CFA, an acronym for Chartered Financial Analyst is one of the most prestigious and globally recognized designations of all time. Finance and investment professionals who appear and clear the CFA level 1, 2, and 3 exams are given this designation to certify their extensive knowledge and expertise on the subject. Any student who has completed their bachelor’s degree or is in the final year of completing their degree can appear for the CFA Level 1 exam. Also, any candidate who has a combined qualified work experience of 4 years or college+work experience is eligible to appear for the CFA level 1 exam.
Although the eligibility criteria for the CFA level 1 exam are general, the exams are quite difficult and tough to crack. Well, the difficulty is justified as it is a professional designation that is recognized by certified institutions across the world. If you are planning to pursue a career in the finance and investment sector, CFA is one of the best degrees to pursue. While one has to clear all the three levels of the exam with specified marks, it’s important to work on the basics of the subject that is covered throughout the level 1 exam. CFA is a self-study program however one can opt for guidance and online classes for CFA level 1 to strengthen the preparation.
The CFA exams test the competency and integrity of a candidate that is essential to be a Financial Analyst. During the course of this program, an applicant is likely to master analytical skills and other financial, economical, and investment subjects. The CFA exam topics are aimed at preparing the candidates for varied job roles in the finance sector. Talking about the CFA level 1, the syllabus is focused on basic knowledge of varied financial aspects and standards. Most of the online classes for CFA level 1 offer tutorials and detailed coverage of every single topic. This ensures a better understanding for the students who can learn at their own pace.
CFA level 1: Topics covered
Efficient learning requires professional guidance and relevant study resources. When you decide to enroll in an online CFA level 1 course, here are the key topics that should be covered throughout the course:
- Ethical and Professional standards
- Fixed Income
- Corporate Issuers
- Alternative Investments
- Equity Investments
- Portfolio Management
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Derivatives
- Economics
How to select the preparation mode?
CFA exams have applicants from both educational as well as professional backgrounds. Therefore, it is a self-study program that requires the candidates to appear for a three-level exam held globally. Preparing for this exam is entirely the candidate’s choice and there are varied options to do it. While some choose to study all by themselves, opting for online classes for CFA level 1 is a viable option too.
There’s an option to prepare for the CFA level 1 directly from the CFA institute materials that are available on their official website. These are valuable resources as the exam questions are crafted from these institutes’ curriculum. However, a major drawback to it is that these are theoretical study materials that fail to highlight the essential topics that are probable to come in the exams. Also, these lengthy and bookish resources do not help much in the preparation process. Rather it makes the candidate confused and deterrent to studying. Other offline classes and sessions are not accessible to all due to time, location, and money limitations.
So what’s the ideal preparation mode? How to select the best tutor or guide that will help you understand tricky and difficult topics like CFA level 1 economics, corporate issuers, fixed income, etc.? Following are some factors that you must consider before selecting the ideal preparation mode for your CFA journey:
- Budget: This is one of the key considerations while choosing a preparation method for the CFA program. Since one has to pay an exam fee amount before appearing for the exam, it is important to keep a note of how much you can spend on the prep courses.
- Preferred learning style: Another important thing to consider while selecting the prep mode is your preferred learning style i.e. visual or textual. It is observed that some people are better visual learners while some can only retain information through writings and texts.
- Timing constraint: As mentioned earlier, various students and professionals appear for the CFA level 1 exam. Therefore, preparation time is limited and restricted. Candidates might be busy with their jobs or regular degree courses and hence cannot afford to attend full-time CFA prep courses. Make sure to evaluate the time you can spend studying and choose the course accordingly.
Why online classes for CFA level 1 is the best option?
Virtual learning has facilitated better learning for students and working professionals across varied fields. A prestigious and strenuous program like CFA requires dedicated hours of study and learning under certified guidance. Vital subjects like CFA level 1 economics and professional standards need to be studied properly in order to crack the exam with a good score. Therefore, it is important to choose the ideal learning partner. Following are the reasons that make online classes for CFA level 1 the best prep option:
- Focused teaching
- Self-paced learning
- In-depth topic coverage
- Certified mentors/tutors
- Engaging visual content
- Sufficient study resources
- Mock and practice sessions
Now that you know the benefits of opting for online classes for CFA level 1, it’s time for you to register for one. Upgrade your CFA preparation process, learn from experienced and renowned tutors worldwide.
