CFA Prep Course

Course Overview:

The CFA Prep Course is designed to help you prepare for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam. The course covers all of the topics tested on the CFA exam, and provides a comprehensive review of key concepts. In addition, the course includes mock exams and practice questions to help you get ready for test day.

Whether you’re just starting your CFA exam journey, or are looking for a refresher course before taking the test, the CFA Prep Course can help you achieve your goals.

Course Topics:

– Financial Reporting and Analysis

– Ethical and Professional Standards

– Quantitative Methods

– Economics

– Corporate Finance

– Portfolio Management and Equity Investments

– Fixed Income Investments

– Derivatives

– Alternative Investments

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The CFA program is split-up into 3 levels

Level I –

Introductory Asset Classes-Equity, Fixed Income, Alternatives, and so on – Detailed study of tools like Financial reporting & analysis, Quants, and Economics

Level II –

• Take a deeper look at the assets’ valuations- such as equities, fixed income, derivatives
• Tools for financial statement analysis.

Level III –

• Change the point of view to asset management in the portfolio.
• Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning contribute more than 50% of the portfolio’s weight.

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Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for The CFA^® Program, you must hold a passport and one of the following:

Meet one of the following enrolment requirement:

• Bachelor’s Degree

Have a bachelor’s or similar degree from the college/university.

• Student in Final Year

Your bachelor’s degree or equivalent program must be completed within 11 months of your graduation month for you to sit for a Level II exam. Keep in mind that you must complete your degree program prior to sitting for the Level II exam.

• Professional Work Experience

Have a minimum of three years’ experience and/or a bachelor’s degree in nursing or other related field, with 4,000 hours of work experience and/or higher education acquired over at least three consecutive years by the time you register for the Level I examination.

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The Program curriculum at Glance:

Financial Reporting and Analysis

– Financial statements

– Financial statement analysis

– Corporate disclosure practices

– IFRS® standards

Ethical and Professional Standards

– The CFA Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct

– Global investment performance standards (GIPS®)

Quantitative Methods

– Probability concepts

– Sampling methods and estimation

– Hypothesis testing

– Linear regression and time series analysis

  Economics

  – Macroeconomic principles

  – Microeconomic principles

  – Global economic conditions

Corporate Finance

  – Capital budgeting techniques

  – Debt financing, equity financing, and hybrid securities

  Portfolio Management and Equity Investments

  – Investment management process, policy statement, asset allocation, portfolio construction and rebalancing

  – Securities analysis, valuation, and portfolio performance measurement

Fixed Income Investments

  – Interest rates and bond prices

  – Risk and return in fixed income investments

 Derivatives

  – Forwards, futures, swaps, and options

 Alternative Investments

 – Hedge funds, private equity, commodities, and real estate investment trusts (REITs)

Preparing for the Exam

– Study tips and strategies

– Tips for taking the exam

– Mock exams and practice questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is CFA?

The CFA is an investment credential offered by the CFA Institute. The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program is a graduate-level, self-study curriculum and examination program leading to the CFA designation.

Investment professionals around the world recognize the CFA designation as the premier credential in the field. Earning your CFA charter gives you a competitive edge in the marketplace and can open doors to new career opportunities.

Becoming a CFA charterholder requires passing three six-hour exams, which are administered in test centers around the world on one day each year. The exams cover a broad range of topics related to investment analysis and portfolio management, including ethical and professional standards, quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting and analysis, corporate finance, equity investments, fixed-income investments, derivatives, alternative investments, and portfolio management.

Why Get the CFA Designation?

There are many reasons to pursue the CFA designation, including:

Gaining a competitive edge in the marketplace: The CFA credential is recognized and valued by employers around the world.

Increasing earnings potential: CFA charterholders earn higher salaries than non-CFA holders, according to surveys of compensation practices.

Enhancing job security: The CFA Program curriculum covers skills and concepts that are relevant in any economic climate.

Expanding your career opportunities: The CFA designation can open doors to new career opportunities in the investment management field.

Demonstrating your commitment to ethical behavior: CFA Institute’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct are central to the CFA Program and require members to act with integrity, objectivity, professional competence, and diligence.

What Is the CFA Institute?

The CFA Institute is a global, not-for-profit organization of more than 150,000 members. We promote excellence in investment management and financial analysis worldwide, setting high ethical standards and offering leading-edge educational programs and professional development opportunities.

Members include investment professionals from over 165 countries working in all areas of the investment profession, including portfolio management, research analysis, securities trading, investment banking, private wealth management, and corporate finance.

The CFA Institute has over 70 local member societies around the world. Local member society activities include organizing educational events, providing networking opportunities, and advocating for the profession.

CFA charterholders are required to adhere to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, which set out guidelines for professional behavior and practices. These requirements help ensure that CFA charterholders act with integrity, objectivity, competence, and diligence in their work.

What Is Involved in the CFA Program?

The CFA Program is a graduate-level, self-study curriculum and examination program leading to the CFA designation. It covers a broad range of topics related to investment analysis and portfolio management, including ethical and professional standards, quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting and analysis, corporate finance, equity investments, fixed-income investments, derivatives, alternative investments, and portfolio management.

To earn the CFA designation, candidates must pass three sequential exams:

Level I: Foundations of Investment Knowledge

Level II: Applications of Investment Concepts

Level III: Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

Exams are administered annually in test centers around the world on one day each June. The Level I exam is offered in December as well.

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) to register for the CFA Program. There is no prerequisite education or experience required to sit for the Level I exam.

What Is the CFA Institute Research Challenge?

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and professional ethics.

Teams of students work with a faculty advisor and an industry mentor to research and analyze a publicly traded company. Each team writes a report on their assigned company, recommending whether to buy, sell, or hold the stock.

Regional competitions are held around the world, with the winning teams advancing to the global finals. The global finals take place each April, coinciding with the CFA Institute Annual Conference.

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is open to full-time and part-time university students enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree program at an accredited institution.

What Is the CFA Institute Annual Conference?

The CFA Institute Annual Conference is the largest gathering of investment professionals in the world. The conference features more than 170 sessions on a wide range of topics related to investing, ethics, career development, and practice management.

The conference takes place each year in a different city around the world, and attracts more than 4,000 attendees from over 90 countries.

The conference is open to all investment professionals, including CFA charterholders and candidates, financial analysts, portfolio managers, wealth managers, investment bankers, and other financial professionals.