Cfa

Sony

Hi all

I have read previous threads on this - the chartered financial analyst

But i was wondering if someone could tell me exactly how hard these exams are - what to expect? I am not finished my QFA to be honest but Im presuming the two dont compare and CFA must be 10 times harder - or is it?

How hard is it to get to level 1?

Thanks guys

Sony

ixus

They're on a totally different level. I haven't sat the CFA's but have read into it.

It's a professional qualification like ACCA in the accounting stream for example.
There is no pass rate in as such that say 100 people sat it in Ireland and everyone got over 70%, not everyone would pass it. Only 30 may get by.

It's a pretty rigorous exam with a lot of study involved. I'm doing an MSc in Financial Services in UL at the moment and that sort of gears us towards sitting the CFA. As I've mentioned in another thread regarding this course and other similar masters courses in DCU and NUIM (and possibly UCD) will gear you towards it.

I have sat the cert in Asset Finance, related to the QFA's, and that needed only a couple of hours study. Different ball game to CFA.

mikemac

It's well respected and international qualification. Big step up from the QFA which is a good introduction.
But yes, it's is extremly difficult and you need to be self disciplined if you are going to study on your own.

www.siai.ie

These guys run courses in Ireland.
If you email them they can get you a discount code for the learning materials.
Ebay is another good place to buy books and cds as a lot of Americans do this course.
Just be sure to buy the correct versions.

RuggieBear

it's insanely difficult.

Brother is a smart guy and a hard worker and he didn't come close to passing them.

You have a huge amount to take in....so solid couple of hours every night and all weekend is the least required.

damnyanks

CFA is the business . If you can do it then do it.

Glacier

Are these things only recognised within Ireland?

damnyanks

CFA is global.

It's basically a masters in finance on steroids.

ixus

It's globally recognised, particularly in US & UK where it has become THE standard.

ixus

Sony / Glacier - happy reading

http://www.bionicturtle.com/learn/article/about_the_cfa/

turf

i just signed up for Level I. Givin myself 5 months to prepare and thats with a commerce degree centered around econometrics and financial markets. Looked through Shwezer or whatever its spelt nd there's alot of overlap with what I've done already so I should be grand?

I'm 20 so its a pretty big undertaking..

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

think that only 30% pass each test by design. it's not actually that difficult though, just need to learn a lot of things (circa 1800 pages of reading for each test).

turf

i think its the workload that makes it difficult.. not so much IQ ability, just remembering ability

jkjhngk

turf wrote: »

i just signed up for Level I. Givin myself 5 months to prepare and thats with a commerce degree centered around econometrics and financial markets. Looked through Shwezer or whatever its spelt nd there's alot of overlap with what I've done already so I should be grand?

I'm 20 so its a pretty big undertaking..

Not sure if your still on here, but how did the exams go for you?
Sorry for bringing up an old thread, just think its better than starting a new one.

dec1892

I passed level III and am now a CFA charter holder.Very tough road, thought sometimes i'd never get through them....took me 4 years but got there in the end - great feeling!

jkjhngk

jkjhngk wrote: »

Not sure if your still on here, but how did the exams go for you?
Sorry for bringing up an old thread, just think its better than starting a new one.

I'm turf.. this is my new account. Ended up not doing the exams cause I landed a job soon after and concentrated on that. Didn't have the motivation to do both at the time.
Now I'm off to Thailand tomorrow with redundancy money and after that, gonna go into IT. Glad I didn't try sit them tbh and the 700odd euro was well spend as I'm pretty sure the fact I was signed up to them landed me the job I was at there for 25 months.