DEAR DCT ,BTDT and others
You guys are definately senior given your research on CFA
I need help from you r people regarding L1.
The thing is I am contemplating a career in Finance and due to start mba prog from singapore in august SInce I am career switcher from electronics background ...i need more than few others in terms of quali. and in deoth knowledge..hence my decision for CFA
and since I plan a global career i choose CFA over ICFAI _CFA
the point is at this point I am zilch ,SHUNYA on commerce fundas ...so would the remaing 114 days for L! woud be sufficient I can devote 3-4 hrs each day ....
40k is big money for me so shud I wait till dec or go ahead with june.........the problem is in dec its colliding with mba exams...so you see more work load at hthis moment i am a little free....
DCT and other guys I know you have gome through the material what do you day guys
PLEASE HELP AND SORRY IF THe POSt iS LONG
wishes
arch
DEAR DCT ,BTDT and others
You guys are definately senior given your research on CFA
The thing is I am contemplating a career in Finance and due to start mba prog from singapore in august SInce I am career switcher from electronics background ...i need more than few others in terms of quali. and in deoth knowledge..hence my decision for CFA
and since I plan a global career i choose CFA over ICFAI _CFA
that is the precise reason why i`m doing the cfa too. if you read my first post on this thread, the one i posted when i started this thread, i said the exact same thing. so we`re on the same boat then...except that i PLAN to go abroad for studies, and u already ARE going abroad.
the point is at this point I am zilch ,SHUNYA on commerce fundas ...so would the remaing 114 days for L! woud be sufficient I can devote 3-4 hrs each day ....
40k is big money for me so shud I wait till dec or go ahead with june.........the problem is in dec its colliding with mba exams...so you see more work load at hthis moment i am a little free....
i`m not from a commerce/finance background either...i`m an engineer. i think 3 months should be just bout enough. 4-5 months would have been ideal, but in three months, we can just about manage. i seriously doubt if you can devote 3-4 hours each day, are u working? i decided i`ll devote 2 hours a day daily..and that hasnt happened!!
i really dont feel u can manage cfa along with your mba. dont let your mba studies suffer, otherwise you wont get placed after mba..which means december is ruled out for you. so it`s either this june or after a coupla years for you...take your call. i feel that if u do manage to spend good time preparing cfa...about 3 hours per day then you can just about manage with an average performance. there is a risk, but it is worth a shot. i`m in the same situation as you, and i`ve decided to take the risk and see what happens. now you decide: it`s either failing in june and losing 20K...or studying hard and earning cfa and going abroad with a level 1, which will help you get a good job there. i think considering the reward, you should take the risk..that`s just my personal opinion.
DCT and other guys I know you have gome through the material what do you day guys
PLEASE HELP AND SORRY IF THe POSt iS LONG
wishes
arch
well i`ve not gone thru completely or in too much detail, i`ve just skimmed thru a few chapters and prep material. i find some concepts to be managable and some concepts to be complete bouncers...now how i`ll manage in the next three months...is a challenge! the material in level 1 at least is managable i think.
feel free to keep your posts as lengthy as you want...and i hope you mean CTD when you say DCT
DONE!
I have finally, after weeks and weeks of "planning" (my favourite activity!), registered for the CFA level 1 in june. Tomorrow is the last date for registering, so in case you guys havnt, then do so asap. Phew, 36K...that`s the most i`ve ever spent on myself! The process is prtty simple...takes about 20-30 mins.
anyways, now that i am officially in the race, my time starts NOW: 109 days! Best of luck to everyone...keep in touch.
CTD CDT CDT DCT whats in a name ....a great guy speeled differently would still be a great guy.
oki thats plain buttering
but thanks for your answers dude....atleast it has motivated me to think seirously and decide once and for all .....
people from delhi if you are preparing for level I guys let me know
I wish I were there in mumbai it would be a great study group there
time for real introspection starts ....now
people from delhi if you are preparing for level I guys let me know
I wish I were there in mumbai it would be a great study group there
time for real introspection starts ....now
ahem...wrap up that introspection asap coz the deadline for registering for the cfa level 1 is TOMORROW! of course you can register after that too, but it`ll cost you 14K more! best of luck.
Hi CTD.Ur posts were really illuminating for a confused guy like me.Right now I am in 3rd year of engineering(as usual IT u know!!) .I wud b completing my BTech in june 2007."My query is whether i wud b eligible for the June 2007 level 1 examination?"I am particularly interested for june slot 'cos in my last semester i hv no academic burden(only project) and till then CAT's worry wud also be over(written part at least!!).
I also want to know which all are basic concept of finance i need to b familiar with before i kickstart my prep for level 1(It wud b so nice of u if u can suggest any website for that!!) .I also want to know about the significance of "MBA finance from IIMs + Cfa level 2 cleared" in context of Indian as well as global job market.
Looking forward to ur reply n thnx in advance:).
Hi CTD.Ur posts were really illuminating for a confused guy like me.Right now I am in 3rd year of engineering(as usual IT u know!!) .I wud b completing my BTech in june 2007."My query is whether i wud b eligible for the June 2007 level 1 examination?"I am particularly interested for june slot 'cos in my last semester i hv no academic burden(only project) and till then CAT's worry wud also be over(written part at least!!).
I also want to know which all are basic concept of finance i need to b familiar with before i kickstart my prep for level 1(It wud b so nice of u if u can suggest any website for that!!) .I also want to know about the significance of "MBA finance from IIMs + Cfa level 2 cleared" in context of Indian as well as global job market.
Looking forward to ur reply n thnx in advance.
final year students CAN register for the cfa level 1 as long as they complete their graduation before the day of the cfa exam...so i`m not sure how close it`ll be in your case, coz the june exam is usually held within the first week of june. this is what i have gathered from what i read, but you need to confirm this in detail before registering. i think there was a related querry by sapna, the only lady on this thread
, you could find out what she did about it. you say you wont have study burden in your final sem...are you sure? the last sem is relatively light compared to the other 7 sems, but from what i can recall from my engg days, i had 6 other subjects besides my project to take care of. i hope you`re taking all that into account before thinking about june 2007, becoz cfa is gonna take up a LOT of your time (but then, you`re starting early too, so that should work in your favor...take a call on that one).
i think an excellent place to start learning the basics is investopedia.com. go to the tutorials section and start reading the tutorials sequentially and you will get a fair idea of the basics. once you`re done with that, you can logon to nseindia.com and go to the ncfm section. there are quite a few free ebooks there on different topics, which you could start reading, once u know the basics (these may not be directly relevant to cfa becoz they deal with indian stock markets, but you can skip those parts and focus on the concepts alone). i think with investopedia, nse, and your daily finance newspapers will equip you with the basics over the coming few months.
iim finance should take care of most of your life`s worries
You might not even need a cfa after that...but a little extra always helps. cfa holds good ground in the global market and will serve well to compliment your iim mba.
Hi,
i was thinking of doing a CFA but am slightly confused.
i have not done anything related to finance before.. i did science in school and will be graduating(BSc) in economics in may 2006.. i dont have any work ex.. my first option was MBA but i messed up CAT this year.. thus was thinking of CFA.. with my background am i eligible for the CFA course?. and do u think it is a good idea to pursue it at this stage?..
also.. i also cant decide between ICFAI and CFAI.. while reading the thred i have formed a negative impression of ICFAI.. what are the drawbacks of ICFAI?and what are the job prospects after the ICFAI CFA? also.. for an average student how many years would it take to complete a CFA programme.. especially someone who has done nothing related to commerce before..
thanks a lot
sonal:)
tO ICFAI OR NOT TO ICFAI
oki I was under same dielema regarding CFA and for a while thought CFA AIMR is same as the one offered by ICFAI
THe thing is ICFAI CFA the course structure the preperation the rigour of the course is great .IF INDIAN MARKET /INDIAN JOB is what you are looking at go for it....IT has got brand recognition........so no worries about that
BUT if one sees a future in global markets US/SING/HOng Kong I suggest putting in the effort for the AIMR CFA ....
Essentially what I am implying is the effort put in for both AIMR and ICFAI would be almost same (though some say LEvel3 AIMR is really a toughie)
in the end for those looking for a finance career in india ICFAI is more than suficient
thats my two cents!!
which cfa is a better option the one through icfai or the US one
Hey CTD!!Thnx a lot for clearing most of the doubts i had in my mind.I am following this thread for quite a long time now n one thing ,as u hv mentioned in ur previous post ,is quite clear that i will need to spend at least 2-3 hours regularly for at least 4-5 months in order to clear level 1.Fortunately i hv only project(ya ..no other subjects
) to look after in my last semester,so i know time wont b a constraint.
The only thing that is really itching on my mind is how to manage the fund for the books n exam registration 'cos i wont b earning nething then n finding a studygroup(to share the cost of books at least) in town like Allahabad is next to impossible.Neways still a long way to go n looking forward to many more illuminating post from ur side.
By the way i completely forgot to say thank you for the nice study links u hv suggested.THNX A LOT for that buddy n keep up common junta like us updated about the progress of ur prep.ATB for the same
.
hey archstone me too frm delhi contemplating doin a CFA , me too frm Electronics background, will be completing my engineering in may 2006, so wat r u upto these days, wat have u planned for the material.
As planned, I have NOT registered for CFA L1 for June 06 :)
I have the material though. I am just not prepared to read all this with a sword hanging over my head. I'll take it slow and enjoy the learning.
All the best for your june exam..
cheers
nex
As planned, I have NOT registered for CFA L1 for June 06
I have the material though. I am just not prepared to read all this with a sword hanging over my head. I'll take it slow and enjoy the learning.
All the best for your june exam..
cheers
nex
good call!
i hate the sword-hanging too, but on the other hand, i dont take things seriously unless there`s a deadline and a crisis in the first place! So the mandatory sword hanging is necessary for me. plus, i also want to complete level 2 in june 2007, which wont be possible if i complete level 1 in december, coz 6 months is just not enuff for level 2...hope you`ve taken that into account too.
Hi,
i was thinking of doing a CFA but am slightly confused.
i have not done anything related to finance before.. i did science in school and will be graduating(BSc) in economics in may 2006.. i dont have any work ex.. my first option was MBA but i messed up CAT this year.. thus was thinking of CFA.. with my background am i eligible for the CFA course?. and do u think it is a good idea to pursue it at this stage?..
also.. i also cant decide between ICFAI and CFAI.. while reading the thred i have formed a negative impression of ICFAI.. what are the drawbacks of ICFAI?and what are the job prospects after the ICFAI CFA? also.. for an average student how many years would it take to complete a CFA programme.. especially someone who has done nothing related to commerce before..
thanks a lot
sonal:smile:
If you looking to gain experience in Indian market, ICFAI CFA is more then enough along with UG/PG. Course contents of ICFAI CFA are wonderful. Opportunities exist in KPOs, Indian equity research, forex trading, derivates, options, commodities market etc.
I have lot of friends with UG + CFA ICFAI working in firms like evalueserve, Mckinsey knowledge, copal partners, smart analytics doing NASDAQ, european capital market research.
CFA AIMR is a true CFA, if you ask me frankly. I am doing CFA ICFAI. but in life every thing which looks good is not easy to get. CFA AIMR is a competitive course and you need to have a really good grasp of subjects to clear all 3 levels. Its in global context and unfortunately our education degrees are still not inclined to global curriculum except top colleges. Have you studied sample papers at CFA AIMR website? Study ICFAI CFA papers and CFA AIMR and you will be able to understand the strategic difference between 2 courses. CFA AIMR is extremely challenging and i wont advice for a fresh B.com/ Indian graduate to persue it. Stakes are also high. ICFAI CFA is approx Rs 55000.
Easiest job in world is to form an impression. Forming a negative impression about ICFAI CFA means you are insulting 2500 successful CFA ICFAI where some of them are occupying top positions in their trades
Think practical and then make a decision. CFA AIMR is not a cakewalk. ICFA CFA is again not a cakewalk. But for indian students ICFA CFA gives you sound foundation in core finance concepts + a chance to complete all three levels with little ease + market brand.
If my aim is to go abroad and do MBA in 2008 or 2009, then this is what i would have done:
Step 1: Do CFA ICFAI. Fantastic finance concept knowledge with subjects like M&A;, equity valuation, derivates and bond trading, ethics etc
Step 2: Complete CFA ICFAI in 2 yrs flat. 2 hours daily grinding is more then enough.
Step 3: Mention in CV 'MS(Finance) from ICFAI UNIVERSITY, HYDERABAD-XX.XX %, 1st division. I will not mention CFA FROM ICFAI because of ongoing battle and fact you cant use CFA ICFAI in US/Canada.
So what did i get in return:
1) Enormous cost savings.
2) Hardcore finance knowledge which was true puprose before starting MBA.
3) MS(Finance) degree which is from decent, respectable university.
I will prefer to start off with easy things first, and then move later to complex things if talent permits.
All the best to everyone. God bless.
thanks a ton for the info...
still undecided though.. concentrating on my university exams for now...
another question...
what kind of work ex do u think a person with BSc Eco will get (not call centre)?.. since the CFA course is not full time i'l have to do something alongside.. and other than call centres no one seems to want fresh graduates
thanks a ton for the info...
still undecided though.. concentrating on my university exams for now...
another question...
what kind of work ex do u think a person with BSc Eco will get (not call centre)?.. since the CFA course is not full time i'l have to do something alongside.. and other than call centres no one seems to want fresh graduates
BPO pay well and facilites are good. International enviorment and a chance to work with best western minds changes your mindset. Find a opportunity in non voice based transaction processing areas likes banking process . GENPACT hiring fresh commerce graduates for non voice based processing process. Not a bad experience.
I am in voice based call centre for last 2 years. Thats a biggest mistake i did. Life is cool in non voice based process where you can use your commerce education.
thanks BABU.. u've been a major help... i'll check up abt genpact and some of the other BPO outfits in Kolkata... do u think a CFA should be followed up with a MBA? is it an adequate degree?
If you looking to gain experience in Indian market, ICFAI CFA is more then enough along with UG/PG. Course contents of ICFAI CFA are wonderful. Opportunities exist in KPOs, Indian equity research, forex trading, derivates, options, commodities market etc.
I have lot of friends with UG + CFA ICFAI working in firms like evalueserve, Mckinsey knowledge, copal partners, smart analytics doing NASDAQ, european capital market research.
True. the icfai cfa might get you decent opportunities in india.
CFA AIMR is a true CFA, if you ask me frankly. I am doing CFA ICFAI. but in life every thing which looks good is not easy to get. CFA AIMR is a competitive course and you need to have a really good grasp of subjects to clear all 3 levels. Its in global context and unfortunately our education degrees are still not inclined to global curriculum except top colleges.
Mostly true again. but what`s that thing you say about "everything in life that looks good isn`t easy to get..". not the right spirit man. I have full respect for the icfai course that you are doing, but if someone is doing the icfai cfa BECAUSE he/she finds the AIMR CFA too difficult or he doesn`t want to put in that much hard work, then that person is simply trying to take shortcuts and trying to find an easy substitute. In case there`s a genuine financial constrint or you want courses specific to india, then that`s a good enough reason to go for icfai. some introspection required at this point!
CFA AIMR is extremely challenging and i wont advice for a fresh B.com/ Indian graduate to persue it. Stakes are also high. ICFAI CFA is approx Rs 55000.
yes it`s extremely challenging, but you can`t really generalize and say that it is not recommended for indian graduates...indian students are reasonably hard working people and are quite well equipped to handle rigorous academic courses. I agree with you on the money part though. i have just registered for the AIMR CFA level 1 and i have already spent about 45K already! so the stakes are high, but it`s not unmanagable if you prepare well in advance and spend enough hours studying.
Think practical and then make a decision. CFA AIMR is not a cakewalk. ICFA CFA is again not a cakewalk. But for indian students ICFA CFA gives you sound foundation in core finance concepts + a chance to complete all three levels with little ease + market brand.
the market brand is definitely stronger for the AIMR CFA. the AIMR CFA also gives you strong fundamentals etc....in fact, it has a greater fundamentals emphasis then icfai. You`re AGAIN emphasizing on the "ease" of the icfai-cfa. Anyways, whether a person chooses convenience or cost or some other factor to make his decision is a personal preference.
If my aim is to go abroad and do MBA in 2008 or 2009, then this is what i would have done:
Step 1: Do CFA ICFAI. Fantastic finance concept knowledge with subjects like M&A;, equity valuation, derivates and bond trading, ethics etc
Step 2: Complete CFA ICFAI in 2 yrs flat. 2 hours daily grinding is more then enough.
if you`re doing an mba in 2008 or 2009, then you do have 3 years to complete the AIMR CFA...why not do the real thing if you have the time? the AIMR cfa is a three year course...and obviously it`ll have much more to offer in terms of financial learning than icfai.
Step 3: Mention in CV 'MS(Finance) from ICFAI UNIVERSITY, HYDERABAD-XX.XX %, 1st division. I will not mention CFA FROM ICFAI because of ongoing battle and fact you cant use CFA ICFAI in US/Canada.
i wouldn`t advice anyone to fool around with their CV like this u know...especially overseas. in any case, ms finance from icfai wont hold much ground abroad.
Anyways, thanks for the info, i didn`t know this much abt the icfai cfa before this. what i can gather from all this is that the icfai cfa offers an easier, shorter, cheaper, and trimmed down version of the real thing. taking the short-cut and trekking uphill each have their own risks and rewards...to each his own! amen!
PS: the intention of this post is not to offend any icfai-cfa guys or to launch an attack on the program...i was just thinking out loud!
HI I AM ENROLLED IN CFA PROGRAM AND CURENTLY IN THE THIRD AND LAST LEVELYOU CAN ASK YOUR QUERRIES IF YOU LIKE: