CFA – A Massive Course

A degree does not always help you to become successful in life. What matters are your skills. It is the special ability that makes you different from others. The best way to improve your skills and become a true professional is by getting a professional certification. And when it comes to careers in finance and investment, there is one certification—The CFA qualification!

What is CFA?

The full form CFA course is Chartered Financial Analyst course. It is a globally reputed certification. This course is considered one of the most respected and recognized qualifications in the field of finance and investment.

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Why Should You Choose CFA?

Here are a few reasons why CFA is a great choice for your career:

Skill Development

The CFA program focuses on real-world skills that employers love. It’s not just theory—you actually learn things that you can apply in your job.

High Earning Potential

CFA charter holders often earn good salaries and get better job positions because of their knowledge and credibility.

 Affordable

Compared to an MBA, the CFA program is more affordable and gives you excellent returns on your investment.

Flexibility

You can study while you work! Many CFA candidates are working professionals who prepare for the exams alongside their jobs.

Who Can Do the CFA Course?

The best part about the CFA program is that anyone who is interested in finance can join. You don’t need to be from a commerce or finance background. If you want to learn this course then Zell education will help you out.

To start your CFA journey, you need:

• A Bachelor’s degree (or you can be in the final year of your degree),
• Or work experience (4,000 hours over 3 years),
• Or a combination of both.

You also need to know English well and be ready to study hard and smart!

Structure of the CFA Program

The CFA course duration is about 2 to 3 years and it has three levels:

1. Level I – Basic knowledge and understanding of finance and investment tools.
2. Level II – Application of those tools in real-life scenarios.
3. Level III – Major focus is on managing the investments and strategic decision making.

These levels are already arranged in order and you need to pass them in sequence to go to the next one. Once you pass all three levels and meet the required work experience.

A Quick Look at the CFA Exams

Let’s understand the exam process in a simple way.

CFA Level I

• Focus: Focus is on basic topics like quantitative and qualitative measure of finance.
• Exam Format: Questions are generally MCQ based.
• Duration: Divided in two parts of 2 hours each.
• Frequency: Held four times a year.

 CFA Level II

• Focus: This level is more about the application of the concepts you learned in level 1.
• Exam Format: Case Study based questions.
• Duration: Exam is divided into two sessions of 2 hours each.
• Frequency: Held three times a year.

CFA Level III

• Focus: Strategic Analysis is the main focus here.
• Exam Format: Essay question along with MCQs.
• Duration: Two sessions of 2 hours.
• Frequency: Held two times in a year.

Subjects Covered in CFA

Across the three levels, the CFA program covers 10 main topics. Here they are:

1. Ethical and Professional Standards – Ethics is working within the scope of rules and morals.
2. Quantitative Methods – Understanding various methods to value the securities and make budgets,
3. Economics – Learn about the concepts of inflation, deflation, demand and supply.
4. Financial Reporting and Analysis – Read and understand financial statements of companies.
5. Corporate Issuers – Study how companies make financial decisions.
6. Equity Investments – Learn how stock markets work and how to analyse stocks.
7. Fixed Income – Understand bonds and how they are used in investing.

8. Manage Your Portfolio – Learn how to manage investment portfolios.

Tips to Prepare for CFA

Here are some happy tips to help you succeed:

•  Start early – It’s better if you plan a time-table and complete your syllabus as early as possible, but how? All you need is Zell Education.
•  Make a study plan – Divide and conquer and set targets to achieve daily progress.
•  Practice a lot – Practice mock tests and previous questions.
•  Revise regularly – Don’t just study once, keep revising to keep things fresh.
•  Join a study group – Learning with others can make studying fun and effective!

What After CFA?

CFA course duration is manageable. Once you complete the CFA program and get your charter, many career paths open up. You can work in:

• Investment banks
• Mutual fund companies
• Hedge funds
• Private equity firms
• Insurance companies
• Consulting firms

The CFA qualification is a journey of gaining expertise in all the topics that we have mentioned above, since you learn this much, your value increases in the eyes of the employer and you get hired at high paying jobs.