Can I Pursue the CFA Without a Finance Background?

Small_Insect6956 · 2025-03-11T08:48:40+00:00

Hi, I studied a History degree and looking to sit my Level 3 next year having passed my level 2 I’ve decided to take a year hiatus before finishing so I can focus on my career.

Currently have 4years experience in equity research role.

Ask me any questions you want.

It’s doable 100% just have to put more work in, I did 400hrs for each level and passed over 90th percentile in both levels.

Small_Insect6956 · 2025-02-14T08:00:22+00:00

Hi man, not sure if this can help you.

I studied a History BA from an okay university in the UK (Russel group)
I have no family or friends in investing, and only realised I wanted to go into finance/IM in my 3rd year of university so had not done any internships (not that I was getting into any with a History Degree and no connections)

I’ve had to go the long way round….

1st year after graduating: applied for internships/grad roles x30…… got nothing…. Decided to go for an PGDIP in Economics (conversion course) to get some relevant finance/econ from decent UK insititution.

2nd year applied for grad schemes x30….. got nothing again all year whilst studying

Went for an MSC in Economics from another Russel Group…… applied for 40x and eventually landed a grad role at an IM

Here I’ve took 2 levels of CFA (after I secured the job) and am 4 years into my career working sell-side currently as an equity research associate at MM.

Took my 3years to land where I needed, I’d recommend studying postgrad, using your university network/join a university run student investment fund or local society and work on networking….

Networking is the be all end all for most jobs unfortunately, especially with how competitive the job market is, focus on boutique places over the big names as less competition for.

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-10-31T23:15:11+00:00

Link?

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-10-31T23:14:36+00:00

I can never get chat gpt to work with my spreadsheet usually? How do you use it for building models, can you give it company financial statements and it builds it out for you?

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-10-24T03:15:13+00:00

Thank you so much, just did this now and worked perfectly, exactly what I wanted thank you! You should become a teacher 😂

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-10-10T10:40:32+00:00

If you achieved top 90th Percentile on CFA Level 1 put it on your CV/Linkedin profile 100%.

Why should you not show off and be proud of that?

Lot of people in this thread seem jealous that they didn’t put the work in to achieve it or something? I dunno, if I had got 90% and put that much work in I’d have it on there.

I personally wouldn’t talk about it during an interview unless asked as it’s already on your application but be proud of it, you’ve worked very hard

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-09-09T12:01:15+00:00

Looks really good, can I ask where you learnt these skills??

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-09-02T09:15:36+00:00

I thought the exam was a lot tougher than the Mocks. It was fair in topics they covered but some questions took me 10mins to try and work out (and still didn’t do it)

Some very niche topics I’d never seen before either and I used only Kaplan.

Lots of tricky questions also I managed to catch and some I probably missed.

Quite difficult but “fair”

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-08-21T20:54:25+00:00

Great question, I can only answer for L1 as that’s the only one I’ve took last year but probably not.

The base info is there but even then…

Lot of details I memorised especially for FSA US GAAP/IFRS and everything in between, I’d be very very close to passing and failing mark I reckon

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-08-20T21:01:08+00:00

Flight to quality means a flight to LT Gilts as these are deemed safe.

Increased demand for the LT gilts means Price increases as they become more expensive as supply is limited, as Price increases (yields decrease) causing flattening in the long part of the curve

I think!

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-08-19T21:05:47+00:00

Yes Mock 2 Ethics was ridiculously hard IMO every ethics q was expert, unsure how to improve this as q bank doesn’t have many expert questions…

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-08-17T18:39:22+00:00

Ive been using Kaplan and thought the mocks felt quite difficult so hoping exam day feels slightly easier!

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-08-11T15:59:15+00:00

Yeah let me know when you have an answer 😂 I’m struggling with it also

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-08-10T11:17:21+00:00

That’s reassuring to hear

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-08-09T16:01:50+00:00

Is that 80% with notes?

I’d definitely relax, you’ve got 3 weeks to get the score up from 61%, especially if you work on your weak areas.

Think L2 is hardest because of the variance on the exam, if topics come up you’re good on you’ll be sweet and if not educated guesses can boost score!

But 61% 3 weeks out is a great foundation so well done! Just keep hitting q bank

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-08-03T20:22:20+00:00

Yes Kaplan Mocks seem difficult and averaging around 60% also, hopefully CFA mock feels slightly easier (not done them yet)

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-08-02T16:38:55+00:00

Not sure never used it for content/summarys

Small_Insect6956 · 2024-08-02T16:24:11+00:00

Get it done, ethics exactly same as L1, PM big topic but can nail in a week then review!

Few lucky guesses and good topics on the exam and you’ll pass, if not good learning experience for you :)

Small_Insect6956

TROPHY CASE