burnout sad stressed

Study Burnout: How to Recognize, Cure and Prevent Them

All CFA exam candidates know it. Or candidates for any high stakes exams really. Others may not understand, but we do – the CFA exams are hardcore. The burnout is real. Burnout happens when you simply do not have a drive to continue doing this crap any longer. Nothing goes in, and you may feel panicked, overwhelmed …

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phone interview tips

Phone Interview Tips: 10 Clear Steps to Acing It

My first phone interview was a magnificent disaster. I fumbled my own name, couldn’t go through my work experience without mixing up words, and I forgot the name of who I was speaking to. Basically, I was ripped to shreds. At the first round, over a phone, by HR. Telephone interviews are an important first …

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self grade cfa level 3 essay questions

CFA Level 3 Essay Questions: How To Self-Grade Accurately

The CFA Level 3 essay questions, also known as the constructed response section, is often a significant challenge to Level 3 candidates.  Our research has also estimated that more than 93% of Level 3 candidates performed worse in the essay paper compared to the item-set paper, so improving your essay performance can really help your chances …

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how to pass cfa level 1 in 2 weeks

How To Pass CFA Level 1 In 2 Weeks: My Crazy Story

Editor’s note: This is a personal story shared as an anecdote. You should definitely NOT look to this example for your own CFA preparation approach (unless desperate)! Hi, I’m Scott, and a few years ago, I passed my CFA Level 1 with just 2 weeks worth of studying.  I started two Saturdays away from the …

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Candidate looking at the CFA Institute Practice Pack

CFA Practice Pack: A Comprehensive Review

In the recent years CFA Institute has revised many long-standing aspects of the CFA exam – the shift to computer-based testing, multiple testing sessions in a year, and changes to results reporting. Their latest initiative is the CFA Institute Practice Pack – a package of mocks and practice questions made available to CFA Level 1 …

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cfp exam cost

How Much Does CFP Exam Cost? A Useful Budget

​Here’s a no-nonsense guide on all the realistic CFP exam fees you will need to budget for. First, we will look at the average total cost of preparing for the Certified Financial Planner qualification (and the relevant assumptions). Then, we will delve into the details of the 6 individual components of these costs, before finally …

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how many cfa mock exam

CFA Mock Exams: How Many Should You Be Doing?

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. …

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cfp requirements

CFP Requirements: 4 Steps to Become a Certified Financial Planner

If you’re considering a flexible, intellectually stimulating finance career with high job satisfaction, financial planning is definitely within the top 5, in our opinion. And one of the more prominent, internationally recognized qualification within this field is the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. If you’re considering the CFP exams, this guide covers exactly what you’ll …

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cfa practice exams how to improve score orig

10 Ways To Improve Your CFA Practice Exam Scores Now

We are nearly there candidates – it’s CFA practice exam season! You might be worried that your scores aren’t high enough. Candidates should be targeting a consistent practice exam score of at least 65% (the higher the better of course). But the score for your first practice exam can be quite low and demoralizing – …

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