Sophie Macon 
Quick summary: In 2026, the CPA remains the “gold standard” for accounting careers especially in the US. While it requires a 300–600 hour study commitment and exam fees ranging from $2,170–$8,170, the ROI is substantial. CPAs earn a lifetime average of $1 million more than non-certified peers and are legally required for high-level roles like …
Quick summary: To optimize your CFA Level 1 prep, focus on high-weighted topics (e.g. Ethics and FSA), maintain a 90-second-per-question pace, and complete at least 6 full mock exams. Our proprietary data shows that candidates who consistently hit a 70% mock score have the highest probability of passing on their first attempt. So you’ve finally registered …
Quick summary: In 2026, there are five primary CFA entry requirements: 1) Meet the education and/or work experience requirement in one of the following ways: have a bachelor’s degree, or be a university student within 23 months of graduation, or have 4,000 hours of professional work experience, or have a combination of 4,000 hours of …
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 …
Ethics represents 15-20% of CFA Level 1 (27-36 questions) and uses identical content across all three levels, making it highly efficient to master. This CFA Level 1 Ethics cheat sheet covers the 6 Code of Ethics components, all 7 Standards of Professional Conduct with 22 sub-standards, GIPS basics, and exam strategies. Key insight: Ethics can …
The Ethical and Professional Standards section is challenging for most CFA candidates given the more subjective nature of the topic and questions (vs. the rest of the curriculum), and the sheer amount of readings to go through. Regardless whether you’re new to CFA exams or a seasoned CFA Level 3 candidate, CFA Ethics section plays …
As a CFA candidate, you may have heard occasional horror stories about some candidates being subjected to CFA Professional Conduct investigations due to a misconduct (perceived or actual). To help alleviate your concerns, this article explains: Let’s dive in! What is CFA Institute’s Professional Conduct Program? CFA Institute upholds the Code of Ethics and Standards …
The week before CFA Level 1 must feel pretty daunting, as it still feels the same for most Level 2 and 3 candidates too. Back then, I still remember feeling what can best be described as equal parts of zen and zombie. How are you feeling? Tired of all this studying, and just want this …
Latest CFA pass rates (Nov 2025): Level 1 43%, Level 2 42%, Level 3 50%. Historical averages since 2014: L1 41%, L2 45%, L3 50%. Pass rates dropped dramatically during pandemic (L1 hit 22% low in July 2021) but are recovering toward pre-pandemic norms. First-time test takers pass at significantly higher rates than deferred candidates …