Zee Tan 
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 …
The CFA curriculum covers everything tested, so why spend an additional $400-1,200 on third-party prep materials? Here’s the problem: CFA Level 1 curriculum is over 3,000 pages. Reading it cover-to-cover takes 200+ hours before you’ve done a single practice question. Most candidates run out of time for adequate practice—the most effective study method. After passing …
To become a CFA charterholder, you must: (1) Pass all 3 CFA exams (Level 1, 2, and 3)(2) Accumulate 4,000 hours of qualified work experience over at least 36 months(3) Provide 2-3 professional references(4) Sign the Ethics pledge and apply for CFA Institute membership. Total timeline: 2-4 years minimum. Total cost: $3,500-$9,000 depending on exam …
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 …
FRM candidates need approximately 250 hours to prepare for each part (Part 1 and Part 2). A typical 5-6 month study plan means 10-13 hours per week for both parts. Our free study planner tracks your progress across the FRM curriculum, prioritizes high-weight topics, benchmarks your mock scores against historical candidate data, and predicts your …
Quick Summary: In 2026, the CAIA remains worth it for professionals seeking a dedicated, Limited Partner (LP) perspective on alternative investments. While the CFA Institute now offers a standalone Private Markets Certificate and a Level 3 Specialized Pathway, the CAIA provides the deepest curriculum for hedge funds and real assets, requiring 200 study hours per …
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 …
This free 300Hours CFA study planner helps you plan, track, and optimize your exam preparation. It monitors your study hours, identifies weak topics by curriculum weighting, benchmarks your mock exam scores against 120,000+ candidates, and predicts your likely exam performance. Works for all three CFA levels and requires minimal daily input. “Loved the tool, it …
One of the most effective ways to learn is through practice, lots of it. However, how many CFA mock exams should we aim to complete for practice? According to our research (12 years worth of data!), there is an optimal number of CFA mock exams you should be doing for the best chance of passing. …