Finguru

Q1. What is CFA?

The CFA Program is an educational program that tests your mastery of a body of knowledge through a series of exams. If you pass these three exams and meet other requirements, you earn a CFA charter.

Q2. Why enroll for CFA?

With only 95,000 investment professionals globally having achieved charterholder status to date, completion of the program puts you in an elite group. The designation is therefore:

Career-enhancing – Held in great esteem by employers and by your peers alike
Well-respected – A reflection of your professional excellence
Credible – The designation is praised and supported by the industry’s top organizations
Globally recognized – If you change company or move country, the charter remains a mark of quality
Globally relevant – The broad-based curriculum ensures you gain knowledge that has a global perspective

Q3. CFA vs MBA Finance and CA

CFA charter is globally recognized as a relevant and practical qualification for those looking to further their career in investment banking and fund management. The CFA charter has become mandatory for many investment analysts and portfolio managers. Also the cost of completing the CFA Program is significantly less than the cost of an MBA or Masters and you can also work throughout the CFA Program.The CFA curriculum teaches you practical aspects of finance, concepts that are used on the job everyday.

Unlike CA which focuses on accounting and audit, the focus of CFA is on analysis and valuation.

Q4. What are the main topics in CFA and what is the structure of the examination?

The curriculum is divided into 4 major areas:
a) Ethical and professional standards
b) Tools and inputs for investment valuation and management (Quantitative Techniques, Economics, Financial Statement Analysis, Corporate Finance)
c) Asset valuation (Equity Valuation, Fixed Income Valuation, Derivatives, Alternative Investments)
d) Portfolio management

The exam is structured as 3 Levels: Level 1, 2 and 3. Level 1 Exam is conducted twice every year in June and December. Level 2 and 3 Exams are conducted only once every year in June every year.

Q5. When & Where are classes of FinGuru conducted?

FinGuru CFA Coaching Classes are conducted over the weekends (Saturday & Sunday) in New Delhi. Each class is of 4 hours duration. The classes are held at the Indian Social Institute (Behind Sai Baba Temple), Lodhi Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. We provide classroom coaching for all the 3 levels of the examination.

Q6. What is the structure of the classes at FinGuru?

The classes are conducted in a classroom format and are highly interactive. We cover the basic concepts of each topic, practice lots of questions in the class and answer all doubts. We cover the entire course in about 100 hours of classes and then give tests and hold doubt sessions. We ensure personal attention to all our students. All our faculty are CFA Charterholders with ample industry and teaching experience.

Q7. Do we provide any material in the classes?

Yes. We provide material in the form of presentation handouts, which are concise notes and would greatly help you in your preparation. We also provide you with homework questions after each class. All notes and questions are also uploaded online, so that our students can access them at any time from any where.

Q8. How much time is required to cover the syllabus?

Depending on your background, students require anything from 150-300 hours of preparation for each level of the CFA Examination. The key to success is a dedicated effort (2-4 hours each day) over a period of 3 months.

We start our classes at least 4 months before the examination and complete your course at least 1 month before the exam date. The last month is spent on revision and practice of questions. This much time is adequate for most students to prepare adequately for the exam.

Q9. Will my non-finance background be a disadvantage while pursuing CFA?

Not to a great extent. All topics on the CFA Exam, especially Level 1, start right from the basics of the topic. In our classes, as well, we ensure that all the basics are covered so that all students are at the same level. So if you pay attention in the classes, and put in the required hardwork - you can surely clear this exam.

More FAQ – Link to the CFA Website FAQ

http://www.cfainstitute.org/cfaprog/faq/index.html