CFA
How to Recover from a CFA Exam Level I Failure
Spending 6 months of your life studying for an exam only to find out that you failed can feel like an unrecoverable setback. When you consider that you still need to pass two more exams that are even harder, it’s…
CFA Level 1 Curriculum Changes from 2018 to 2019
For 2019, the major change is the addition of one reading – Fintech – in the Portfolio Management study session. This reading summarizes new technologies in the investment world such as big data, machine learning, distributed ledgers, and even Bitcoin.
Alternative Investments – CFA Level 1 Essential Review Summary
Reading 58: Introduction to Alternative Investments The CFA curriculum is always changing and this last reading of Level 1 has been completely overhauled by the Institute and is considered a new reading. There is only this one reading regarding alternative…
Derivatives – CFA Level 1 Essential Review Summary
Reading 56 – Derivative Markets and Instruments Derivative securities are an asset class where they derive (hence the name) their value from an underlying asset. These underlying assets can be financial assets like equities or bonds or real assets like…
Fixed Income – CFA Level 1 Essential Review Summary
Reading 50 – Fixed-Income Securities: Defining Elements A bond is a debt instrument that entitles the buyer to future cash flows from the issuing entity. Bonds can be issued by a variety of organizations, including companies, governments, and even supranational…
Portfolio Management – CFA Level 1 Essential Review Summary
Reading 38 – Portfolio Management: An Overview Portfolio management is about creating a diversified approach to meet one’s investment goals. Diversification involves avoiding too much exposure to a single asset or asset type. Diversifying the risks of a portfolio help…
Equity Investment – CFA Level 1 Essential Review Summary
Reading 44 – Market Organization and Structure Financial markets serve a wide variety of purposes, but there are six main categories of activity. They are used for Saving by individuals and organizations in order to grow their assets over time. Borrowing is also done…
Corporate Finance – CFA Level 1 Essential Review Summary
Reading 33 – Corporate Governance and ESG: An Introduction Corporate Governance is the managerial system by which a company is controlled. There are two primary theories that drive corporate governance structures, though they have been converging more closely together in…
Financial Reporting and Analysis – CFA Level 1 Essential Review Summary
There’s no getting around it, financial reporting and analysis is a big part of the CFA level 1 curriculum and there is a lot of material with which you’ll need to become familiar. As one of the largest sections of…
Economics – CFA Level 1 Essential Review Summary
Reading 14 – Topics in Demand and Supply Analysis You will need to be able to calculate and explain the importance of Price Elasticity on the exam. Elasticity measures the sensitivity of one variable to another. If something is highly elastic, it…