is caia worth it

Is CAIA Worth It Today Given CFA Pathways?

The world of finance is ever-evolving, with alternative investments moving from niche to mainstream. For CFA charterholders, the question often arises: what’s the next step to specialize in the complex, yet lucrative, world of private markets and alternatives? A common answer to that is CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) designation, a 2-level exam specializing in …

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Failed CFA exam - here's what to do next

Failed CFA Exams? 5 Clear Steps To Recover

CFA exams are famed for being difficult to pass. Failing CFA exams is unfortunately pretty common, but certainly not discussed enough. When I failed CFA Level 2 many years ago (just below the Minimum Passing Score), I remember the overwhelming devastation and anger after spending 350+ hours studying for it. If any of you have …

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cfa vs frm

CFA vs FRM: Which is better for me?

Finance certifications such as CFA and FRM are a cost effective way (compared to an MBA) to give your finance career a boost. We do receive a lot of questions from our readers trying to understand the core differences between them in deciding whether to pursue CFA or FRM. Hence, for those still on the …

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cfa level 1 derivatives cheat sheet

CFA Level 1 Derivatives: Our Cheat Sheet

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 …

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CFA Apps - features, reviews, download

CFA Apps: Our Top 4 Shortlist

While there currently is no technology that I know of to replace studying (now there’s a dream!), there are some apps and resources that make studying for CFA exams easier. I am going to share some of my favorite CFA apps with you that will help you prepare for the CFA exam rather than procrastinate. …

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