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mjgavilanes said:

retaking level 2. what’s the best material Schwesser and Wiley?

I was planning on going for Schweser, worked well for me in L1 but @ellieb19 is giving me doubts! Are there any differences in L2 that may call for a different provider? Schweser has a discount right now I think, so would want to decide soon.

Helllllllooo there, Shwebs from South Africa, CFA Level I candidate and I’m here to claim my badge :D….

Helllooooo @Shwebs, welcome!

@anantjain87 thats great since you’re already working at a hedge fund. Do you mind telling us more about your educational and professional background?

Hi Everyone, I am a fist time level 1 candidate, I work in the industry but know so little, so I’m basically trying to expand my knowledge in finance.

Hi, I´m a working mom of 2, from Perú, level 1 candidate, wish me luck!

Yea it’d be nice if you let us know @Zee – kinda feel part of the team here since we’re here from the start.

Welcome to the best CFA forum you’ll ever come across, @mcricky!

@Vijay not really lucky. FRA is worth more! How is wished that I had picked up a few more accounting courses….
or maybe not…doing it once is painful enough. Plus FRA is useful while ethics is is pretty limited applications.

@sophie, yeah living in Singapore is cool. If you can take only two weather conditions across year. It’s either hot or it’s raining. 🙂 may be I should start a new thread as u suggest. 🙂

@AjFinance, sure mate. I will be more than glad if I can be of any help to find a job for you here. I did (technically am doing 🙂 ) my MBA from SPJain You have many more options here. Like Insead, SMU etc. Drop a note.

Hello @HPK, don’t fret, you have a whole helpful community here experiencing the ups and downs of CFA too. There’s a lot of good tips here, feel free to check out discussions, especially CFA level 1 ones for you.

Hi @surajsn! Wow, you’re an early starter, but that’s a good thing. There’s quite a few Dec Level 1’s here too like @bamaron89 and @Gary. Welcome! 🙂

Hi @adossa3, thanks for your kind words 🙂 That’s what the last practice month is for, so keep us posted on how you’re getting on!

Hello @kidwaibhai, @dannimac – welcome to the community! We have quite a few Level 1 Dec here already so you’re not alone! And as usual, don’t hesitate to ask questions and help others too in the community if you can!

Hello All. CFA L1 December Aspirant. Hoping to make new friends here

Welcome to all @dipeshrjain, @sakitime, @singhanand98, @shchan, @padniaki!

Hi Everyone, I am a level 2 candidate, India. ‘m working as capital market analyst.

Hi @Ashley! You’re almost there, enjoy the time off meanwhile 🙂

@kavadiba don’t worry it takes some time but you will get a hang of it.

Thanks @Sophie. I know it sounds quite a lot, but yes hoping there is repeated material, therefore making level 1 fairly straightforward. Do you think a qualified accountant could get through level 1 with reduced preparation?

Hello everyone, CFA level I candidate from Tanzania, ready to take your advice!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone. Came across this forum recently and thought I’d sign up – will be a level 2 re-taker next year 🙁

Hello! I just passed Level 1, I’m in Austin Texas

Hi @zspringer, welcome to our awesome community – we think you’ve come to the right place! 🙂

Hi everyone! I’m Joe from Denver, CO, US and will be sitting for Level 1(first time) in December 2013. I started studying with the Schweser program in June. I work as a retail wholesaler for UMAs/SMAs and VAs.

If memory serves me right… we have quite a few here @krafiei – meet @Franz who works in audit, @Nida_Shah00 who is a CA too and @gavinloudfoot,our hero studying for CA and CFA at the same time. @clwcain does FP&A too in healthcare IT. Any other accountants / auditors that I may have missed out?

Dominique –
I’ve been doing a lot of examination of test systems and other helpful tools.

The following schedule should work very well with the Schweser QBank materials. I might go into Turbo mode and just use the Schweser Notes and not read the books at all, but still do ScreenCasts. If that’s the case Sat & Sun are just Schweser notes, DB postings and move up QBank by one day. Disclosures: Your Mileage May Vary, Caution as contents are hot, Be careful when handling live rounds.

Starting 09/14 & 09/15
Sat & Sun
– MSA – Read like a banshee. Plow thru as much material as possible and watch the ScreenCasts.
– MSA – Write the first discussion topic for each class on Saturday and then a reply one on Sunday

Monday
Testing items
– MSA – run thru the review questions posted to level set for each course
– Schweser – run thru QBank ‘Basic’ level testing on the Ethics for this week (25-50 questions) for as many LOS’s as possible
DB items
– Write at least one reply topic for each course (DB is DONE and it’s only Monday!)

Tuesday
Testing items
– Schweser – QBank only – Basic + Intermediate for each current class (total of 25-50 each class)
DB items
– MSA – do another DB to max points (I never want to get below max points on DB… I think I’ll need every one I can get!)

Wednesday
Testing items
– Schweser – QBank repeat of Tuesday
– MSA – redo the Monday practice questions and rewatch ScreenCasts

Thursday
Testing items
– Schweser – QBank – full throttle: Basic + Intermediate + Hard 50 questions each current class
– MSA – redo the Monday practice questions if need be or just go to 75 questions for each class on QBank

Friday
– Take the scored Quizzes
– Schweser – Level set all (cumulative) previous weeks info with only Basic questions starting from the beginning of the course
– Define weak areas from the Schweser exams

Saturday/Sunday 09/21 & 09/22
– MSA – Read like a banshee. Plow thru as much material as possible and watch the ScreenCasts.
– MSA – Write the first discussion topic for each class on Saturday and then a reply one on Sunday
– Schweser (Sunday) – Repeat Friday testing and build confidence and take more questions or level up to Intermediate.

Monday and Tuesday are the same.

Wednesday is the same except add a second QBank of all previous weeks’ material to build confidence like the recent Sunday.

Thursday is the same

Friday is the same except the Schweser test this time is going to increase the difficulty to use Basic + Intermediate questions

As weeks move on, we follow this pattern. The only difference is the cumulative Q Bank tests will start to get longer and have all three levels of difficulty.

I am also going to use TimePrep to keep me on track and adjust accordingly.

FYI – this is the same structure I have used to pass every other exam I have taken over the last few years. S7, S66, FL Life & Annuity, CRPC, GMAT, etc. The onyl difference is not just using a test prep system but also a university degree… so it took some work around.

Let me know what you think.

Have a good evening!
– Peter

Hello everyone! I’m also a first time Level 1 candidate for December, and am from Denver, CO. Been following this forum for a couple months, but wanted to introduce myself. Hope studying is going well!

@Sophie, thanks.. 🙂

Lucas here, first time level 1 candidate.
Greetings from brazil ; )

Hi @handullz – thank you. Looks like you’re all geared up and ready to take the CFA challenge, looking forward to get to know you better 🙂

Hi @shickles, good to see you join us from south east asia! As a guide, it’s best to do end of chapter (EoC) questions after each reading, and leave the last month completely free for pounding those practice papers/questions under exam conditions. For level 1 you can do some Question Bank questions as well after a chapter, but that may slow things down. Your goal is to cover and finish all your readings with understanding, before hitting the practice questions like crazy – that’s what the last full month is for.

Hi guys, I’m from Belgium and I am going to do the exam in June. I am working in the banking sector and last year I started a PhD in economics (that gave up), so normally the courses are not new for me, but I know it’s going to take lot of time.
I started studying 3 week end ago and I’ve already done Quantitative methods and microeconomics part.
so, If you know other people from Belgium I will be very happy to discuss with someone. 🙂

I wish you good luck

Thanks @abhicfa, and welcome to the community!

Hi everyone, I am srinath from hyderabad, India. I have no experience in finance.Been to classes for 1 month.Its been interesting.I am here to find out more about this.Hoping to meet you on the forum soon.See ya

Welcome @3emilie – do start a new thread / discussion on a Paris study group, quite sure there are a few of us from Paris here 🙂

Yes I am. A little bit behind in my studying but taking the June test. @Sophie

Hi
Current role is in Financial Services and Personal Investments. BA-Criminology from Canada. Level 1 Candidate.
Interested to pursue credit risk and analysis.
Cheers

Hi guys,

My name is Abhishek Kumar and I am from Mumbai, India. I have registered for CFA Level 1 in june after getting the CFA Access Scholarship for 2014. I have done bachelors in Computers and am currently working as a credit analyst with State Bank of India. I have done a few courses on Investement Analysis and Portfolio Management, Economics and Banking.

I also blog here at http://www.foduzon.com and I look forward to having some great discussions with the great guys over here.

Hi everyone! Level 1 candidate here sitting for exam in the summer. I have been in financial services for 5 years and got my MBA last year. I look forward to joining the discussion. This is a great site.

@Maroon5‌ I figured out how to a couple of minutes after I posted that. Just hadn’t confirmed my email. Thanks though! Here is my new discussion: http://forum.300hours.com/discussion/1317/engineering-to-finance-help-looking-for-a-pre-level-i-basic-finance-book-to-get-familiar#latest Please feel free to comment if you have any suggestions:

Hi everyone,

I’m Khoi. I’m level 1 candidate. I’m from Florida. i will take the exam this December 6 at Atlanta Georgia so if any of you also taking it at Atlanta on that day, please shout out so we can say hi to each other on the testing day. Its good to know you all !!! 🙂

Hello @khoidang‌, @qball71‌ – welcome to the gang!

Welcome to all the new folks. Less than 6 months to go for all of us in Team December!

Hi I am vaibhav, a CFA June 2015 CFA lvl 1 aspirant. from where can i start ?

Welcome all new Associates!!!! 🙂

Hi @jmkwins‌ and welcome! How is Luxembourg? Good luck with the CFA 🙂 

Hi All, 

Level 1 first timer – taking exam in Dec 2014, and all excited about it !

Just finished reading Rachael’s book – Direct path to CFA and cant wait to get started – looking forward to some interesting times on this forum.

Hello all, I am Dennis, from NY, work in a hedge fund of funds on the operations side, but also involved in some investment due diligence. Passed L1 in december 2013, did not pass L2.

Hello @silentguy‌, good to have you join us here! good luck for Dec exams and hope to see you around in the forum more often 🙂

Hey guys, I just cleared Level 2, am really stoked about it, am going to sign up for Level 3 in 2015 the minute that opens up. I’m currently pursuing my MBA, so will somehow have to study and both study for CFA and my MBA concurrently! Appreciate any tips anyone might have for me! I’m a portfolio manager by trade and managed Pakistan’s largest privately held mutual fun, so would be happy to share my experience. @sophie Please share the pain!

HI There,

Taking Level-1 in December, from NY.

Hello @AlphaZa_99‌ @d3v1l_dare‌ – welcome to 300h!

Hi all, thought I might as well get the first post out of the way. Level 1 candidate in Phoenix area taking the first exam in December.

Babeena said:

I have registered for the dec,2014 level1 exam. Yet to begin my preparations. Will I still be able to crack it?

Start ASAP and work hard! Welcome to the forums, just post anything you need help with 🙂

@AlphaDoll‌ welcome! pretty awesome to have such a diverse background of people here…

Hello,

I am a CFA level III candidate. I would like to learn from all people here.

Thanks

Steven

Hello 🙂

Hey! I am IT Business Analyst from Ukraine, working on financial projects, and now also CFA Level 1 Candidate 🙂

Hi everyone,
I’m from Italy but leaving in Norway. Just registered for the level 1 in Dec 15. Thank you for all the useful info you provide.
Look forward to meet like-minded people. 🙂

PS: Is it possible to pay for the 300hrs CFA exam insight via Paypal?

Hi Folks; I am new and just signed on for the level 1 exam in December. From my reading it looks like I am a demographic outlier at age 46. I have a 3 small children but have a philosophy that you’re never too old to learn and improve. I also feel my studying and hard work can be an example for my kids. This forum looks awesome!

Hi All, I was thrown into the investment world in Dallas not necessarily by choice.  My background is in Real Estate and Academic Biblical Studies… So of course, I’m a shoo-in.  😐  But circumstances aside, I’m happy to be here and the opportunity at my firm is pretty good.  Therefore, I’m ready to play catch-up as fast as I can, so CFA level 1 is where I want to start.  I’m already overwhelmed but ready for a new challenge.

hello all, my name is namita and I’m new here. I’ll be taking Level I for the first time in December 2015.

Hello everyone! Studying for the level 1 in December. Started the Kaplan CFA exam prep this month. Excited to be a part of the community here!

Hi! :blush: I’m Sara and a first-time level 1 candidate (June 2016). I have a Master Science in Finance by Católica Lisbon and I work as an Equity Capital Market Analyst. I am totally new in this forum and I did not have much time to explore it, so I don’t know if this is the right place to publish that I would love to join or create a group study. So if you are interested to team up, please send me an e-mail. By the way.. any Portuguese here? :smiley: Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor! 😉

Hello all! I am a level 2 candidate. I used this website heavily to help me pass the first exam, so I decided it would be worth my time creating an account and joining in on the discussions! Look forward to seeing you around the forum and best of luck to all.

Hey there! I’m registered for the Level I exam in June 2016, based in Ottawa. Any other Ottawa candidates on here looking to create a little study group ?

Hello

Been stalking the site for a while – thought it was about time I joined. June 16 Level 1 candidate, work for a UK regulatory body in London. 

Hello everyone,
Tyler from Kansas City.
Registered for L1 in June. Ready to go.

Hello Everyone….I am a Chartered Accountant and currently working as Internal Auditor………really interested in feasibility studies and financial modeling…….Currently weighing my options to start CFA to change career path….I would Appreciate your advice…….

Hellooo Guys!….I’m new and also glad the be here!

Hi, all, got charter in 1993 now coach candidates on their metacognitive approach to study plan! Can share tips on reducing stress, anxiety, and doubt here on the forum. Answer questions too!

Hello out there!!my name is Moyo’.Iam a pre-level CFA ,self-schooled person from Johannesburg, South Africa.I would one day,hold a charter by 2025,then I would be 50.my fear is would I ever use my CFA in my life @ that age?

CFA Level 3 – in corporate finance.

@fabian – you can get another badge by uploading a profile pic 🙂

@Reena: Cannot wait for the ranting funny posts :)… and not forgetting knowledgeable outlook on the financial industry!!

Hi Everyone. I’m a level 3 candidate. Would love to be helpful and learn more in the process. P.S. I might not be as active as I would like to given the upcoming Level 3 prep :)>-

Hello @SidMenon, glad to have you join us!

Hi @anantjain87, glad you’re joining us 🙂

Hi All!

I’m Matt, a Level 3 Candidate.

Currently based on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands having moved across from London in June 2012 to enhance my career. I’m an Assistant Vice President for a global bank where I work as a Relationship Manager specialising on fiduciary companies and their underlying clients.

Good to meet you all, and good luck to all taking the June 2013 exams…let’s hit them hard!

M

Hello @MattJuniper, great to have you join us. We have a couple of Level 3’s around too. @AjFinance, @jimmyg, @artyeasel. I’m sure you guys will nail this, good luck!

Hello @Carolyn, welcome to the gang! 🙂

Hi all. I cleared level 1 in Dec 12. Thought to give sometime for myself so giving level 2 in June 14, in between plunging into reading loads of novels(my interest) & FRM as I dont have MBA after bachelors, so thought to have CFA&FRM as degrees. Working as research analyst since 2+ years.

@imdnextbuffet I read somewhere on the internet, there are people who have an MBA from Ivy league B Schools find it difficult to clear the CFA exams. There are some who even drop out. It also mentioned that maybe its partly due to the fact that they tend to discount the difficulty level of the exam.

@imdnextbuffet I read somewhere on the internet, there are people who have an MBA from Ivy league B Schools find it difficult to clear the CFA exams. There are some who even drop out. It also mentioned that maybe its partly due to the fact that they tend to discount the difficulty level of the exam.

That’s exactly what I meant. Even an average guy can clear the examinations all at one go, if he/she keeps himself grounded, has a solid plan in first place and sticks to it till he/she dies.

Level Iii candidate here from the U.K. Working in financial services for almost 3 years now.

Ooh you made our day @TonyPetrunin. Welcome to the group 🙂

Hi, is there anyone from Joburg?

Hello @reneelliot and @rocktheworld! Glad you’re joining us 😀

Welcome @reneelliott and @rocktheworld!!

Hellooozzzz @reneelliott and @rocktheworld!! :d

Hi @mcricky! Welcome to the community, I’m sure you’ll learn loads here. We have a friendly, helpful bunch of people here 🙂

@Zee Non finance related. I am working as a “Language specialist” for an online company right now in London, and technically I am still a student. Will graduate in June/July.

Welcome aboard, @Sascha! This forum is more than a forum now. You’ve entered at the most exciting times 😛

Sunday evenings are growing to be a bit too much excitement for me…

@SidMenon Thanks, glad to have joined. I guess it will get even more exciting when June approaches 😛

@Zee Cool! How do you like it compared to finance?

Hi @deepika! Welcome to the gang 🙂 Feel free to ask a question or start a new discussion, we are a helpful bunch here and there’s a lot of Level 2’s around too 🙂

Welcome @deepika!

@Sophie, are you a BOT? 😀 I get responses from you & @SidMenon almost instantaniously. 🙂 I see you are based in London. How can a get a response at 5AM UK?? 🙂

Welcome @bamoran89! You have nothing to worry about, now that you’ve joined this forum! 🙂

@barmoran89 excellent question!
According to 300hours’s analysis it is a disadvantage. Imagine my shock because I also have a finance background.
But worry not I think the disadvantage is mostly due to overconfidence. Don’t discount the difficultly of the CFA exam because you have a finance background.

You can get a detailed report here http://www.300hours.com/cfa-results-analysis.html

@Vijay I have a background in finance and trust me it was not a cakewalk.

Ohh.. Common misconception then? I am doing my executive MBA in finance (completed all modules and going to do dissertation after June CFA exam). To be honest, it helped me greatly with Quant, FRA & Corp Finance. It took considerably less time for me to complete these subjects for CFA prep. Not that I master those subjects 😀

Gosh, that’s a hardcore schedule @vijay! Where are you based then?

Everyone will have their strengths and weaknesses. 🙂

Wow, how’s life in singapore like @vijay? Maybe you can start a new thread, think some of us here like @Ajfinance are looking at overseas work options or even considering an MBA, so it would be great to hear about your experiences 🙂

+1

@Vijay, aren’t you the one who doesn’t sleep now? Are you a bot? 🙂

hey, Jinal here, preparing for L-1 June 13,
do passon Important Info if u have any!

Hi @jinalajmera and @HPK welcome to the gang 🙂

Welcome @surajsn!

Welcome @surajsn! In my head i automatically keep saying your name as “Suraj-san” 😛

@Vijay 40 days! 40 days! You can do it! :-bd

Nah @vijay, don’t use that as a backup. The only way to pass this round is have no backup plan!

Hi, dannimac, Vancouver- just decided today to tackle it. Skeered.

Welcome guys!

Hello people … I am a level 1 Dec 13 guy … I am in my final year of college … Looking forward to some excellent discussions with enlightened people ‘ere… Already found one @sophie

hello

@sophie thank u 🙂

Oh any reason for delaying it until then @yuvrajgohil?

Hello @Mattunderwood! Welcome to the community, and thank you for your kind words! We look forward to see you more around the discussions too. It’s tough with those hours and work, but weekends help!

@MattUnderwood: Welcome here!! Do let us know if you have any doubts..All the best to you too!! 😀