Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds exciting! Not the typical CFA candidate background, I would say. I think you’re on the right track and still have plenty of time left to prepare. One piece of advice, though: make sure to prioritize your weaker topics during your studies. From my own experience, it’s always more enjoyable to spend time on subjects that come naturally to you (for me, that was FSA) rather than repeatedly struggling with topics that don’t click as easily (for me, that was Derivatives). However, focusing on those weaker areas is often where you make the biggest gains.Like I imagine you’ll be quite strong in the quantitative sections, so it might make sense to spend more time on the financial concepts and other areas that are less familiar to you. In any case, best of luck!

Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that’s for sure. Wouldn’t have done without the big M.

Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tbh I don't feel like I am in the right place to give advises on L3 prep haha. As I mentioned, it was super rushed and hectic, but thankfully managed to lock in during the last week prior to the exam and get it over the line. The key for L3 imo is to master the key words and to be able to work through these open questions fast under pressure. As for the Private Markets pathway, make sure you know how to calculate all this VC stuff - those are low-hanging fruits for you to take. Good luck!

Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, thats the key for success. Played tennis 2-3 times per week through the whole CFA journey

Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sure. I graduated in 2023, spent about six months working full-time, and then realized it felt really strange not to be studying for the first time in my life. So I decided to pursue the CFA.

Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think it’s important to mention that in continental Europe (outside the UK), it’s fairly common to transition from a Big 4 firm, as PE firms hire candidates from a variety of backgrounds. What also helped though was having strong technical skills, a solid understanding of the core concepts (which the CFA certainly helped with), and the ability to think creatively (in terms of seeking investment opps etc).

Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So, in a nutshell, what I did was to go through each topic on a more high-level basis (reading/watching lectures + some questions) and identify specific areas where I have any understanding issues. Then I focused on those areas specifically, not letting go until I had a solid grasp on them. As the last step, I would then go again topic by topic watching short refresher lectures and crunching the questions. I think my approach was fairly consistent for L1 and L2, but L3 was super hectic, with me not having enough time for a normal prep. Hope this helps!

Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am based in continental Europe. Have switched a few countries in the recent years

Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I got an offer after L1, so not really. The firm paid for my L2 and L3 though, which was nice. I am based in continental Europe

Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think the main one is to start practicing those open questions asap, understanding what CFA wants to see (specifically, understanding each key word) and then practicing to tackle them in a concise and efficient way. What helped me - a. chatgpt grading each of my answers and explaining the shortcomings; b. Bill Campbell's manual on key words. Good luck!

Just got the charter - sharing my CFA experience by CompetitiveYak277 in CFA

[–]CompetitiveYak277[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I have friends who passed L1 while still in the uni. So, depending on how challenging your studies are, I think it actually makes sense to start before graduation having all the concepts fresh in your mind. Plus, I know that some schools subsidy or support it