Anyone writing CFA exam?

[red sky]

So I have been dilligently studying for the past 6 months for the CFA Level I exam and will finally be writing on June 7th. Is anyone else in the same boat as I am? Any suggestions or advise from someone who has written it?

Thanks in advance.

[MoneyGuy]

I've never done the CFA but have done the CFP. I'd take the last week off of work and make study your full-time job. I'd actually suggest a crash course but it's too late for that now. Good luck. Let us know how you do?

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Well I have been studying for 8 months (I can't say diligently...newborns kinda screw that up) and will be writing it...pass or fail I have learned a helluva lot

You going to the post exam event?

[V]

I have a question about the CFA exams. Would they be worth looking into if you thought that maybe you might want to try out a career in that direction? I'm an engineer now, and totally bored with it, but investment banking interests me a tonne. But I guess my question is, how possible is it for a guy to get hired on at a firm with no experience, and just holding a certificate from this program? Do I need some kind of university degree to go with it?

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by V

I have a question about the CFA exams. Would they be worth looking into if you thought that maybe you might want to try out a career in that direction? I'm an engineer now, and totally bored with it, but investment banking interests me a tonne. But I guess my question is, how possible is it for a guy to get hired on at a firm with no experience, and just holding a certificate from this program? Do I need some kind of university degree to go with it?

I am hardly an expert but if you have an engineering degree but don't want to be an engineer, getting an MBA might be the better option? Or a Law Degree for that matter?


I think at that point you would have a very unique skill set and have a lot of options open to you that take advantage of your general engineering industry knowledge without you having to be an actual engineer.

Probably make a lot more sense in terms of opportunity-cost of going back to school?



Claeren.

[V]

I was looking at that at one point as well, and then came across this gem:

"Applicants must have a four year undergraduate degree from a recognized institution with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on our 4.0 scale from their last two years or last twenty half courses."

Unfortunately, I think I had closer to an average of low 6 on the 9 point scale, which wouldn't be good enough. I can't believe this would stop me from being able to take the program. Maybe I'll have to make a call.

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by V

I was looking at that at one point as well, and then came across this gem:

"Applicants must have a four year undergraduate degree from a recognized institution with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on our 4.0 scale from their last two years or last twenty half courses."

Unfortunately, I think I had closer to an average of low 6 on the 9 point scale, which wouldn't be good enough. I can't believe this would stop me from being able to take the program. Maybe I'll have to make a call.

I don't know how long you have been in the workforce, but there is a point where they are far far more interested in your real life experience than they are your not-so-real-life school marks.




Claeren.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I've never done the CFA but have done the CFP. I'd take the last week off of work and make study your full-time job. I'd actually suggest a crash course but it's too late for that now. Good luck. Let us know how you do?

Yeah, I will be able to get three days off before the exam to study. I have been studying for the past 6 months but have dedicated myself much more over the past few months.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Well I have been studying for 8 months (I can't say diligently...newborns kinda screw that up) and will be writing it...pass or fail I have learned a helluva lot

You going to the post exam event?

I agree with you Foz. There is so much material, not really difficult material, just lots of it. I have learned a lot and dedicated a lot of time that I would be disappointed if I failed but I recognize that that could be a possibility. As for the post exam event, I may or may not go, I haven't decided yet. What I have decided is that I am going to drink so much so that I lose all of my long term memory... perhaps that isn't the best idea.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Now THAT was a hard exam!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Claeren

I am hardly an expert but if you have an engineering degree but don't want to be an engineer, getting an MBA might be the better option? Or a Law Degree for that matter?



Claeren.

A good combo would be eng-law, then go into Intellectual Property Law.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by troutman

A good combo would be eng-law, then go into Intellectual Property Law.

Patents practically require that kind of technical background. Would also set you up well for work in the oil and gas industry.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Now THAT was a hard exam!

Yeah no doubt. I thought the morning session wasn't too bad but the afternoon tore me a new one. I am just glad to be done now.

I did manage to accomplish my alcohol consumption goals... two day hangovers are never a good thing

[red sky]

So I am reviving this old thread as Level II is quickly approaching. I was lucky enough to come out of Level I fairly unscathed. Anyone else writing any one of the 3 levels on June 6th? I am looking forward to not having a book attached to me at all times.