When looking to boost my financial expertise and qualifications, I went through what was a fairly common dilemma a few years ago: CFA or FRM? My question was then: why not both CFA and FRM, together? In a competitive world of finance, with companies desiring prospective employees to have a broad range of skillset and knowledge, …
Fixed income accounts for 11-14% of the CFA Level 1 exam (20-25 questions), making it the third-largest topic after financial statement analysis and ethics. This cheat sheet covers all 19 learning modules from the 2026 curriculum with formulas, key concepts, and calculation shortcuts. ☕ Use this as a quick reference during practice questions or final …
Economics accounts for 6-9% of the CFA Level 1 exam (11-16 questions) and builds foundation for Levels 2 and 3. This cheat sheet covers all 8 learning modules from the 2026 curriculum, split between microeconomics (firm behavior, market structures) and macroeconomics (fiscal/monetary policy, international trade, exchange rates). ☕ The most tested areas: exchange rate calculations …
Note: this cheat sheet is updated for the latest 2026’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 …
Note: this cheat sheet is updated for the latest 2026 curriculum. Whilst a relatively smaller topic weight in the overall Level 1 exams, CFA Alternative Investments is an important topic career-wise if you work in asset management as it is expected to capture 57% of global asset management revenue by 2028. I personally found this …
This comprehensive cheat sheet covers all 11 CFA Level 1 Quantitative Methods Learning Modules (6-9% exam weight): Time Value of Money, statistical measures, probability, portfolio mathematics, hypothesis testing, and regression. Includes 50+ essential formulas, when to use z-stat vs t-stat, Type I/II error mnemonics, and calculator tips. Bookmark for quick review before practice sessions and …
Financial Statement Analysis (FSA) is the second-largest topic in CFA Level 1, with an 11%–14% weighting. This cheat sheet covers the 12 Learning Modules (LMs), including IFRS vs. GAAP differences, LIFO to FIFO conversions, and Revenue Recognition. Mastering these ratios is essential for scoring above the 70% benchmark. Ah, I remember the days where I …
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 …
Note: this cheat sheet is updated for the latest 2026 curriculum. Although a relatively small topic weight, CFA Level 1 Corporate Issuers is one of those topics that is highly interlinked with Financial Statement Analysis and Quantitative Methods, therefore mastering this relatively light topic should pay dividends (sorry) for your overall exam. To help you …
Note: this cheat sheet is updated for the latest 2026’s curriculum. It is probably no surprise that portfolio management is the most popular career current CFA candidates are interested in exploring further. Portfolio management is the heart of the CFA program – and they start you light and gentle in Level 1 with a broad …