Does getting an MBA help brokers substantially?
I realize this is different for everyone. I’m a young associate broker and I’ve noticed a lot of successful partners, and brokers of CRE companies who have MBA’s but I’ve also seen a lot who do not. 

A partner of a powerful company in my city once told me “if you get your MBA it might not help that much because the time you spend doing that you could spend building your network which would be just as beneficial”. I’m conflicted (also if I don’t get an MBA I’ll be the first male in my family in 120 years to not have one). 
[{"id": "efldcxa", "text": "I would think an MBA would help brokers less than any other job in CRE, since your success is so heavily dependent on your network. \n\nI don\u2019t think your families further education history should influence this decision either. People decide to get a masters for all sorts of reasons, but getting one just because your parents have one probably isn\u2019t the best way to look at it. ", "replies": [{"id": "efledqz", "text": "While I see what you\u2019re saying, I\u2019m pretty sure an MBA is just for the network. Anything you can learn in a technical sense from an MBA is available at books everywhere. The question is whether the $150k+loss of income or so for an MBA is worth it for that extra network. It\u2019s usually worth it for consulting and investment banking, but it\u2019s not as clear for brokerage. If you work for a REPE firm it totally helps though", "replies": [{"id": "eflg7sw", "text": "My ultimate goal is to get into REPE by 30. ", "replies": [{"id": "eflqjch", "text": "Then go for an MBA from a top 20 school. ", "replies": [], "depth": 4}, {"id": "efm0r4l", "text": "If you\u2019re targeting REPE with over $10 billion AUM your best bet is either lateral movement from a big investment sales or debt shop, or go get an MRED or MBA in the region you want to end up in and network like crazy (ICSC, NAREIM, NAIOP, etc). Option two works best if you have some money saved up. ", "replies": [{"id": "efm1gq4", "text": "I\u2019m not looking to get in larger REPEs. I have connections with some small boutique shops that have 1-5 billion AUM. My plan is to get into the investment side more once I gain the best understanding of the brokerage business as I possibly can. ", "replies": [{"id": "efm42hc", "text": "The thing about these 1-5 billion AUM companies is they rarely hire so you really need to stay dialed in with them over the years. Much more relationship driven when it comes to hiring for them, whoever they hire they really need to trust and expect to be with them for years as they dont want to train people over and over. \n\n\nGood luck though! ", "replies": [], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "efldrdo", "text": "Doing commercial 20+ years.  I dont see how an MBA helps an agent/broker at all.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eflfg3k", "text": "Getting an MBA at Wharton vs City College is a big difference.  MBA is a networking degree of sorts.  I assume with multiple generations of MBAs you probably have a certain legacy and certain connections that will make the degree more valuable.  You can also intern with a CRE firm while pursuing the degree so that you aren\u2019t necessarily \u201cwasting time\u201d. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eflgbsw", "text": "I have a hard time seeing how getting an MBA would be a net positive for your career as a broker... if you intent to transition to a different role later, then sure, maybe it will be useful, but you'd be much better off taking classes specifically geared toward real estate finance, accounting and valuation if you want to improve your actual job-related skills. So much of your MBA will be unusable shit that cost you $50k+.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eflgu3c", "text": "Just put mba, ccim, naiop, sior in your title, one of those is bound to work and nobody really checks anyway, ", "replies": [{"id": "eflkh3o", "text": "CCIM is nailz", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eflgvfi", "text": "I have an MBA, helped me get a job at an \u201celite\u201d REPE organization. It was worth it for me- wouldn\u2019t have gotten my job otherwise. That being said, I graduated from an M7 - I don\u2019t think getting an MBA from a lower ranked school is worth the time / payoff. \n\nIf your goal is to just be a broker the MBA is a total waste of time. Maybe on the margin it would help you get a job at like an Eastdil but who wants to work there now everyone quit. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "efm0j2e", "text": "I\u2019d say the majority of brokers I deal with on a day to day basis aren\u2019t \u201cbook smart\u201d or \u201cmanagement smart\u201d at all, but rather know everything about every damn building I point at in a certain market. If there was some kind of \u201chistory of neighborhood X\u201d thats what a broker would need. \n\n\nI\u2019ve worked with management directors at big brokerage shops who didn\u2019t even go to college", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "efm516v", "text": "You won't need one for brokerage, but it may help when marketing yourself. \n\nI'd say skip it for now, and down the road if you feel like it would help your \"brand\" you can always get an online MBA after-hours", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "efqg1zo", "text": "Having life experience and a strong network is critical in CRE, but there is no one path to doing that. Some excellent CRE brokers have Law Degrees or MBAs, others didn't graduate from college at all. I think it's most helpful if you want to work on more complex real estate transactions or get into development or CRE management at some point.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]