4 answers
michael
Student
Brentwood, New York
1
Question
Updated
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What are your thoughts on the CFA exams?
I'm a senior student at Baruch who received the CFA scholarship! Very excited for the opportunity, and would like to hear about your experience regarding the CFA exams if you have any. Thank you!
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4 answers
Gerald Cheng
Finance and Technology
2
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Gerald’s Answer
HI Michael,
Congrats on the scholarship! I'm a CFA charterholder. The exams are quite challenging - there is a lot of material that could be potentially covered. I also found it time-intensive. It definitely requires time and attention to go over the concepts and to confirm your understanding. Nonetheless, once you're done, it provides you with a strong understanding of the financial fundamentals, which opens your doors to apply to a wide variety of jobs.
Congrats on the scholarship! I'm a CFA charterholder. The exams are quite challenging - there is a lot of material that could be potentially covered. I also found it time-intensive. It definitely requires time and attention to go over the concepts and to confirm your understanding. Nonetheless, once you're done, it provides you with a strong understanding of the financial fundamentals, which opens your doors to apply to a wide variety of jobs.
Gerald, thank you!
michael
Stephanie Smith
Accountant
8
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Stephanie’s Answer
I do not have the CFA myself. However, I can provide you with information about the CFA exams since I previously worked at a wealth management firm.
The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exams are a series of globally recognized certification exams administered by the CFA Institute. The exams are known for their rigor and are highly regarded in the finance industry.
The CFA program consists of three levels, with each level requiring passing a six-hour exam. The three levels cover a wide range of topics, including ethics, economics, financial reporting and analysis, corporate finance, portfolio management, and more. The exams are designed to test candidates' knowledge, skills, and ethical understanding relating to investment and financial analysis.
Many professionals pursue the CFA designation to enhance their career prospects and demonstrate their expertise in investment management. It is particularly valuable for those seeking roles in asset management, research, portfolio management, or investment banking.
Preparing for the CFA exams requires a significant commitment of time and effort, as the material can be challenging. Candidates typically spend several hundred hours studying for each level of the exam.
It's great that you have received the CFA scholarship! It shows that you have been recognized for your academic achievements and potential in the finance field. Congratulations on this opportunity, and I wish you the best of luck as you pursue your CFA exams!
The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exams are a series of globally recognized certification exams administered by the CFA Institute. The exams are known for their rigor and are highly regarded in the finance industry.
The CFA program consists of three levels, with each level requiring passing a six-hour exam. The three levels cover a wide range of topics, including ethics, economics, financial reporting and analysis, corporate finance, portfolio management, and more. The exams are designed to test candidates' knowledge, skills, and ethical understanding relating to investment and financial analysis.
Many professionals pursue the CFA designation to enhance their career prospects and demonstrate their expertise in investment management. It is particularly valuable for those seeking roles in asset management, research, portfolio management, or investment banking.
Preparing for the CFA exams requires a significant commitment of time and effort, as the material can be challenging. Candidates typically spend several hundred hours studying for each level of the exam.
It's great that you have received the CFA scholarship! It shows that you have been recognized for your academic achievements and potential in the finance field. Congratulations on this opportunity, and I wish you the best of luck as you pursue your CFA exams!
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
michael
Kyle Dominy
Management Consulting
1
Answer
San Jose, California
Updated
Kyle’s Answer
I went through the CFA process myself and successfully completed each of the exams. It is a very challenging and rigorous process. However, it was equally as rewarding in terms of the valuable education I gained throughout the process. For me, it was a very time intensive process that required diligently balancing my responsibilities to ensure I could dedicate adequate time to both work and my studies. There are many resources available that can help you prepare for the exam and structure your learning as well. The CFA designation has helped to enhance my career and demonstrate my knowledge, as well as connected me with a wider network of fellow professionals which has been invaluable too. My best recommendation is, before you begin your journey, ensure you are fully committed to the process and then make a structured plan to guide your studies and manage your time. Each exam presents its own challenges, but I found I learned a lot along the way, and that knowledge continues to serve me in professional career.
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
michael
Eric G
Asset Management
2
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Eric’s Answer
I found the CFA process to be very helpful to my career. I had a liberal art major/education and got an entry-level job doing equity research at a financial firm. While I had taken some basic business classes (intro to finance, accounting, etc), I still lacked a lot of the fundamental knowledge I needed to progress in my job and take on more responsibility. It is definitely challenging given the need to balance studying for the CFA with a job (or in your case it sounds like other classes), but given its focus on investing was worth it for my career.