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Chartered Financial Analyst
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: The Intertube
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Offline
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Anyone?
I am sitting the December Level I Exam.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hong Kong
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Not as yet, I just wing it for now.
I can't work in a big office evironment anyway, been freelance for way too long 
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Garden of Paradise Motel, Suite 3D
Status:
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Originally Posted by Sealobo
Anyone?
I am sitting the December Level I Exam.
Not doing it yet, but I have lots of friends and students who have done it or are doing it now. Not fun.
My wife finished hers in three consecutive exams a couple of years ago. It was agonizing. The main challenge on the Level I is all of the financial accounting and statement analysis, and so I plan to concentrate on that the most. Probably next December or June 08 for me.
I tell students that it's like getting a MS in Finance 20 years ago. It's tough. And valuable. Well worth the time you're going to have to put in to get through it.
One common problem that I see is that folks rely too much on prep courses. They're all but useless. In contrast to many other standard "exams" the CFA program actually requires you to LEARN the material and UNDERSTAND how it works. Shocking, but true.
Get the official outlines, and pore over them. That's the key. And read all the relevant parts of the reading list. There is no substitute.
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: The Intertube
Status:
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Originally Posted by finboy
Get the official outlines, and pore over them. That's the key. And read all the relevant parts of the reading list. There is no substitute.
Yeah that's what i'm doing. In fact i started my studying since June so it's been like 4 months now. I basically go through 20 pages EVERYDAY so that i will finish the entire official guide (3,000+ pages!) 2 weeks before the actual exam in December. Honestly i don't think the material is difficult at all, the challenge is being self-discipline.
It will drive me crazy if i screw up... i mean, i've given up so much play time in preparation. Wish me luck!
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hong Kong
Status:
Offline
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Gook Luck
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Garden of Paradise Motel, Suite 3D
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by Sealobo
Yeah that's what i'm doing. In fact i started my studying since June so it's been like 4 months now. I basically go through 20 pages EVERYDAY so that i will finish the entire official guide (3,000+ pages!) 2 weeks before the actual exam in December. Honestly i don't think the material is difficult at all, the challenge is being self-discipline.
It will drive me crazy if i screw up... i mean, i've given up so much play time in preparation. Wish me luck!
Good luck indeed. Sounds as though you're preparing well. Luck favors the prepared.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Canada
Status:
Offline
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I passed Level I in June and will be sitting Level II next year. I wish all three levels were offered in December so I could be done all the exams in a year, but I have to admit the break is nice.
My advice, other than studying the curriculum as mentioned above, is to finish your studying about a month before the exam and then take practice exams to expose any weaknesses. Then, you have four weeks to fill any holes. The Boston Society offers good practice exams. If you can consistently score 80% or more on such exams, you're likely prepared.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status:
Offline
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I'm still debating with myself what I want to focus on.
I could either go for a CFA or finish my MBA, which both would be about the same workload.
Cons for CFA: you need to get the CPE's each year
Also, I'm not sure if I want to be locked into a specialist career. Right now, I'd rather go broad, so a MBA would help with that.
Thoughts ?
-t
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Garden of Paradise Motel, Suite 3D
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by what_the_heck
I'm still debating with myself what I want to focus on.
I could either go for a CFA or finish my MBA, which both would be about the same workload.
Cons for CFA: you need to get the CPE's each year
Also, I'm not sure if I want to be locked into a specialist career. Right now, I'd rather go broad, so a MBA would help with that.
Thoughts ?
-t
Finish the MBA, and then worry about the CFA. If you're not sure you want to become a finance or accounting type, the CFA is a lot to do and a long road.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by finboy
Finish the MBA, and then worry about the CFA. If you're not sure you want to become a finance or accounting type, the CFA is a lot to do and a long road.
Well, my current career path takes me to a broader role than just accounting / finance, so IMO, an MBA would serve me better. In my company, the CFO roles are responsible for more than just accounting / finance; the role includes responsibilities for purchasing, logistics and IT.
I don't want to lock myself into a specialist career, which I'm a little afraid I would do with the CFA.
-t
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