CFA and CAIA designations can appear very similar at first sight, especially since the introduction of the CFA Level 3 Specialized Pathways, as they both target investment and financial professionals. However, there are differences in global recognition, breadth and depth of topics studied, career focus and exam difficulty. They could even be a complementary set …
There is understandably a lot of comparison and confusion between different financial qualifications. CFA vs CPA is no exception – they even sound similar! We have had chartered accountants share their CFA experiences before, but in this article we will specifically compare the CPA and CFA charter in all aspects: career paths, exam formats, exam …
Aside from the time commitment, there is a considerable cost to pursuing the CFA charter, especially for students. Level 1 enrollment and registration fees alone can be as high as $1,600, not including any third-party materials you might need. Luckily, there are a variety of CFA scholarships available for candidates, allowing you to reduce the enrollment and signup …
Interviewing for a new job, targeting a promotion, or looking to progress your career? Top tier firms know that the CFA Program produces results. For your next career move, here’s a primer with all the facts and research showing how CFA charterholders and candidates have an edge over the rest. Let’s dive in! A hiring …
We’ve gone through the direct advantages of pursuing the CFA charter. Although there are currently no exemptions on the CFA exams itself, are you aware that the CFA Program could be getting you fast-tracked through things like: Whether you are a CFA candidate or charterholder, it’s always a good idea to check if other certification …
I was feeling really poor back when I was attempting CFA Level 2. I had just been let go in my finance role and I wanted to switch careers into advertising, yet still continue pursuing the CFA charter as a safeguard just in case my career switch was a misguided detour. My previous finance employer …
If you currently or aspire to work in finance, and have evaluated if MBA is worth it to you, a natural follow up comparison question could be: CFA vs MBA which is better for me? Like most comparisons, the answer is – it depends. Firstly, it’s not straightforward to compare a CFA charter and an MBA …
I recently graduated with my Masters in Business Administration. Finance classes were by and far my favorite, and after gaining work experience as an intern in investor relations, I flirted with the idea of obtaining CFA after MBA graduation. The CFA society of my region spoke to my class the first semester in, and I …
The optimal CFA Level 3 study order uses the “sandwich method”: alternate challenging topics (Asset Allocation, Derivatives) with easier ones (Performance Measurement) to maintain momentum. Study Core readings (65-70% weight) first, then your chosen Specialized Pathway (30-35% weight), finishing with Ethics. Your Pathway choice is locked at registration and cannot be changed after the 14-day …
Will your salary increase as you go through the CFA Program?Yes, it does. In fact, you don’t even have to wait until you become a CFA charterholder. Proper, reliable CFA salary data are hard to come by, so we started our own years ago to help our readers. The key differentiator of our CFA salary …