Sophie Macon 
When it comes to building a successful career in financial planning, choosing the right certification can play a crucial role in shaping your future. The ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) and CFP (Certified Financial Planner) are two of the most respected credentials in the financial planning industry, each offering a distinct approach to financial planning. But …
Investing your time and energy in years of dedicated study and work experience is a typical route towards professional career success. In many finance careers, there is often a clear hierarchy leading to an ultimate management role with a highly lucrative salary. Learning how to get promoted at work is therefore crucial, but why do …
Note: this cheat sheet is updated for the latest 2025’s curriculum. Ah, I remember the days where I looked at the sheer volume of formulae and concepts in CFA Level 1 FSA (Financial Statement Analysis) in despair. And how I felt 5x worse when studying Level 2’s FSA section… Financial Statement Analysis is one of …
Note: this cheat sheet is updated for the latest 2025’s curriculum. Derivatives. Perhaps no single word has a greater ability to strike fear in the hearts of CFA candidates. The readings on this topic are replete with graphs, formulas, all of which seem indecipherable, and gratuitous references to Greek letters. However, it doesn’t need to …
The recent pandemic has brought ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues to the forefront of everyone’s minds. ESG matters. And investors and companies around the world are reacting fast to this current situation, pointing to a longer term demand for investment professionals with green finance and responsible investment knowledge. CFA Institute’s ESG Certificate may be a …
Financial planners help individuals to reach their long term financial goals. From planning for retirement, to offering the structure and strategy needed to enable clients to make the most of their finances, financial planners advise on a range of issues including tax, investments, budgets and inheritance. Combining expertise with a client-first approach, financial planners provide …
Despite more frequent exam slots per year with computer based exams, it still takes 5-7 weeks for CFA Level 1 results to be announced. Combine this with the fact that there needs to be a minimum of ~6 months gap between CFA exams taken, many candidates – in particular CFA Level 2 candidates – find …
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 …
Note: This article is for the new 2025 curriculum. For last year’s info, check out our article on 2024 CFA curriculum changes. The new 2025 CFA curriculum is now out for all 3 levels, with some exams already open for registration. With CFA Program’s big revamp hopefully done (for at least 5 years we hope), …
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 …