Many of the CFA charterholders and candidates I have met seem to have always known that it was the path they wanted to take. Finance degree, CFA charter, job at a bigtime investment firm. It was different for me.
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I’d like to share some mindset hacks helpful in passing the CFA exams, along with some pointers on how to approach this daunting and rewarding experience. As a charterholder myself, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring candidates through all three levels, and I hope this helps you in your studies.
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From humble origins in the early 1970s, index investing has become the 800-pound gorilla of investments. First derided, then accepted as a technique, these days, money moves out of active equity management and into passive vehicles every day.
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Considering the CFA charter? Wondering whether you should get an MBA or a CFA charter (or both)? Trying to decide your career path in the world of finance given changing industry trends and the rise of FinTech?
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I went three for three on the CFA® exams. There was (no question) some level of luck and good fortune, I do believe there were a few things I did that aided my success, and maybe some or all can help you on your own successful path.
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The CFA curriculum was not only intellectually fascinating, but it added enormous value to me—and, I dare to say, to Axpo Trading, the organization that I’ve had the privilege of leading.
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Many times, when clients hear the word “diversification,” they think the more assets, the better. However, not all additions to a portfolio are created equal.
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I am passionate about behavioral economics (behavioral finance is behavioral economics applied to finance problems; it is thus a subset of behavioral economics). I teach it in my classes and have written a book about it.
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There are many reasons to become a CFA charterholder. You will find near-universal agreement that holding the CFA designation improves your job prospects across the globe, adds significantly to your human capital, and grows your professional prestige and personal brand.
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The new 2024 CFA curriculum has been released for Levels I and III. This article will summarize all of the important changes to the curriculum and how it affects your preparation.
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It is difficult to offer advice to aspiring charterholders that is applicable to all three levels of the CFA® exam series. As you may have already discovered, each level is fairly unique. Level I and Level II are far apart in difficulty while Level II and Level III differ greatly in format.
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When I first began pursuing the CFA charter, I was a lone wolf. I didn’t do any prep courses. I didn’t get any materials other than the curriculum books. I didn’t talk to other candidates. I didn’t look at forums. And despite not having had much background, I didn’t engage with my local society.… Not surprisingly, I failed.
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It sounds pretty ominous: A 300-hour study commitment over the course of four to six months, which works out to be roughly between 12.5 and 18.75 hours per week. Oh, and that 300-hour assumption is an average; any individual might need to put in considerably more effort in order to master the material well enough to pass the test.
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The overall purpose of performance measurement is to help us select an investment and provide ongoing information about how our investment is doing so we can make good decisions
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When I saw a request go out for help sharing my experience and insight by contributing a guest post to a new blog, I thought it would be a great opportunity to shine a light on a smaller group in the CFA charterholder community. I am a CFA charterholder, and I do not work in the money management or financial services industry.
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When I left a well-known consulting firm in Paris and moved to Toronto, I knew immigrants in Canada usually struggle to get their first job because of the lack of Canadian experience or Canadian education. I had neither of these, so naturally I felt lucky that I was able to land my first job quite easily. Even though I had what was considered a good experience in treasury risks, hedge accounting, and financial risk management in general, I felt that I needed an additional asset education-wise to fully compete in the Canadian job market on Bay Street.
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While it certainly may feel like your entire existence is engulfed by this test for six months out of the year, it is naïve to think that the rest of the world cares or it will place itself on pause until you are less busy studying.
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When evaluating investments, analysts are taught to focus qualitatively on the sources of competitive advantage and quantitatively on forecasts for growth, profitability, and returns on capital. Little emphasis is placed on the shareholder base. But not all businesses have the same
It’s 7:30 p.m. and I had been in the office since 7:30 a.m. I was staring at a blank PowerPoint slide on one screen and a Bloomberg homepage on the other. For the last several weeks, I had been working tirelessly as our firm prepared to go on the road and raise capital from investors.
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The general public’s awareness of such issues as climate change, labor practices, and corruption has greatly increased in recent decades. We’ve all heard of huge multinational corporations caught (and fined for) polluting the environment, bribing government officials for permits and contracts, or exploiting outsourced workforces in developing countries.
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