cfa exams things i wish i knew beforehand orig

CFA Exams: 20 Things I Wish I Knew Beforehand

Umpteen years ago, after checking that I met the eligibility requirements, I signed up for my CFA Level 1 exams as a sprightly, wide-eyed innocent. Now that I’m a CFA charterholder, I wished I had someone who’d gone through everything to point out the potholes of the journey I’m on. For example, warning me about the …

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cfa vs caia comparison

CFA vs CAIA: Which Is Superior? Or Do Both?

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 …

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cfa vs mba

CFA vs MBA: Which Is Better for Your Career?

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 …

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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 and frm

CFA and FRM: Best Way to Get Both Quickly

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, …

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study research working

CFA Curriculum Changes 2025: A Solid Summary

Note: This article is for the new 2025 curriculum. For last year’s info, check out our article on 2024 CFA curriculum changes. The new 2025 CFA curriculum is now out for all 3 levels, with some exams already open for registration. With CFA Program’s big revamp hopefully done (for at least 5 years we hope), …

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The Best Headphones and Earbuds to Use When Studying for the CFA Exams

The Best Headphones for Studying (and Earbuds too)

The right set of headphones or earphones can really make a difference to an effective study or work session. Listening to music, video lectures or having video calls all depend on having a device with excellent audio quality. And with active noise cancellation features, you can instantly create a quiet, focused environment wherever you are. …

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passed cfa level 3

Passed CFA Level 3? Now What?

Just received your CFA Level 3 results? We hope it’s good news. Commiserations to those who did not pass, you’ve worked so hard on this so far, do take some time to overcome your disappointment. You’re too close to the end to give up at this stage! Passed CFA Level 3? Congrats on your amazing …

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