be considered as absent for the said examination.

An MBA can be expensive; this year's Stanford tuition, for example, is more than $43,000. And getting an MBA will consume two years of your life, if you're in a full-time program.

Obviously, then, before spending your time and money applying to school, you should decide if you really want and need an MBA.

Who Should Get an MBA: People with a Plan
Business school isn't for the clueless; it isn't meant to be a two-year placeholder in your middle or late 20s. Business schools look for people with a career plan that includes a legitimate need for an MBA-so even though it's okay to go to B-school without being sure what you want to do with your life, you should think about possible career goals, and whether attainment of them would be made easier with an MBA, before applying.

You won't be doing yourself any favors by going to B-school without direction or focus. If you haven't narrowed your focus at all, you'll probably be too swamped to do justice to career-direction decisions once school starts.

Who Should Get an MBA: People with Experience
Business schools focus on enrolling students with at least some real-world experience; the average student at a top business school is in his or her middle or late 20s. Why? For one thing, schools feel that if you have some experience, you'll have a better idea of how business works and what you'd like to do with your life than if you're fresh out of college.

In addition, if you have experience in industry you'll have more to contribute to your peers. One of the drawing cards of business school is the opportunity to learn from your peers-but of course that's only possible when you and your peers have something to teach each other.

If you're a college student who's dead-set on going straight to business school, you shouldn't necessarily fret. But you need to know that, to get into a top school, you'll need significant business-related coursework, a compelling reason for getting your MBA now rather than later, and impressive internship or temporary work experience.

Who Should Get an MBA: Leaders and Would-Be Leaders
The MBA is not essential for a leadership role in business—plenty of top executives got where they are by moving up through the ranks—but business school can be a great way station on the road to a leadership-oriented career.

By the time you graduate, you'll have spent thousands of hours in class or on group projects reading about, thinking about, and talking about a wide variety of businesses. As a result, you'll be better equipped than ever to make high-level business decisions.

And you'll probably spend some time studying "softer," people-focused coursework and projects, which will give you tools that will help you manage people in the pursuit of business goals.

Who Should Get an MBA: Career Changers
In business school, you'll get a chance to think through a wide range of business problems in a wide range of industries. You'll gain the skills needed to perform a variety of specific job functions. Having an MBA can make you attractive to a range of employers no matter what industry you worked in before B-school.

Who Should Get an MBA: People in Industries that Require the MBA for Advancement
In some industries and job functions very few people hired as college grads are promoted to more advanced positions.

On Wall Street, for example, people in sales and trading often can advance without a graduate education, but at most firms an MBA is necessary for advancing in a banking career. And the need for an MBA may be even greater in consulting.

Who Shouldn’t Get an MBA: People Who Want More Academic Focus than an MBA Offers
Whatever unique MBA program you might attend, the MBA is still a general business-management degree, designed to train people in a variety of topics to help them run a business. Some people are more interested in learning deeply about a single business-related subject, such as accounting or economics. If you’re one of these people, you should seek out a specialized graduate-degree program in your subject of interest.

Who Shouldn’t Get an MBA: Some Entrepreneurs
For some entrepreneurial types, the opportunity cost of going to B-school can be too great to justify taking two years away from work. Those with a great idea might blow the chance to be first to market with that idea; those already in entrepreneurial work situations can lose the opportunity to grow a business in the real world.

On the other hand, there are some good reasons for entrepreneurs to consider business school. You’ll get exposure to a wide range of business issues that should make you more equipped to run a business. You’ll learn about better ways of managing people. And if you’ve got a great idea but no capital with which to make your entrepreneurial dream a reality, business school can plug you into a network that can help you find funding.

Who Shouldn’t Get an MBA: Those without a Deep Desire for a Business Career
Artists, writers, craftspeople, scientists—these and others like them rarely have reason to get an MBA. Of course, there are exceptions: for instance, the craftsperson who wants to start a business, the scientist who wants to work in management for a biotech company, the business journalist, and so on.