Is anyone a CFA??

[Kez180]

Memorising all forumlas sounds hefty as, dont even have to do that for hardest uni courses!

As long as you have St Dev, covariance, Corelation co-efficient, NPV/NPVA, Full array of ratio analysis etc.. all down pat I can't see how you'd run into trouble... (Love to hear what else you need)

You can learn alot in 3 months worth of 3 hrs a day if you want to

 

[rub92me]

Imho something like a CFA would be more useful to do once you are in a job already, rather than as a means to increase your prospects for getting a job. I.e. get some experience first, see if you like it and then decide what is most suitable for you in terms of additional education.

 

[doctorj]

Imho something like a CFA would be more useful to do once you are in a job already, rather than as a means to increase your prospects for getting a job. I.e. get some experience first, see if you like it and then decide what is most suitable for you in terms of additional education.

At least here, CFA (part or full qual) is looked on quite favourably by recruiters and companies - it does open doors. Though, if you're looking at spending some time and money on education that will really make a difference, you can't beat getting some sort of post grad business qualification from an internationally recognised school (US, UK, Fr). I constantly come across groups of 'Oxbridge' old boys in good positions in good companies here and right across Europe. As good as Australian education is, if you can afford something international, you'll be well placed for just about any job you go for, home or abroad.

 

[Kez180]

I just enrolled in the June 2010 Level1 exam, I'll let everyone know how it goes!

~Kieran

 

[lazyfish]

I just enrolled in the June 2010 Level1 exam, I'll let everyone know how it goes!

~Kieran

Good luck Kieran. I am about to start studying myself soon

 

[shoe crew]

thank you all for your info and stories on CFA..
Im still deciding if im going to do it...
id probably follow the advice of one of the other posters and pursue CFA when im in a job, and at least that way my employer can pay for it...

Ive recently got a finance major and finishing off my last paper on economics... I choose the finance of econ thinking it would be easy with my background, but im finding it theory and real tough...
Ive only done 3 hours study so far though...
I pretty much bull****ttted my way through uni, and rarely failed...
I spent too much time investing in oil stocks,
now that I have graduated, and come back for this paper to complete econ, I dont really know what to do with myself...

now that ive graduated I want to retire even though im not there yet.....
im very talented, but I have not been able to take the next step in the real World...
I am lost....

 

[mazzatelli]

Sounds like you need a round the world trip partying, boozing, wo[man]izing and getting everything out of your system before actually working.

I support the notion to try jobs, and only committing to the CFA if it will enhance your skills in the field you are interested in. No point studying and then finding out that's not what you would like to do for the REST of your life.

Good luck!!!

 

[Largesse]

thank you all for your info and stories on CFA..
Im still deciding if im going to do it...
id probably follow the advice of one of the other posters and pursue CFA when im in a job, and at least that way my employer can pay for it...

Ive recently got a finance major and finishing off my last paper on economics... I choose the finance of econ thinking it would be easy with my background, but im finding it theory and real tough...
Ive only done 3 hours study so far though...
I pretty much bull****ttted my way through uni, and rarely failed...
I spent too much time investing in oil stocks,
now that I have graduated, and come back for this paper to complete econ, I dont really know what to do with myself...

now that ive graduated I want to retire even though im not there yet.....
im very talented, but I have not been able to take the next step in the real World...
I am lost....

does anyone feel like punching themselves in the groin after reading this tripe?

 

[Wysiwyg]

does anyone feel like punching themselves in the groin after reading this tripe?

Rolling on the floor laughing out loud.

 

[Julia]

does anyone feel like punching themselves in the groin after reading this tripe?

Well, I suppose at least he/she doesn't have a self esteem issue!

 

[cuttlefish]

is this run by the Securities Institute? I haven't heard of this before but I am a long time out of the industry. My qualifications now are effectively a SFA specialising in NFI.

shoe crew - maybe you could look into the qualifications that Broadside refers to above - it sounds like you're well qualified.

 

[lazyfish]

CFA is a big commitment, I absolutely agree with that. In some cases I also agree that it's better to wait until you think you will make finance your career before doing it. The only thing though, is that passing rates are falling while candidate number is rising. For example, the pass rate for level III this year is the lowest since 1963 and the pass rate for level II is the third lowest.

About half of the curriculum so far (Level 1-2) is not entirely useful to me. They are good to know, but not that practical e.g. fixed income stuff (again how much stuff you do in uni is relevant). Some useful stuff for me are quantitative tools, valuation models, financial report adjustments and some portfolio theories (there are more but I just can't recall off the top of my head). I haven't started studying level III yet so I have no idea how it's going to be. For me personally these are very worthwhile, even if I don't get to become a mining analyst eventually

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Garpal Gumnut is offering the GG CFA 2009

You need to bring all cds of Tom Waits , "Orphans, Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards" and a four quarts of Evan Williams Black Label bourbon.

After each track you are required to drink a finger of EWBLB.

Should you be standing at the end of the test, I will bestow on you a
GG CFA 2009.

It will be worth as much as any you can get in Australia and I'll teach you things that the University of Western Sydney never taught to Storm Financial.

And they got a Masters.!!

gg

 

[Kez180]

GG, it is because of my complete lack of respect for the Australian financial sector that I looked elsewhere for some post grad education.

Believe me this course bears no resemblance to anything that any storm advisors would have conned their way into...

Back on topic, I just received my textbooks, I'll post up pics in a day or two when I find my camera!

 

[stocksontheblock]

I’m not in finance, yet after reading all the posts - esp. the amazing failure rate I have to ask, is this not a great scam to fleece people of their money?

$US400 to register; $US400 to by books; $US400 to sit an exam - odds are you fail a few times, so multiple that 400 a few times – and for each level, and for what?

If as I have read it takes a couple of years to do this, and costs so much to fail - over and over, then why is not a commerce degree or some other accounting qualification as good?

As I say, I have no idea about this, yet a cursory look on the net and I can’t find many finance jobs that say anything about wanting CFA qual's.

 

[swm79]

my bro is a CFA... got 99 UAI, he was working at the Res bank, did uni at usyd, got hons, got thesis published, got chartered... then did his CFA... he said it was pretty hard.... but he says everything is hard, and then gets 100%

two years later he's pulled out to become a medical dr - doing the GAMSAT

 

[4fundamentals]

Honestly,

I agree with a lot of posters on this topic. I think the CFA, is only really valuable (for job prospect purposes) if you are currenlty or intend to work as a mining analyst. Otherwise I believe its WAY toooooo much work, for little reward.

Honestly I would rather do a graduate program in economics or applied finance, than the CFA course, failure rate is simply way too high.

 

[shoe crew]

Largesse, wysiwyg
you two clowns laughing at me after I told you my story...
Im a kiwi...
I came up from nothing...
look, on this link below I have shown how to value an oil production stage project... if someone shows me another interesting insight on how to value oil and gas projects, then I will show you another trick of the trade....
it would be good to share knowledge...
I am an oil analyst (without an oil analyst job)...
apart from the dorks, there must be heaps of smart cats around here?
CFA is the nuts and bolts, the real deal...


https://www.aussiestockforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3094&page=4

 

[Cink]

Hi was wondering if its possible to do the CFA lvl 1 in Australia, then CFA lvl 2 in another country then CFA lvl 3 back in Australia ?

 

[lazyfish]

Hi was wondering if its possible to do the CFA lvl 1 in Australia, then CFA lvl 2 in another country then CFA lvl 3 back in Australia ?

I believe so, you get to select the test center (where you sit for your exam) when you sign up for exams every time. Alternatively you can change your test center. Here is the link.

http://www.cfainstitute.org/cfaprog/resources/examdetails/centerchange.html