CFA® Level 1- delay or not?
Hey there,
I am looking for a bit of advice please. I will be starting as a trainee equity analyst at a buyside firm this week and as I'm pushing 29, I'm keen to get started on the CFA®
. However, the deadline to register is this week and this is my first finance role (background is liberal arts, a few econ/ finance modules in Ba).
Anyone with CFA®
experience, in my position would you:
a) Delay CFA®
and focus on making a good impression at new job and daily tasks. I could also start studying level 1 a few hours a week so December exam won't be too stressful- and can start studying level 2 from Dec.
But waiting until Dec exam means back to back exams with the mammoth obstacle of level 2 in June 2015...or waiting until June 2016.
b) Use my enthusiasm now and study hard over the next 12 weeks for level 1 after work and weekends and take a clear week off. Will have a free summer and fresh for lots of prep time for level 2 next June.
My preference would be to get it out the way - but don't know if this is overly ambitious given the time frame and my background...and don't want to be stressed, ineffective in work or not have time to stay late and go over what I learnt at work that day. I know I'm fortunate to land this job, so perhaps focusing on work performance, making a good impression and learning the methods to be effective in their environment is the preference and just space out the CFA®
a bit..and as I have my desired front office job, there's less of an urgency to get the CFA®
to 'break in', but use the exams to learn my trade and develop over time.
It's a tough one, I would love to know your thoughts :)
I was in a similar situation as you, started a new job and decided to go with the first CFA level in December with ~3 months prep time. It was quite stressful towards the end, yet the CFA also gave me some good basics for my new job. However, my main reason was to be done in December with Level 1, so I could immediately do Level 2 in June, as I was not really excited about stretching the CFA over 3 years. In your situation, non-finance background, no pressure and being the June exam, I would lean towards waiting till December and do level 1&2 in Dec&Jun.
Focus on excelling in the new role- CFA is very time consuming, even level 1.
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