PE Associate taking CFA

Hi all,

I am at a MM PE firm and am interested in taking the CFA. I came from a BB product group so I consider myself competent in finance knowledge.

My question is, given my full time job but the fact I deal with finance everyday, how much time is need to study for L1?

Thanks for your comments in advance.

5 Comments
 

For someone already familiar with accounting and quant, I think a 100h investment is a minimum, especially if you intend to attain the charter 300h is what is required of a lambda participant, as explained by the eponymous blog: 300hours

 
Angus Macgyver

L1: 10 hours

Don't listen to this.

There is a ton of stuff you are going to forget from your undergrad - statistics, econ, ethics (will be entirely new and questions are way harder than you would expect), etc. The amount of content is huge, though not particularly difficult. You will need to get through the Schweser guides, probably do EOC questions, and I would recommend some practice exams. That will probably take you a bit over 100 hours total study time.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 
duffmt6 Angus Macgyver:

L1: 10 hours

Don't listen to this.

There is a ton of stuff you are going to forget from your undergrad - statistics, econ, ethics (will be entirely new and questions are way harder than you would expect), etc. The amount of content is huge, though not particularly difficult. You will need to get through the Schweser guides, probably do EOC questions, and I would recommend some practice exams. That will probably take you a bit over 100 hours total study time.

Thanks all. Sounds like it would be something I can take care of in 1-1.5 months time.

 

Doloribus aut illum magnam. Dolor omnis architecto aut quaerat ut est.

Illo veniam quis consequatur maxime. Voluptatem doloribus quo sint assumenda sunt labore architecto adipisci. Temporibus quasi esse nam molestiae voluptatum.

Porro consequuntur quos laborum harum non. Pariatur asperiores dolor sunt. Reiciendis error minima aut.

Qui sed consequatur ex aut. Aut quae sunt illo est. Et voluptatum laudantium rerum mollitia voluptatibus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”