Promotion vs MFE

[Leggoo MFE]

Hello my most favorite Quant Forum! If you see my joining date here, it was 2018 and since then I have been dreaming of becoming a Quant at Wall Street. Those were my college days. My CGPA was a somber 2.98/4.00 (though I have 84% in all relevant subjects and averaged >3.20 in last 2 of my 5 years program).
I have been building my profile since the last few years here and today I have >1.5 years of expereince as an Exotics Structurer. I have done Probability for Financial Engineering (Baruch), Calculus for Financial Engineering (Baruch with Distinction) and C++ for Financial Engineering (Quantnet with Distinction). I have given 2 GREs --> 166Q, 156V and 168Q, 150V.
I am presently working at a very reputed London IB in India. Next year I am up for my first promotion of my career after working for 4 years transitioning from an Analyst to AVP. But I am also planning on an MFE next year. If I do ask for an LOR from my bosses, I will have to say goodbye to my promotion. I am 26 years old now and 27 coming Jan.

Is it a good idea to wait till next year and apply with a more senior position for MFE?
Can being 27 years and applying be a barrier?
Is there a way I can get the promotion and still get a professional LOR for Fall 25?

 

[MikeLawrence]

Not sure how I'd handle this as I've no full time experience.

My hunch is that the decision boils down to the difference between compensation in two scenarios:
a. somehow get title now, and the pay raise, and then still leave and go to mfe and try and get a larger pay raise when exiting
b. just go to school now and exit as a AVP or VP with a pay raise.