[startupcfo]

After 15 months of studying, I cracked the exams with this forum’s assistance and with the NINJA notes and QBANK. If anyone is curious about stats, I’ll provide them. Hours are in total study time, not in MCQ QBANK time. It includes simulations, reading notes, watching Youtube, posting on this forum:

BEC – 87 after 35 hours
REG – 70 after 50 hours, 77 after 85 cumulative hours (added 35)
AUD – 74 after 50 hours, 93 after 85 cumulative hours (added 35)
FAR – 41 after 1 hour, 77 after 60 cumulative hours

So all-in, I paid 265 hours of studying to pass. Keep in mind that I had the benefit of relevant work experience, a relevant masters, a CFP, and L1 of the CFA. I have seen some absurd threads on here comparing the CPA to the CFA; taking Level 1 of the CFA is like eating all 4 CPA exams at the same time. The math and intensity on CFA L2 is much harder than what I faced on the CPA.

Before I started the journey for the CPA, I was already in for the 1st level of the CFA. I am going back to a CFA forum to continue on L2.

BEC - 87 | 02/28
REG - 70 | 06/10, REMATCH | 08/30
AUD - XX | 09/10
FAR - XX | 12/10

[tacctfin11]

@startupcfo – According to your hours needed to study for all four parts of the CPA, do you genuinely feel that level 1 of the CFA would take you 265 hours to study? I am asking this in a humble way as the folks I sit around are all taking the CFA exam. I am considering taking level one this june but am taking the BEC section at the end of april. So that would only leave me May to study for the exam. I know the CFA is a beast, no question about it. But do you really consider a level one CFA candidate above par from a completed CPA?

All the best.

FAR- 76 01/08/2016 exp 08/04/2017
AUD- 82 04/14/2016
BEC- May 28th

baby

REG- TBD

[startupcfo]

I did L1 in 200 hours, but I had advantages

I would say that knowing and understanding enough L1 to pass (after doing the CPA) isn't hard, but knowing 90% of it and getting ready for L2 is very hard.

The worst CFA candidates are the ones who fail L1 twice, barely squeak by, and then can't handle the 2nd and 3rd level which are 10x harder. I'm already starting to feel the pain the quant and econ sections. Even the FAR/FRA material is harder than what I saw on the CPA, and I was hoping for a leg up.

BEC - 87 | 02/28
REG - 70 | 06/10, REMATCH | 08/30
AUD - XX | 09/10
FAR - XX | 12/10

[Anonymous]

Can you give a brief example of the type of material and some of the more complex questions (copy & paste) found on the CFA exam?

[Anonymous]

Brickell, do you know how to Google? Go check out the material and some of the sample questions.

[Anonymous]

No, what's a Google? Is that the new dance all the kids are doing these days?

[Anonymous]

@tacctfin11, I'm pretty sure its past the deadline to take the June Level 1 of the CFA..

I was looking into it recently..

[Pete]

I just looked at some sample CFA questions; they don't sound as complicated or as difficult as you've stated. Maybe a little more statically heavy, but not much. Seems like stuff from my CLEP college math exam, not the Calculus 2 stuff you claim.

Also, the CPA offers more bang for your buck; it's an easier test, yet much more recognized than the CFA. If the CFA takes as long as you claim, you're getting way less bang for your buck.

I even saw an article, which rates the most difficult tests; it ranked the CPA as 1 and the bar as 2.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Anonymous]

^ I have to say whatever you read, is probably from the Huff Post or something. haha.

I think the CPA exam is not hard at all. I wish I never listened to the hype about zOMG FAR/CPA hard. I wouldn't have psyched myself out.

I wouldn't say it is a joke, but if you study it's passable. That the exam is hard is nothing but a tall tale that gets passed on from year to year. And from the posts on here.

A hard exam is the Actuarial Exam Sequence.. 7 exam sequence…now those are hard exams. Definitely not the CPA. And I don't say that to sound condescending in the least.

[Pete]

I just looked at another list. On this list, the CFA was the third most difficult exam. Guess what number ONE was? A wine tester exam. You heard that correctly; this wine test has three parts. The first two parts entail a written exam, which most people pass. The third part is apparently brutal though. The candidate must be able to differentiate the age and date range of the grape being tested. Most candidates fail this exam. I believe the failure rate was higher on this test than the CFA, simply because of the tasting section.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Anonymous]

I think I watched a movie about the wine test. Somm? Sommlier? something like that.
It reminded me of people studying for the CPA exam.

[Pete]

Sommlier-That was it. You wouldn't expect a wine test to top the list, but if ya'll really wanted a challenge, I guess that would be a good choice.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[Anonymous]

Not to knock the CFA – as I'm in the CFA program as well. But level 1 you can pass after a month of studying.

The institute charges more than twice as much to register closer (<4 months) to exam day than longer (12 months). With no education requirements to sign up and the time period incentived to take a longer time to finish – it largely appears more difficult than it is.

[sulaiman]

People tend to forget the pain when they are done with whatever that is… that's why you think CFA harder than CPA

[Author]

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