Not sure which CFA approved calculator to use? If you’re still on the fence about Texas Instrument’s BA II Plus vs HP 12C, you’ve come to the right place. In this CFA calculator guide – which also applies to the FRM and CAIA exams by the way – we discuss the pros and cons of …
The TI BA II Plus is the preferred calculator for CFA, FRM, and CAIA candidates. For optimal performance, set your decimals to 9 (Floating), use AOS mode for algebraic order, and ensure P/Y is set to 1. These settings reduce calculation errors and save critical seconds during time-pressured exams. Speed and accuracy matter for the …
This is a guide on how to use HP12C calculator. If you’re using Texas Instruments BA II Plus calculator, check out our how-to guide here. The HP12C calculator is Hewlett Packard’s longest and best-selling product, in continual production since its introduction in 1981. Due to its simple operation for key financial calculations, the calculator long ago …
As a CFA exam candidate, I’ve achieved the holy grail: I’m lucky enough as a candidate to have passed my CFA exams the first times I attempted them. As more than half of Level 1 candidates fail their exams every year, and being a 300Hours reader myself, I thought it might be useful for me …
If you ask a CFA charterholder which CFA exam level they found the toughest, they are likely to answer either Level 2 or Level 3. CFA Level 3 is especially challenging because the exam format also deviates from the multiple-choice format. The constructed response format, or ‘essay’ section, can be very difficult to master for the CFA candidate used …
Hi, I’m Alexander Law, a CFA Charterholder. Back in 2017, I managed to pass the CFA Level 1 exam with just five days of study. My scores were over 70% in all subjects except Alternative Investments and Financial Statement Analysis (those were in the 51-70% range). Luck definitely had some role to play in this, but …
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 …
Quick summary: Average CFA pass rates sit between 41% and 51% per level. According to CFA Institute and 300Hours data, consistently low pass rates are likely driven by a combination of 6 key variables: study momentum loss from deferrals, massive curriculum volume, underestimated time commitments, tighter computer-based testing error margins, changing student eligibility profiles, and …
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 …