CFA

[Gerbs]

Anyone here has done all the exams? I'm planning to take level one next June.

[DaFonz]

Yes - 3/3. It's not as hard as people say it is. Just put in the time and you will pass.

[lowside67]

I've done level 1 so far. Before you spend the time to do them, consider what you actually want to do for a career and carefully evaluate whether CFA is right for you. It's good cachet for the cost of admission but it's relatively specialized in what areas of finance it is truly tailored towards.

Mark

[Gerbs]

Originally Posted by DaFonz

Yes - 3/3. It's not as hard as people say it is. Just put in the time and you will pass.

What financial field did you end up working for? A person I talked who is going to be writing level 3 told me, level 1 is essentially everything I have learned in my diploma so far. So I would like to pursue it while everything is still fresh.

Originally Posted by lowside67

I've done level 1 so far. Before you spend the time to do them, consider what you actually want to do for a career and carefully evaluate whether CFA is right for you. It's good cachet for the cost of admission but it's relatively specialized in what areas of finance it is truly tailored towards.

Mark

Are you writing level 2 in December? What career are you aiming for? I'm taking an interest in wealth management / equity research.

[DaFonz]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

What financial field did you end up working for? A person I talked who is going to be writing level 3 told me, level 1 is essentially everything I have learned in my diploma so far. So I would like to pursue it while everything is still fresh.

I worked in equity research and a hedge fund. Now I'm work in management consulting (ie completely unrelated).

[Marshall Placid]

From what I've heard, CFA changed (either the rules or the opinion of employers), so that the CFA is now generally pursued if you manage porfolios.

Not sure if this makes sense, but ask around.

[lowside67]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

Are you writing level 2 in December? What career are you aiming for? I'm taking an interest in wealth management / equity research.

Level 2 & 3 are only offered in June.

I am not currently registered for L2 - I wrote L1 in June 2014 along with my final exams for my CPA assuming that I would go into equity research but when push came to shove, I decided to go down the banking route instead.

I have not decided that I will not finish my CFA but my current role is sales-focused and my time is better spent working on the job than at more education - my CPA is plenty to do the job from a skill standpoint and I have a better chance of promotion and pay increases from performing at a high level.

A lot of my peers have the CFA (though typically not CPA) and in banking, it's a nice to have but affords them no advantage over not having it.

Mark

[Gerbs]

Someone mentioned that they got their registration fee moved because they got recommended by their prof, a charter holder.

[Gerbs]

anyone writing level one this December?

[Gerbs]

Exam in 3 days