Hi guys and gals,

Three questions, need serious answers:

1. Texas Instruments BA II Plus
OR
Texas Instruments BA II Plus Professional

Which is the better of the two, more user-friendly yet effective to use for CFA?

2. As there are changes (not sure how much) to the curriculum yearly, does this mean that if I were to resit an examination the following year, I have to purchase the whole new curriculum set as well?!


3. How is the tuition offered at MIMS compared with Kasturi?


Thanks a lot and appreciate all the help.

Peace out.

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Added on March 26, 2008, 3:07 pmSTATWORKS [M] SDN BHD

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Website:www.statwks.com

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Added on March 26, 2008, 3:15 pmhttp://www.cfainstitute.org/cfaprog/getsta...ents/index.html

Just check out the website.

You need at least a bachelor's DEGREE in ANY discipline (finance, engineering, etc.) to qualify you to take up the CFA program. If you're deadset on taking up CFA, I suggest you go for a finance degree first.

This post has been edited by luigee: Mar 26 2008, 03:15 PM

Sorry for late reply. Well, that's tough if you're coming from Penang. Perhaps you can refer to www.wikimapia.org to find the place. If you recognize any landmarks that will help a lot.

Hi there,

Can I have a lowdown on Kasturi College?

How is the CFA classroom environment and the lecturers there?

How are their notes and do they use any Schweser or Stalla supplementaries?

Appreciate if any Kasturi student can state the full pros and cons.

Thanks!

Create your account in the website and sign up for the exams online (in the website). Payment is via credit card (or whatever stated in the website). As part of your payment, you will receive the curriculum (six volumes of textbooks) which will be mailed to your address in a week's time or two.

I STRONGLY advise you to better start your revisions now if you're planning for the Dec exams so that you'll be fully prepared by then.

This post has been edited by luigee: Feb 23 2009, 03:11 PM

Hello all,

May I know the relevant (working) experiences that are needed in preparing for the CFA Level 3 exam because I heard that experience may be needed to help write the essays. Would appreciate if anyone can share examples of how that particular experience has helped in Level 3 and other related experiences. This question goes out to all Level 3 candidates and those that already completed/passed the exam. Hope you guys can lend a hand to us "juniors"!! Thanks!!

If you studied hard enough you should be able to pass Level 1. But for Level 2 you have to add in twice the effort you put in Level 1 to pass. That is my personal opinion.

Level 1 is hard. But Level 2 is the killer...

This post has been edited by luigee: Jun 28 2009, 11:40 PM

Actually it depends on the individual. However you should start as early as possible before the finals. Come up with a daily schedule and stick to it. Put in at least 2 hours a day. You can visit www.cfainstitute.org where they will give you some basic tips. Seriously, just DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the urgency and do not procrastinate.

Another tip is referring to Schweser books as supplement to the CFA text books. It will help a lot.

CFA is just another professional qualification like ICAEW, CIMA, ACCA for accountants and CFP for financial planners. I can say CFA makes you more knowledgeable but I believe becoming a better analyst comes with experience. CFA is like the gold standard in finance (as quoted in Kasturi College's advertisement). CFA is recognized worldwide and perhaps after obtaining the CFA charter and couple of years of working experience you might wanna take a shot at applying to work in Wall Street.

One disclaimer though: It's not that easy...

To prepare for the 2 levels, you should start your revision once you know you passed your Level 1. I'm not kidding you. Schweser is still your best friend for Levels 1 and 2 and will still be helpful in Level 3. But of course the CFA curriculum is very important because only its contents will be tested. Some people would prefer writing their own notes for much easier reading as the syllabus will kill you with the QUANTITY that you need to absorb. But then again, you will also go through hell coz there's so much to read and write. Doing the past year papers will be helpful as well after you completed your rounds of study.

Reading business news should be a routine like reading the sports section of the newspaper. About revising your maths, I think you should only revise what's inside the syllabus when the time comes.

IMHO, you should do your honours first if given the opportunity. You might not know whether you'll be able to complete the CFA program. I kid you not. Don't underestimate Level 1. Looking at the passing rates, majority that failed were probably the ones that underestimated it. But IMHO you should be able to pass Level 1 if not it'll be so much tougher in Levels 2 and 3.

If going thru the CFA program is like climbing a mountain, Level 1 is a steep walk, Level 2 is a steep climb and Level 3 is a vertical climb to the summit.

I'm doing my Level 3 now and I tell you it's a pain studying. If I was this hardworking back in my school days, I would have gotten straight A's and probably a scholarship to some Ivy League school or prestigious uni.

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Added on May 4, 2010, 1:07 pmhttp://www.cfamalaysia.org/default.aspx

Go attend their CFA preview talk if it's gonna be held. They will mention about the partial scholarship offered. You can email them for further enquiries.

This post has been edited by luigee: May 4 2010, 01:09 PM

I come from a non-finance background (engineering to be exact). Like many others I'm interested in making a career switch to investment banking, particularly fund management. CFA is probably the best qualification out there and is recognised globally. CFA charterholders are well-paid in the industry, just like how actuarists are due to their limited numbers. Most Malaysian CFA charterholders are either holding prominent positions or based abroad. Knowing the future benefits that awaits me is what drives me. But of course you got to have your Plan B if things don't work out.

To be honest IMO completing all 3 Levels of the CFA Program doesnt guarantee anything, it only increases your chances of getting hired. I don't have any assurance from any potential employers at the moment but I'll probably apply for those management trainee/associate programmes offered by these investment banks after this in hopes of getting absorbed by them.

Yeah, true. Investment banking is more associated with the likes of corporate finance. Funds management is just parked under IB together with research house for those banks that offer buy-side and sell-side services. AFAIK some people relate Level 1 to a research assistant's level, Level 2 to an equity research analyst's level, and Level 3 to a fund manager's level.

All the best to you as well on 6th June. Btw, what level are you doing?

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Added on May 7, 2010, 4:43 pmhttps://www.cfainstitute.org/cfaprogram/pro...e_schedule.aspx

Yup, they have increased the registration fee. When I took Level 1 back in Dec '08 it was around USD300 I think.

This post has been edited by luigee: May 7 2010, 04:43 PM

If not mistaken, the new Schweser edition will only be out around Oct-Nov. This is probably due to the fact the people at Schweser can only write their books once the new curriculum published by CFA Institute is out.