CFA completion question: Taking all three levels

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FG4SC

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I am 10 months away from graduating with an MBA in Finance (also have a BBA in finance). I work full-time, take two classes at night, and study 5-10 hours a week. I work in financial services as an advisor have done so for 9 years. I am very comfortable with equites, bonds, all funds, options, and shorting.

My question is two part:

1) Could I take and pass all three levels in 18 months?
2) If the answer to #1 is no, is it because the levels are not offered frequently enough for me to get all three levels done this quickly?

The 10-15 hours a week of studying would probably work for me. I am disciplined but do have a 2 week old daughter who is currently crying :)

Any insight would be appreciated.
 
When you say 18 months, do you mean from starting to study now?

I plan to take L1 in Dec. '06, then L2 in June '07, and if the multiple guess gods are with me, L3 in June '08. Since L2 and L3 are only given in June, I don't know of a faster way to do it. Of course I started studying in May, so that really makes it 2 years, but if you don't count study time, then 18 mos is about the quickest it can be done.

Next, is it possible? I think there have been people that have done it. I'd be surprised if no one has.
 
I would take the L1 in December of 2007 then the L2 in Jun of 08 and L3 in june of 09. I would start studying in July of 07.

Looks like from study time to finishing would take two years as well. That is still doable.

Now I need to figure out if I really need the CFA. I know I would like to have it for the career flexibility but I am not 100% sure which direction I want to go career wise.
 
Couldn't hurt regardless, but can't use the designation until you have 4 years of experience.
 
Out of curiosity...how many of your MBA finance classes were the same as your undergrad?
 
18 months?

Try 3+ years unless you have no life and study 24/7.

And I'm not messing with you.
 
Not true, I took Level I in Dec 04, Level II in June 05 and Level III in June 06 (keeping my fingers crossed).

I took L I and L II while at school getting my Masters, and I also worked part-time (16 to 20 hours a week), plus I had my wife and was looking, interviewing, etc for a job.

Finaly, I took L III while working Full-Time, granted I don't know if I passed or not, but I was still able to sit for the test and work 50 to 60 hour weeks at the same time. I even had to come into the office the day after the test (sunday) because we had a crucial deadline.

Anyway, under many circumstances it is doable... you just need to put some time into it and want it really bad...

Good Luck,
 
A few. However, I earned my BBA about 9 years ago so some of the possible repetitiveness is minimized.
 
You may be right. However, I do not want to spend three more years studying. 18 months is my goal.

It will be hell, but I think it is doable.
 
""""Out of curiosity...how many of your MBA finance classes were the same as your undergrad?""""

ouch, that was harsh
 
whoa,18 months...

is there a time frame by CFA that one has to pass 3 Ls within certain years to be qualified?even if i pass,and meantime work in the similiar field,i'd need 4 years experience anyhow in between to be certified..sounds like 5-7 years
 
Decouple passing from the experience requirement. They need not be done in series. You can gain your experience while prepping and taking the exams.

I do not believe there is a maximum time frame for passing the three levels, but the bare minimum would be as in the first reply above- take L1 in Dec'06, if you pass, take L2 in June 07, and if you pass, take L3 in June 08.

Assume you start a job that qualifies for the experience requirement on June 1, 2006. You take the tests as above, and pass L3 in 2008, and assume you apply for membership and all that other jazz. You could get your CFA charter by July 1, 2010.

If you do it in series (e.g. Take the exams and passing THEN get experience), you will not get your charter till July 1, 2014.

There are a number of permutations to the above, e.g. failing various levels, starting in a job later, etc., but you can work those out.
 
they should offer the L2 and L3 in the Dec. that way someone could do it in 12 months. Now it would be a hard work but works good for CFA because more people would try and probably fail and they would make more $$$. and the really hard workers would get it done..
 
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