Here’s what nobody tells CFA candidates about CFA exam: (1) The CFA pass rates you see exclude no-shows, so it’s even harder than it looks. (2) Level 2 is way tougher than Level 1. (3) You’ll lose basically every weekend for 18+ months. (4) Proctors are incredibly strict – fidgeting too much can get you …
Wealth management offers something rare in finance: seven-figure earning potential without investment banking hours. Senior wealth managers at top firms earn $500K to $5M+ annually, working 50-60 hour weeks instead of the 80-100 hours typical in investment banking. The catch? It takes 8-15 years to reach that level, and your income depends entirely on building …
Financial modeling uses Excel (primarily) to build mathematical representations of company performance for valuation, forecasting, and decision-making. Core model types: 3-statement, DCF, LBO, M&A, merger models. Key careers: Investment banking ($85K-$150K analyst), private equity ($100K-$180K associate), corporate FP&A ($70K-$120K), equity research ($80K-$130K). Top courses: Training the Street ($500 for 10-course bundle), CFI’s FMVA ($497, use …
Video interviews are now standard for finance roles—Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan use AI-powered systems like HireVue to screen candidates. Key tips: (1) Test equipment 30 minutes early. (2) Look at camera, not screen, for eye contact. (3) Professional attire (full suit, even off-camera). (4) Plain background, good lighting. (5) Eliminate distractions (pets, noise, notifications). …
Career progression happens three ways: (1) Get promoted at current company (hardest, most political). (2) Switch to new company for better role (fastest salary increase, typical 15-25% raise). (3) Move to different team internally (lowest risk, maintains seniority/benefits). Four key strategies: – Keep weekly achievement log (for resume/appraisals). – Have “work date” lunches weekly with …
An essential list of how to evaluate a job offer: (1) Total compensation (base + bonus + equity + pension, not just salary)(2) Job scope (management responsibilities, travel %, client-facing time)(3) Skill development (does role build skills for long-term goals?)(4) Cultural fit (use Glassdoor + LinkedIn network to assess)(5) Quality of life (vacation days, commute …
Quick Summary: The best finance certification depends on your specific career goal. The CFA is the gold standard for investment management and research, while the CPA is the primary requirement for accounting and audit roles. For risk management, the FRM is the global leader, whereas the CFP is best for wealth management and financial planning. …
Quick Summary: Whether the CFA is worth it depends on your career goal: it is highly valuable for asset management and equity research, where charterholders see a median salary premium of 53%. However, it requires a 1,000+ hour commitment over 4 years on average. For those in corporate finance or accounting, a CPA may offer …
Quick summary: Networking is the most effective job-hunting skill, yet under-utilized by most professionals. Start building relationships now — not when you need them — by connecting with 20 people over the next month. Focus on “super networkers,” ask for advice (not jobs), and maintain relationships through regular follow-up. Good news: networking is a learnable …
It’s quite common for individuals who start off as engineers to think about switching to finance. I’m one of them, by the way. Despite seemingly different disciplines, a background in engineering equips one well with an analytical mind, which is a highly transferable skillset to financial roles. But just how easy is it to switch …