Is the CFA Curriculum WORTH READING?

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ghetto_money

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I'm taking the Dec. 2006 test. I just got the CFA Curriculum text and the Stalla Guides?

Obviously my priority is with the Stalla books. Is the CFA Curriculum textbooks even worth reading? (I work full-time and working on my MBA part-time in the evenings.)

Is the CFA Curriculum WORTH READING?
 
If you have time, they are worth reading. Working full-time plus doing an MBA - your plate is already pretty full. You probably won't have time to read them anyway. I didn't get the books for Level 1 or Level 2. I did get them for Level 3 but I didn't read them (except for the handbook and two short ones on behavioural finance). Ya should find time to read the ethics source material.

I used Schweser not Salla but I think the CFA books could be a good source of reference. If ya get stuck on something, you can refer to the source. However, when I got snagged on anything, I just googled it instead of looking it up anyway.

Basically, go with the study notes until you need something more. Time probably won't be your friend.

Good luck
 
I think the CFA books are worth reading, but concentrate the Stalla guides first. They help you focus on the parts that are most likely to be tested. Then, go through the CFA books with whatever time is left over. I find that the CFA books give you more context and feel for the issues covered, but they don't cue you in as well on parts to focus on. Then again, I'm was an academic in a previous life and so go for slightly wordier, more in-depth treatments.

The CFA books are really really wordy too, and take a while to read. I'm now going over some of the PM stuff though, because I think it's useful.
 
I was also in the same boat when I gave the June 2006 test, doing full time job, and doing part time MBA in Finance. I got CFA books and Scheweser Notes, started with CFA books, stopped after couple of weeks, used only Scheweser notes there after except for GIPS/Corp.-Governance used CFA books.
Hope I will make it.
 
in the cfa curriculum syllabus, it states that prepatory classes and notes should only be utilized as supplements to the atual cfa curriculum text. i just figured they made their textbooks sound critical to the successful passing of the exam because they wanted to generate more revenue by selling those darn books.

then again you never know. i just want opinions. i hear some people didnt even look at the cfa curriculum text and passed by going with either stella or schweser.
 
using only study materials is like buying the cliffs notes for a novel. it familiarizes you with the topics but in no way allows you to master the information. read the books and do practice exams. if you feel like you dont have enough time to read all the material, take the test in june. you are already pretty late to the party if you plan on taking the exam in december. most likely not enough time to prepare even if you have a finance and accounting background.
 
I think you are mislead corvette. I have a friend who has a finance backround and only studied scheweser (although he did buy the CFA books) and he started in May and passed in June- thats 1 month. Granted, he was not working but I believe it can be done with just notes and 4 months study time.
 
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