Frequently Asked Questions

We provide one-device access only. You can access the lectures on Windows Laptop/Desktop, Android Mobile/Tablet, MacBook, and iOS devices. 

• For Windows: A minimum processor of Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 or above, RAM 8 GB or above, Windows version 10 or above, and OS 64 bits. 
• For Android: A minimum of Android version 9 or above, RAM 6 GB or above, ROM 128 GB or above. 
• For MacBook: A minimum of MacOS version 13 & above.
• For iOS device: iPhone 8 and above or iPad. Version 15 & above.

We give access only to one device, but in case of any technical issue, you need to shift/change the device access you can do..

The validity of the course is till you clear your exam. While registering with us, you have to select a tentative exam session. You'll get the validity till the selected session. In case you defer or do not qualify for the exam, please leave a WhatsApp to the tech desk with your UserID and the screenshot of the same (deferment/result/ institute payment receipt) as proof. They will help you with more views and extended validity. You don’t have to pay anything extra.

You have a total of 7 views per lecture, which are valid till the exam date. This ensures that there is no misuse. If, for technical reasons, you have lost views or you need to revisit a topic more than 7 times, you leave a “WhatsApp” to the technical team; they will renew your view count. You don’t have to pay anything extra.

Once you play a lecture and then close the App, it will count as 1 view. If you just pause the lecture and then resume after some time or go forward - backward but do not close the App, it will not count as 1 view.

The lectures can be accessed on a single device only. You can carry your device anywhere and access the classes. The Internet is required only to authenticate and begin the lecture.

CFA Level 1 - We provide Lectures (Class, Practice, Revision, and exam Mentoring), a Practice Book (including practice and mock questions with solutions), a Mindmap (including chapter summaries and formula sheets), and Class Notes (including detailed mentor notes). All material will be in hard copies. 
CFA Level 2 - We provide Lectures (Class, Practice, Revision, and exam Mentoring), a Practice Book (including subject-wise practice and mock questions with solutions), a Mindmap (including chapter summaries and formula sheets), and Class Notes (including detailed mentor notes). All material will be in hard copies. 
CFA Level 3 - We provide Lectures (Class, Practice, Revision, and exam Mentoring), a Practice Book (including subject-wise practice and mock questions with solutions), a Mindmap (including chapter summaries and formula sheets), and Class Notes (including detailed mentor notes). All material will be in hard copies. 
FRM Part 1 - We provide Lectures (Class, Practice, Revision, and exam Mentoring), Class Notes (including detailed mentor notes), a Mindmap (including chapter summaries and formula sheets), and Practice Books (including chapter-wise practice questions with solutions). All material will be in hard copies. 
FRM Part 2 - We provide Lectures (Class, Practice, Revision, and exam Mentoring), Practice Books (including chapter-wise practice questions with solutions), Class Notes (including detailed mentor notes), and mind maps (including chapter summaries and formula sheets). All material will be in hard copies.

After you register with us, we will share the app link along with the login credentials within 1-2 working days. Depending on your location, the pendrive and study material will be delivered to your address via courier within 7-10 working days (inside India) and 15-20 working days (outside India).

We do not provide subject-wise lectures. As all the lectures are taken by me for all subjects and the logistics become difficult. Also, the classes are priced to keep it reasonable for the students. You can view our lectures on YouTube.

The lectures are bilingual. You need to understand English and Hindi to understand the classes. To make the lectures conversational, we have a mix of English and Hindi (70% in English and 30% in Hindi). 

Please watch some of the lectures on YouTube and then take a call:
https://www.youtube.com/@aswinibajaj/playlists

Please note:  MS-Excel is 100% English.
 

• There is no overlap between any level of CFA and FRM Part 2.
• There is an overlap between CFA Level 1 or CFA Level 2 and FRM Part 1. Please watch the syllabus section of the Introduction playlist of each to get an understanding.
• If you are a working professional will advise you against giving any two levels together.
• There is an overlap in subjects like Quants, Fixed Income, Derivatives, and Portfolio in CFA Level 1 and FRM Part 1.
• The overlap is partial, and the approach and tackling questions is different for both.
• It is easier to appear for CFA Level 2 with FRM Part 1 than CFA Level 1 with FRM Part 1. Obviously, since FRM Part 1 overlaps with both levels of CFA.
• If you are a student, you can manage the two together, especially since the exams are a month apart now. Watch the First class before deciding.

• It would be hypocritical to say no since lots of students have done it.
• There are about 60+ readings in part 1 and about 100+ in part 2. If you are a working professional, I would not recommend the same.
• If you are not working and wish to do so, please watch the first class properly for both levels and then decide.
• If you will be able to complete 160+ readings in whatever number of weeks left, along with practice. Also, you can target to complete a portion of Part 1- say 70 percent of the syllabus till the exam registration deadline. On the basis of achieving the target, register for both levels or for only one level.
• For those who have appeared for Part 1 once and haven't cleared, you can think about giving both parts together, but be careful about the retention of so much content.
• The content of the two levels does not overlap. I would still advise against it for working professionals.

• We provide extensive study material for your preparation and practice. We prioritize practicing Institute Material because that is most relevant for your exam preparation.
• You have to understand there are infinite resources available online today but you have to know what to prepare and what to target to pass the exam. You can check the lecture on ‘Which study material to use for CFA’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldz3gOEWL8w&t=7s and we guide you very thoroughly in the ‘How to study’, ‘How to practice’, ‘How to take the mock test’, ‘How to use exam software’, etc. lectures in the ‘Exam Mentoring’ section in the App. 
• A lot of people prepare resources by changing the names and number of the same questions and increasing the volume of resources, which are not at all relevant because, as we told you, infinite resources are not possible to practice for the exam. Hence, we strictly advise you to focus on the Institute Material and the practice book. After that, there's not much time left. From our end, additional practice material is also provided so do not worry about it and the priority in which you need to practice. Be rest assured. 
• It's important to study, understand, and remember the concepts rather than just memorize. Understanding the concepts is the key to solve new and different questions on the exam.
• We organize the mock test (provided by the institute) one month before the exam, conducted in a supervised environment at our Kolkata center. Kolkata-based students are welcome to attend the mock test in person, while others have the option to participate remotely from home.
• After taking the mock test, we send you the analysis based on your feedback. 
• Mugging up won't help. One has to understand the concepts to pass.

Following will be the approximate duration:
CFA Level 1 - 300 hours
CFA Level 2 - 200 hours 
CFA Level 3 - 180 hours 
FRM Part 1 - 250 hours 
FRM Part 2 - 180 hours
This duration excludes revision and practice lectures. Depending on the topic, each class can be 40-60 minutes long. The duration of revision and practice lectures will be approximately 40-50 hours, but it can be a little higher.

• 100% of LOS - Learning Outcome Statements are covered - every single chapter, every single subhead, and every single formula are covered in the lectures. Along with guidance lectures on "How to study and practice", Calculator, Revision, attempting paper, Revision, Formulas, etc., along with Mentor notes on – How to focus, retain, and manage studies with the job, etc. Please let me know if you need a detailed breakup of the same and for which course.
• On average, the lectures should last 200-250 hours (the class Lectures except for revision and mentoring lectures). 
• Also, our lectures aren’t very long, as I make students write formulas, flow charts, or short notes in the margin while teaching, not the entire book. But because I explain every single LOS, point, formula, and concept, they stretch to the given duration.
   

Students generally enroll anytime between 4-8 months before the exam, some starting as early as a year before as well. Would sincerely advise you to watch the entire Introduction Playlist, especially the When to begin Preparation lecture, on YouTube and make a wise decision.
 
CFA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtGVYRQkIso
FRM: https://youtu.be/4TsbbvgiKWk

You can also calculate when you should register for the exam using the exam calculator.
Exam Calculator: https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/Exam/Index

• The lectures cover every single chapter and LOS (Subheadings within a chapter). The concepts are protected from the very basics as both Commerce and Non-Commerce students pursue CFA/FRM. The subjects are mostly new, so there is no issue. We start with each topic, like Derivatives, Fixed Income, Portfolio, etc, from scratch.
• There are some basic concepts of Maths (primarily statistics) that are required. Statistics are covered from scratch. A revision lecture covering some formulas of class 11-12 is provided.
• In case a student did not have Maths in 11-12, he might need to learn a couple of extra formulas (Logarithm 2 formulas, Compound interest, and Permutation combination can be calculated directly on a calculator). Terms like Assets and Liabilities might be used in specific chapters, and a basic accounting terms class is also provided for students who do not have Commerce.
• There shall be no issue in grasping concepts, as Finance and subjects in Finance are new. Advise you to attend the 1st class, which discusses the syllabus in detail, and you might also attend the first few chapters of Quants and then take a call.

Steps for registration-
1.    Click 'Register' after accessing the registration link.
2.    Create an account or sign in if you already have one.
3.    Navigate to 'Course' and select your course.
4.    View course details and click 'Enroll Now'.
5.    Add the course to your cart; choose 'Device' and 'Session.'
6.    Proceed to Checkout and confirm Student Details.
7.    Click on 'Go to Billing Detail' and then click on 'Go to Shipping Detail'.
8.    Read and agree to 'Terms & Conditions'.
9.  Click 'Place your Order' to make an online payment (UPI/Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking) or 'Manual Payment' to make an offline payment. For
manual payment, make sure to upload the payment receipt and mention the Reference No./Transaction ID to complete the registration.   
10.  Receive a confirmation email upon successful payment and access the classes within 1-2 working days after payment.
 

You can make an online payment through UPI/Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking or use 'Manual Payment' to make an offline payment via Cash/NEFT/RTGS.

Whether you take classes or self-study depends on the student and his understanding of Finance. In my opinion, you should evaluate if you have a background in Finance and how good your concepts are. Then you must attend the ‘Introduction’ Lecture on YouTube. The playlist has about 5-6 lectures and it tells you exactly how to prepare. You can order books and start studying. You can access a partial version of the course on our App/ Browser Version of the same and download the ‘Order of Study’. Once you begin preparation, the first few chapters for CFA & FRM L-1 are uploaded on YouTube and a couple of chapters for each of the other levels. After that you may decide whether you require classes or self-study would be better suited. It is always a good idea to take an informed decision. Make use of all the resources we have on our App and also on YouTube. For example, ‘Key Concepts’ playlist is very important after your syllabus is over. DO check the ‘Invest in Yourself’ playlist as well. Your concepts need to be thorough, your understanding and foundation for Finance needs to be great. Study well, enjoy the learning process.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aswinibajaj/playlists
Website: https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/

There is no separate registration for Live Classroom Session / Zoom Live / Video Classes. Once a student enrolls on our platform, they have the following options for attending classes, depending on their location and preferences:

a. Students in Kolkata: They have the privilege to attend any and every live class in person.
b. Students at Home: They can participate in classes through Zoom live sessions, ensuring they don't miss out on the live interaction.
c. For students who cannot attend the Zoom live sessions, there's no need to worry. Every class conducted live will also be recorded and uploaded to the App on a weekly basis (generally Tuesday), allowing students to access the lectures at their convenience.

We are based in Kolkata. We conduct physical classes once a week and provide recorded lectures that are 100% updated as per the current curriculum via App and Pendrive globally. The Kolkata-based physical classes can be streamed on Zoom through our App for the registered students.

Physical classes discuss new chapters, practice sessions, revision sessions, etc. The rest of the lectures are provided via App and Pendrive in recorded format. The topics covered in the physical classes are updated on the App, so every student can have access to each lecture that has been taught.

If you are not from Kolkata, you can access the recorded lectures through an App and a pendrive and also attend the Zoom live classes.

After you get registered, you will get access to all the lectures in the App. All the information related to live class will be there on the 'Notice Board' in the App. If that topic is a continuation or a new topic that will be mentioned there. If it's a new topic, you can come & attend the live class; otherwise, all the lectures will be available in the App, but that will depend on the topic. The topic might be new & you might not be able to understand the topic. So, immediately start your preparation, get access to all the lectures in the app, and start attending the live class once a new topic begins in the live class.

We are sorry to inform you that no discount or concession or Installment is provided on our fees as our Class Fees are deliberately kept at a reasonable limit to make it convenient for students. We barely increase the fee, yet we have been consistently adding benefits and resources for the students, like an App, regular mentoring, Placement Assistance, etc. The course fee includes Lectures, mind maps, Class notes, and revision lectures (courier charges for India) and is inclusive of GST. Classes are accessible until you pass your exam and even if you defer your exam (You shall need to provide your result or deferral details of the institute). Also, any new chapters or changes are provided without any extra fees.

We, Aswini Bajaj and team, are committed to providing the highest quality of training to our students globally through Android/Windows/ MacBooks. We believe in the effectiveness of our finance courses and are confident that you will see significant improvement in your understanding of finance after attending our classes. In line with this commitment, we offer a refund policy to ensure your satisfaction.

If, after actively participating in Aswini Bajaj's Finance Lectures for a period of 14 days, you find that you have not experienced the expected improvement in your understanding of the subject matter, you are eligible for a full refund of the fees paid.
To learn more about the refund policy, visit - https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/refundpolicy

• All the syllabus changes, extra practice done in the live batch, and additional lectures are shared via the app with all the students. 
• If you have enrolled earlier (more than a year before), generally, there are minor changes in the syllabus, and once the books are released and the new chapters or changes are done in the Live class, it is shared. (The syllabus is the same in a given Calendar Year)
• Students who defer the exam or are unable to clear it get their validity extended (T&C apply), and all the new chapters and changes are shared with no extra fees.

For those preparing for CFA Levels 1,2 & 3, please take note of the 2023-24 syllabus changes. You can review the details through the following resources:
CFA L1

1. Lecture: https://youtu.be/vBTr0EIi3wA
2. Changes in Syllabus (PDF): https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/resources?utype=Downloads

CFA L2

1. Lecture: https://youtu.be/x3tfARnVk1I
2. Changes in Syllabus (PDF): https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/resources?utype=Downloads

CFA L3

1. Lecture: https://youtu.be/QvxeUr-sd8s
2. Changes in Syllabus (PDF): https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/resources?utype=Downloads

For those preparing for CFA Levels 1 & 3, please take note of the 2024-25 syllabus changes. You can review the details through the following resources:
CFA L-1

1. Lecture: https://youtu.be/_yrkO_CykSQ?si=pVTs5_iMfN6ZDeR0
2. Changes in Syllabus (PDF): https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/resources?utype=Downloads

CFA L-2
The changes has not been released yet from the institute. Once it will be released we will be sharing the same
CFA L-3

1. Lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIX8iphI34E&t=8s
2. Changes in Syllabus (PDF): https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/resources?utype=Downloads

Yes, we are trying to bridge the gap between job providers and job seekers. 
To apply: Click Here
To get regular updates about job availability:

LinkedIn Page
Website

After completing all the 3 levels and having completed 4 years of Professional experience in the Finance or Investment related field, you may apply for the charter. You need to login to the Institute website and update details of your work experience. For example –teaching Finance also qualifies. You might be working for a Manufacturing company but might be working in the treasury department and managing funds or investments. You will have to give details of your work and add two references, whom the Institute shall reach out and make them fill an online form. Non physical documents shall be required by the institute in normal circumstances. Also, even if you do not have the charter, you can mention CFA L3 cleared on your resume, which informs the employer that you have qualified all the 3 exams. You may not take the charter if you wish to, as you will have to pay membership dues annually. Normally the company in which you work might be paying for the Charter.

For further details: Click Here

Within 5 years from passing FRM Part – 2 you will need to submit a 2-year experience. The experience could be in BFSI sector in the risk domain. It could also be in any other industry provided it is in the Risk Area. You shall need to explain the same in more than 300 words, describing your work.

For example, if you are working in the Iron and Steel industry, and you are responsible to track Commodity prices, manage the risks with Raw Material/Finished Goods price fluctuations. Hedging where needed. You are managing the Finance, working capital or borrowings and managing the interest rate risks, or Forex risk being an Import/Export Company.

The idea is to be able to explain how your work is related to managing risk. You do not have to submit any certificate. Normally the Institute does not ask for the same, but you should be prepared for the same. They check your submission and then approve the same on mail. Before the work Experience, you may write you can write on your Resume that you have passed both the levels, and after the charter you can write FRM after your name. Please check the Institute website for further details and clarifications: Click Here

No. Membership is not required for the FRM Exams. However, you will be automatically provided with complimentary membership privileges for one year once you pay for the enrollment fees in the FRM Program

You can check the lecture on How to register for FRM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRnqhQmPXA0&t=366s

FRM exams are organized by the GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals) Institute. There are two parts and two types of registration per part with the GARP institute - Early Bird and Standard.

1. Early Registration Fee USD 600 + USD 400 One-Time Enrollment Fee (applicable only during part 1 registration)
2. Standard Registration USD 800 + USD 400 One-Time Enrollment Fee (applicable only during part 1 registration)

Please check the institute’s website for more details: https://www.garp.org/frm/fees-payments

There are no educational or professional prerequisites needed to register.

Registration is when you sign up for an exam by entering your account details and paying the applicable exam fees for a specific exam window. After you register, you need to schedule your exam appointment. During scheduling you select the exact location, date, and time of your exam appointment. If you do not schedule your exam after you register, you will not know when and where to attend the exam.

To schedule an Exam, candidates can log in to their account, go to “My Programs,” and click on the Exam Setup button to schedule. Candidates must have a paid registration in order to schedule and may only reschedule their appointment once. The last day to change your exam site is April 26 for May's Exams, July 26 for August's Exam, and October 25 for November's Exams.

Candidates can pay for their exam registration via:

1. Credit Card: GARP accepts MasterCard, Visa, Amex, and Discover.
2. ePay: GARP accepts Alipay.
3. Wire: All wire payments will include a USD 50 processing fee added to your invoice. Please reference your GARP ID and Invoice Number when sending your payment. Full instructions can be found at the bottom of your invoice.
4. ACH: All ACH payments will include a USD 50 processing fee added to your invoice. Please reference your GARP ID and Invoice Number when sending your payment. Full instructions can be found at the bottom of your invoice.
    

GARP does not provide refunds for either the Exam Enrollment or Exam Registration Fee.

No. Candidates cannot transfer a registration to another candidate.

No, the study materials are not included in the price of the registration.

CFA exams are organized by the CFA Institute. There are three levels and two types of registration with the CFA institute per level - Early Bird and Standard.

• Early Registration Fee USD 940 + USD 350 One-Time Enrollment Fee (applicable only during level 1 registration)
• Standard Registration Fee USD 1250 + USD 350 One-Time Enrollment Fee (applicable only during level 1 registration)

Please check the institute’s website for more details: https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/programs/cfa/exam

You can check the lecture on How to register for CFA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvpOWM86Lpc&t=233s

Also, refer to the PDF regarding the registration process with the CFA institute. (send registration PDF)

There are two types of deferrals:

1. Paid Deferral: Scheduled candidates may purchase a USD 399 deferral up until 24 hours before their scheduled exam appointment. If you don’t have a scheduled appointment, you have up until 3 days following the close of the exam window to purchase a deferral.
2. Emergency Deferral: Candidates may request an Emergency Deferral up to 3 days following the close of the exam window. You are eligible for a free emergency deferral for some specific emergency situation.
   For more information, please check the CFA institute website - https://www.cfainstitute.org/about/governance/policies/cfa-program-deferral-policy-faq

Exam reschedules are not common but do occur for a number of reasons, including pandemic restrictions, weather events, and local situations. Whenever possible you will be rescheduled into the same location and exam window for a different date. If there are no open appointments at that location, you will be rescheduled within a 50-mile radius of your originally selected center. Prometric will send you an appointment confirmation email with your new exam details.
If no test center is within a 50-mile radius, your appointment will be cancelled, and you will need to contact the CFA Institute for more options. You may be eligible for a deferral to another exam window. Contact the CFA Institute for more information.
 

Sometimes, it may be necessary to reschedule your appointment for a date sooner than your original appointment. We realise this may be inconvenient.
If your rescheduled appointment does not work with your schedule, you can contact Prometric for assistance with rescheduling.
 

In the event your exam is cancelled, you will first hear from Prometric via email. This email will come from donotreply@prometric.com. Please label this address as a safe sender so that this email does not go to your junk folder.
CFA Institute will contact you within 5-7 business days of the cancellation to provide you with additional information and your options.

If you need to cancel your exam, CFA Institute will provide you with information on the available testing windows within 5-7 business days of your cancellation. You must reregister by the registration deadline for each of these testing windows. See all the deadlines here.

If you are eligible for an emergency deferral, it will take up to seven weeks for CFA Institute to review and process your request. You will receive an email containing your registration voucher code for your next exam. Your voucher code will also be available in your Candidate Tile.
If you pay to defer your exam, your registration and scheduled exam appointment will be cancelled immediately. You will receive an email containing your registration voucher code for your next exam. Your voucher code will also be available in your Candidate Tile.
 

Candidates registered for an exam can find the deferral form on the deferral page when it is available for their exam window. You must wait until the deferral form is available for your window to submit your deferral request.

CFA Institute cannot guarantee that your emergency deferral request will be approved. They encourage attending your exam if possible and only request an emergency deferral if you have no other option. Emergency deferrals are only considered on a case-by-case basis for select situations and are evaluated based on the documentation provided. If your request is denied after your exam appointment has passed, you may be eligible to purchase a deferral. If you are not eligible to purchase a deferral then you will need to pay the registration fee for a new exam once results are released.

CFA Institute defines the candidate’s immediate family as only the candidate’s parent, sibling, spouse/domestic partner, or child. For the purposes of deferrals, grandparents are not considered part of a candidate’s immediate family.

When you purchase the deferral, your registration and scheduled appointment will be cancelled. Purchase of the paid deferral allows you to move your exam appointment for up to 12 months, depending on your exam level and appointment availability. Once your deferral is processed, you must register and schedule your exam appointment. Please note that registration must be open for your chosen exam window. If registration has already closed, you will have to select another exam window. Refer to the table for available exam windows: https://www.cfainstitute.org/about/governance/policies/cfa-program-deferral-policy-faq.
Please note that your decision is binding. No refunds are available. Only one paid deferral is permitted for each paid registration. You will not be able to defer a second time unless you pay for a new registration.

You will continue to have access to your Learning Ecosystem account throughout your deferral period. If you register for an exam in a future calendar year, your LES will be updated at that time with the new curriculum.

Only one paid deferral is permitted for each paid registration. Once the initial deferral is purchased, you cannot defer again. If another change is required, you must pay for a new registration.

Choosing and paying for a deferral cancels your registration and scheduled exam appointment (if applicable). It is a binding decision and cannot be changed. Refunds are not available.

The fee to change your scheduled appointment within the exam window is USD 250.

Candidates may postpone their exam registration only once to the following two available exam windows.
You can defer one & half months before your exam date by paying an administrative processing fee of USD 250.
For more information, please check the GARP institute website - https://www.garp.org/frm/exam-policies

To defer an Exam to the next available Exam, log in to your account, go to “My Programs”, and click on the Exam Setup button. Candidates must have a paid registration in order to switch exam months and may only do so once for a fee of USD 250. The last day to switch your exam month is March 31 for May's Exams, June 30 for the August Exam, and September 30 for November's Exams.

Check the lecture on the Eligibility Criteria for CFA and make an informed decision: Click Here

You can check the PDF on Eligibility Criteria: Click Here

• If you have confusion between 3/4 year college programs: Click Here
• Take the Eligibility Test: Click Here

As such, there are no minimum eligibility requirements to write the exam. Even an undergraduate is eligible to give the FRM Part 1 exam. You can take the FRM Part 2 only when you complete the FRM Part-1 exam. To check the eligibility: Click Here

• You may register and sit for the Level II exam while you are still working toward your undergraduate degree at college; please note that the date of the Level II exam must be 11 months or fewer before the graduation date. 

Take the Eligibility Test: https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/Eligibility/Index

Following are the 3 criteria to be eligible for the CFA Program at the time of registration: 
 

• Graduate in any discipline
• Work experience of more than equal to 4 years
• Combination of 4000 hours of higher education and/or work experience that was acquired over a minimum of three sequential years and not overlapping. 

In case you are an undergraduate:
 

• You may take the CFA Level 1 exam 23 months before your graduation month.
• CFA Level 2 can be taken 11 months before your graduation month. 
   

Check the lecture on the *Eligibility Criteria for Working Professional for CFA*: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0QGMKO4wNg&t=37s

Take the Eligibility Test: https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/Eligibility/Index

There is no time limit to complete the exams, but we have found that students who take each level in quick succession often find it easier to stay focused.

Candidates are permitted to take the exam twice per calendar year (when applicable), but not in consecutive windows or windows that are six months or less apart. Candidates are allowed a maximum of six attempts per exam level.

The scholarship application window will open on 24th January 2024.

To know more about the application window, check out the link mentioned below:

https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/programs/cfa/scholarships

• Access Scholarship
• Women’s Scholarship
• Student Scholarship
• Professor Scholarship
• Regulator Scholarship

Access Scholarship is a needs-based scholarship and it is intended for you particularly if you feel that the CFA exam cost is a challenge owing to your difficult financial situation. It is available to both new and continuing candidates and can be used for all exam levels. With this scholarship, the student will only have to pay 300 USD for the exam registration fee. And also, the enrollment fee is completely waived off, & you only need to pay a balance $300.

To apply for your CFA exam Access Scholarship, you need to sign up at the CFA Institute website. After you create your account, you will be able to submit your application. NOTE: No changes are possible once you submit your application! After you apply, do not register for your exam before you receive the scholarship.

Women’s Scholarships are offered to women interested in the CFA exam and ineligible for other CFA Institute scholarships. The scholarships aim at promoting broader participation of women in the CFA Program. With this scholarship, enrolment fee is waived and exam registration is reduced to USD400.

To apply for the Women’s Scholarship, CFA candidates need to:

• Set up an account at CFA Institute’s website.
• Fill in the online application form and write an essay.
• Submit the application before the deadline.
• Then, wait for the scholarship decision.
•  If it’s positive, register for the exam using the discounted fee.

Student Scholarships are awarded through universities and colleges affiliated with the CFA Program. As a student, you should check with your school if it’s affiliated and ask what you need to do to apply for the scholarship. Best, also ask about the rules governing the scholarship award, including the decision deadline. You are only required to pay $400 as registration fee instead of the $1,250 USD registration fee.

To apply, you must be a student enrolled at a school or college participating in the University Affiliation Program. Login and complete the Student Scholarship Application

The Professor Scholarship is available to full-time college/university professors or administrators/department heads who teach a minimum number of credit hours at qualified institutions. Under the Professor Scholarship Program, you are only required to pay 400 USD as your registration fees.

To Apply for Professor’s Scholarship, CFA candidates need to:

• Complete the online application on the CFA Institute website
• Obtain a confirmation letter from an institution administrator
• Provide your CV
• Provide employment verification and
• Submit the online verification and your materials

Regulator scholarships are awarded by CFA Institute to eligible organisations, not to individuals directly. These organisations are then responsible for nominating employees to receive the scholarship. The program covers employees of financial regulators, central banks, securities commissions, qualifying stock exchanges, SROs and/or government entities. Specifically, those entities that oversee or regulate operations, standards of practice or business conduct of the investment management industry and which have entered into a program agreement with CFA Institute. With this scholarship, your registration fees are reduced to 400 USD.

To apply for this scholarship, your organisation must nominate you for it. For this, you must check with your HR or designated CFA representative.

You shall be eligible to pay the lower fee that was applicable before the early bird deadline even after the deadline if you had applied for a scholarship and did not receive the same. Because the institute takes time to give out the scholarship details and the early bird deadline is over, hence those who have applied and did not receive scholarship do get to pay the early bird fee and register for the exam. Please check the following link for further details:https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/programs/cfa/scholarships

Students and faculty in GARP Academic Partner programs have exclusive access to scholarships that cover FRM Part 1’s registration fees. Click Here

First, log in to the CFA account. Go to CFA program > Study material > Mock exam.

Login to the Institute’s website > My Account > Profile > CFA Institute ID (7-digit number)

The subjects are divided into chapters, and the chapters are divided into different subheadings or LOS. The curriculum becomes very well defined with the LOS because it tells you exactly what you need to know and study.

For example, LOS could mention – ‘Describe Mean Median and Mode’. In that case, you need to know the meaning and properties of these terms. But if the LOS states – ‘Calculate and understand mean, median and mode’. In this case you should be able to solve the sums on these as well.

The minimum passing score (MPS) for each level of the exam is determined by the CFA Institute each year after the administration of the exams. The MPS has never been released.

FRM Exam Part I is an equally weighted 100 question multiple-choice Exam, and the FRM Exam Part II is an equally weighted 80 question multiple-choice Exam. Both Exams are administered via computer-based testing (CBT).

Exams are offered in English only, specifically American English. GARP is aware that not every candidate’s native language is American English. In the exam development process, GARP makes every effort to ensure that questions are written in a clear, concise form and avoid the use of colloquialisms or other terms and phrases that might confuse a non-native American English speaker.

The level of mathematical difficulty of the Exam is consistent with an advanced undergraduate or introductory graduate level finance course at most universities. It should also be noted that while the FRM Exam is conceptual in nature, candidates will still need to know important formulas and calculations and how to apply them correctly. Formula sheets are not provided with the Exam. For guidance on which formulas to focus on, please refer to the learning objectives and look for any statements that include the words “Calculate,” “Compute,” or “Derive.” These words will generally indicate an associated formula to commit to memory.

To select or change an exam site, candidates can log in to their account, go to “My Programs”, and click on the Exam Setup button. Candidates must have a paid registration in order to change their exam site.
The last day to select or change your exam site is April 26 for the May Exams, July 26 for the August Exam, and October 25 for the November Exams.
 

If it is necessary to postpone an Exam due to an evacuation, natural disaster, acts of military, political or government authority, global pandemic, or "Acts of God", GARP will make every effort to notify candidates as soon as possible.

Only the following items are allowed to be on your desk during the Exam:

1. A PRINTED confirmation of appointment email.
2. An original/not expired government issued passport or driver’s license
3. A GARP approved calculator(s)
    

There is no expiry for the FRM Certification. There is an annual membership fee for the institute and that is not mandatory. Membership benefits are listed below. Normally, companies pay the annual fees for the candidates. If you do not wish to pay the membership, you can always write as FRM Part 2 qualified on your resume throughout your lifetime.

The membership benefits include:

• The Members-only online Community, where Members can debate high-level risk issues, network with like-minded professionals, and participate in Q&A sessions with our top speakers and presenters.
• Members-only articles that provide timely thought leadership.
• If you are a hiring manager, you qualify for discounts on job postings so your own recruiting budget goes further.
• Preferential pricing on GARP's Annual Convention and other risk-focused events. These savings often cover the cost of annual membership. Our events prepare risk professionals around the world to make better-informed decisions.
• Risk Education courses such as the Foundations of Financial Risk and Financial Risk and Regulation at a discount of 30%.
• Member News, also delivered in a monthly Membership Update, informs peers around the world of your career advancements, awards and recognition, and other important professional information.
• Plus, take advantage of Exclusive Offers arranged with partners like TopResume/TopInterview, -NY Institute of Finance, Credible and more. Find the complete and current list on the website.
• If you are an FRM/ERP, these benefits will also be suspended:
• Ability to Connect with peers through the FRM | ERP Directory
• Access to GARP's Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program

• Pass the FRM Exam Part I
• Pass the FRM Exam Part II by December 31 of the fourth year of passing the FRM Part I
• Submit two years of full-time relevant financial risk management work experience
   

GARP looks for work experience where the identification, measurement, monitoring, or management of risk is a meaningful part of the job’s responsibility. As the FRM Exam covers a range of critical and fundamental aspects of risk, finance, and quantitative analysis, its application can be found in many jobs, including risk analysis, model validation, trading, portfolio management, treasury, audit, consulting, and many more.

A candidate has five years to submit his/her work experience after passing the FRM Exam Part II. Experience up to 10 years prior to passing both Exams is also applicable. If he/she does not complete this step within this timeframe, the candidate will be required to re-enroll in the program, pay all applicable fees, and retake the FRM Exam Part I and the FRM Exam Part II.

Certificates are sent out the month following the approval date of your work experience submission. For example, a candidate whose work experience is approved on January 15 will have their certificate sent out by the end of February, if not sooner.

You can use the designation as follows:

1. FRM
2. FRM Certified Professional 
3. Financial Risk Manager - Certified by the Global Association of Risk Professionals
    

1. After your name in written correspondence and/or as part of your email signature
2. After your name on business cards, letterheads, and/or name plates
3. As an identifier in resumes, curriculum vitas, biographies, personal statements, and/or published articles
    

Specialized pathways for CFA L3 candidates will be applicable from 2025 onwards.

Specialized pathways are curriculum tracks CFA candidates can select from while
registering for the CFA Level III exam. Each path is developed to give you more
options to learn content directly related to your career goals.
The three specialized pathways are:
A. Portfolio Management
B. Private Markets
C. Private Wealth
A. Portfolio Management
  The Portfolio Management pathway will have the following additional topic areas:  

•  Equity Portfolio Management
•  Fixed Income Portfolio Management
•  Trading and Execution
•  Case studies
•  Ethics in Portfolio Management

B. Private Markets
  The Private Markets pathway will have the following additional topic areas:  

•  Structures and Investment Process 
•  Private Equity
•  Private Debt
•  Private Real Estate & Infrastructure
•  Ethics in Private Markets
  C. Private Wealth
  The Private Wealth pathway will have the following additional topic areas: 
•  Private Wealth Industry
•  Client Management
•  Wealth Structuring
•  Investment Planning
•  Ethics in Wealth Management

For more details, please check the lecture on ‘Specialized Pathways’ -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RKQTg4gZwE

My order of preference for the specialized pathway will be - 
A. Portfolio Management
B. Private Markets
C. Private Wealth
However, you will have to decide based on exactly what you are looking for in terms
of your work profile.

A. Asset Allocation
B. Portfolio Construction
C. Performance Measurement
D. Derivatives & Risk Management
E. Ethics

30-35% of the Level III exam topic weight will relate to the selected pathway. The
remaining 65-70% will pertain to the Common Core.

At the time of registering for the exam, a Level III candidate must choose only one
pathway.

No, you will not be able to take more than one pathway.

Pathways cannot be changed once registration is completed.

You can change your selection if you take Level III more than once. The Institute
intends to provide their members with the content for all three as refresher readings.

Yes, you will have to choose a pathway even if you defer your exam from 2024 to
2025. If you prefer not to study the new pathways because you have already studied
Portfolio Management or your future work profile is unrelated to the other pathways,
you can select Portfolio Management as your pathway in 2025. The syllabus for
Portfolio Management will largely remain the same as in 2024, though there are
some minor changes. You can check the 2025 changes lecture and download the
syllabus and changes PDFs below:
a) Lecture: https://youtu.be/oIX8iphI34E?si=x3a1i9zAtePvZbLh
b) Syllabus & Change PDFs: https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/course/cfa-3

No, there will be no distinction made on the charter itself. CFA Institute is exploring
making that distinction through their digital badging strategy.

Over 70% of the content will be common across all three pathways with precisely the
same “bar” or performance calibration. For the differentiated parts, each of the three
will have its own custom fixed “bar”, but this will be set at the same height as the rest
of the Level III exam. CFA Institute is confident about maintaining the rigor of the
Program through this revised and thorough approach.
For more details, please check the lecture on ‘Specialized Pathways’ -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RKQTg4gZwE

- Lectures for the core curriculum are already completed as per the 2025 curriculum.
- The 1st pathway - Portfolio Management is almost complete.
- The second & third pathways – ‘Private Market’ & 'Private Wealth' will be covered
between 14th November'24 to 15th January'25.
You can check the 2025 changes lecture and download the syllabus and changes
PDFs below:
a) Lecture: https://youtu.be/oIX8iphI34E?si=x3a1i9zAtePvZbLh
b) Syllabus & Change PDFs: https://classes.aswinibajaj.com/course/cfa-3

If you choose the 'Portfolio Management' pathway, you can start studying right away.
90% of the lectures are already available. The new and changed portions are
currently getting covered in live class and uploaded to the App.

Lectures for the core curriculum are already completed as per the 2025 curriculum.
So, you can start studying right away. Private Wealth Pathway lectures will be
covered between 14th November'24 to 15th January'25.

Yes, you can change the pathway you selected for our classes. However, you'll need
to pay an additional 5500/- to switch to another pathway.

Yes, you’ll need to pay ₹5500 if you switch to the Private Market or Private Wealth
pathway.
Since you originally enrolled for 2024 or an earlier session without specific pathways,
there’s no extra fee if you stick with the Portfolio Management pathway for 2025.
However, switching to a new pathway requires a separate purchase.
If you initially chose Private Market or Private Wealth, no extra fee is needed for the
extension, as long as you stay with your original pathway.

The CFA Program would have taught you the theoretical base on valuation, investment banking etc. In Financial Modelling, you will learn how to use this conceptual understanding in the practical world of finance where you will prepare financial models of a company to estimate its valuation.

Random stock market courses and courses on Finance will not add the kind of value that you are aspiring for. Think long term and do not waste time on the same. However, there are areas where the skill is more important and it has to be learned through practice and may not have a said Degree/ Certification available. For example, Technical analysis needs to be learned before one takes a CMT exam. Also, for skills like MS Excel, R, SQL, etc. one has to learn. In areas as such, more important than the Institute is the credential of the trainer and the quality of training that matters. Since the ultimate objective of such training is going to be to enable you to crack the job interview.

For example, to learn Finance one studies CFA/FRM, and CA and MBA too have Finance subjects. But how to practically be able to make a Financial Model, or write Equity Research/Industry Research Report; one needs to learn the relevant skills. Hence, do not go for short-term courses unless it is to acquire a skill. While joining, make sure to check the credentials of the trainer, review from students of previous batches, and also do not fall for “100% placement assistance”. Please check the designations and pay the previously placed students who have received them.

Do your research – Understand what shall look better on the resume:

• A degree/ or a random short-term course.
• Whether after learning a skill, you will be able to crack an interview and perform well in your job?

Very Strong base in Finance, excel skills, Financial modeling, presentation, writing skills, communication skills. Investment banking, sounds glamorous but requires a lot of patience, accuracy, attention to details, relentless working hours, designing presentations, crisp writing skills, multiple iterations, valuation models, intense number crunching and modeling, cold mailers and follow-ups, negotiation skills, sharp pitching skills, data mining, extreme levels of self motivation to pick yourself up and move forward if a deal does not go through, apart from a very strong hold on Finance, which is a given.

Check the post to understand the qualities needed to be a successful Investment Banker: Click Here

• Read more, A lot more! Different areas, do not be restricted to just one genre – read philosophy, self-help, autobiography, management, finance, technical, marketing, communication. Keep switching in order to not get bored. Watch the lecture on Youtube for details.
• Do not be lazy while reading. Make it a point to google up words you do not know. Looking up the meaning once shall not help. Do the same every time you encounter the same word, until you start using and remembering it. Flashcard apps do not seem to work for me. Learn through use.
• Please pay attention to the flow, structuring of sentences(active-passive, etc), and also the punctuations. Speed reading is for areas of your expertise where you are skimming information to try and filter out the useful content. As a beginner or learner, focus!
• Follow the right set of people on social media and notice how they write, convey their thoughts, the language, clarity, and brevity in their posts. Do not follow desperate, who are forcing themselves to fit in by using slangs; and speaking on anything and everything which lies outside their expertise.
• Read technical journals etc from your field – example industry and equity research reports, press releases by companies, letters to shareholders by Buffett, etc. And very carefully observe!
• Make sure to watch interviews (not trash like Koffee with Karan). This shall not only help in writing, but also in terms of communication. For example, I recently watched a decade-old episode of Simi Garewal Rendezvous with Maharani Gayatri Devi. I was not only curious about her life, entry into politics, and her being jailed during the Fascist Emergency but also how she carries herself and the way she talks. Economists, people from your technical domain, debates. I watch parliamentary debates as well in order to improve my Hindi and to learn. I liked the speeches by Late Sushma Swaraj, not only debating and oratory skills, but the language, use of humor, etc as well.
• Use the free chrome extension Grammarly. It shall suggest corrections. Start noticing the corrections and evaluate your improvement over time.
• You may read ‘Made to Stick’ by Chip and Dan Heath in order to improve communication and get your message across more than writing skills.
• You may read ‘The Pyramid Principle’ by Barbara to improve business writing. Make sure to read one chapter a week, as the book could seem boring.
• Improving writing skills requires conscious prolonged effort and the output shall be visible over time. Hence be patient and persistent.

Depends on a lot of factors:

• You need to be sure of the reason why you intend to pursue masters. If it is to party abroad, waste parents’ money by getting into any college whatsoever, in that case I shall not be able to advise
• Placements for MBA Colleges will be better in corporates, than masters. MBA requires experience and masters generally does not, hence the placements as well.
• Please check the ranking of the college and also the amount you are spending, and whether it is worth it, or for namesake.
• If the admission criteria is too lenient it is most probably not worth attending
• If you plan to take up a career in academics and research and wish to pursue Phd, in that case you may do your masters
• In case you wish to study some specific subjects relevant to your interest and job role it shall make sense. For example, I know Finance students have done masters in Psychology to study investment behavior, or statistics/ economics to get into quantitative finance roles. Please check -if you can pursue masters in such streams without specifically studying those in bachelors.
• CFA is considered masters in the USA, hence doing a masters in Finance just for the sake of a stamp of degree abroad makes no sense.
• CA is considered masters in India by most colleges, hence M.Com will not be a value add unless you plan to teach in a college (where it might be a requirement)
• Even Masters from very good colleges from the UK and Paris, I have seen students not getting a job. Hence it is very important to do your cost benefit analysis, about job opportunities for non resident students.
• Distance masters for the sake of a degree for completing a 16 year education requirement( although most colleges accept 3 year graduate programs in India), may be fine.
• I would not discourage you from taking up masters, but you should do it for the right reasons and correct expectations. You may do masters to study, learn, but be very clear on the Why – is it for a job, to learn, or to just go abroad, or to pursue a career in academics.

If you’re still confused how to choose a career then learn from my journey. Make sure to watch this lecture: Click Here

To know which combined courses will be best for you then watch this lecture on Comparisons & Combinations of Courses: Click Here

If you’re confused about what career to choose after 12th, then watch the below lecture to know the options: Click Here

To know about the choices which you’ve have at the time of bachelor’s, Check this lecture: Click Here

Yes, you can change your subjects after your class 12th. After class 12th, you’re left with several options to pursue your career. Now, you can take whichever stream you want. Check this lecture to know more: Click Here

Want to pursue Actuaries, ACCA, etc.? Check out this lecture on detailed description about these courses: Click Here

Know how to go ahead with two or more interests and steal the show: Click Here

FRM exams are tough, but not as difficult as the CFA exams. The pass rates for FRM Part 1 usually fall in the range of 40% and 50%. For Part 2, they range between 50% and 60%. For the CFA exams, historical pass rates for Level 1 and Level 2 are generally in the range of 40% and 50%. Level 3 pass rates are usually in the ballpark of 50%. It’s this combination of lower pass rates and one more exam that makes the CFA tougher than the FRM.

Even if you didn’t have Maths in Class 11 and 12, you can still do CFA or FRM. Of course, you will have to work a bit harder as compared to the students who had Maths in 11 and 12 or are good at the subject.

Mathematics does not include everything but focuses on areas like Annuity, Probability, and Statistics. There shall be no use of Calculus or Trigonometry. Our recommendation would be to watch the syllabus video of the introduction playlist of CFA L-1/FRM L-1 very carefully:

CFA- https://youtu.be/9hiBJNu0gU4

FRM- https://youtu.be/nEUm7O_EjWQ

Even after watching the Introduction Lecture, if you are unsure, would recommend you to start studying with the first few lectures of Quants. Since I cover everything from scratch and therefore, I believe you will not have any problem completing the lectures. The first few chapters of Quants are uploaded online on YouTube-

CFA- Click Here

FRM: Click Here

Watch the above lectures and make an informed decision.

I believe the majority of the students pursuing CFA, and FRM are working professionals at different stages of their careers. Age is no bar, students from 20-50+ years pursue education. I am still studying and plan to do so my entire life. Today more than ever, there is a need for continued education, and one needs to keep learning in order to grow.

However, I would suggest you to go through the Introduction playlist and make an informed decision before investing so much effort, time, and money.

The syllabus and scope videos shall help you understand the suitability. And the Preparation part shall enable you to understand how you shall be able to manage.

Having said that, everyone manages with a job and family, it is just the intent to make that long-term investment that matters.

CFA is a course on Finance. Finance in itself is a stream and is definitely related to the Economy and commerce but is not the same.

CFA for example shall have 10 subjects, of which most of them are new subject-Derivatives, Fixed income, Equity, portfolio, and Alternate Investment.

However, commerce students have an edge in subjects like Economics (Studied a part of it in school) and Financial Reporting Analysis (FRM) (since they know Accounts). But the questions are application-based, and it stretch beyond What they have studied. Also, FRA is about applying and being able to read and interpret Financial Reports. The non-commerce students have to put in a little extra effort to grasp, although everything is done from scratch and no prior knowledge is required.

The Engineering students have an advantage in the subject Quants which have topics on statistics, probability, and compound Interest. The commerce students who are not good with Math or did not have the same in higher secondary have to put in a little extra effort although everything is done from scratch. It is not difficult Math’s question, but applications, of basic principles to do calculations involving Money.

As we see a very good proportion of MBA students are from Engineering backgrounds and Finance knowledge is required, hence even MBA students pursue CFA in order to specialize in Finance.

FRM is a course on Finance, specializing in Risk Management. Finance in itself is a stream and is definitely related to the Economy and commerce but is not the same.

FRM, all the subjects are new and is unrelated to the general commerce and Accountancy subjects. However, the commerce students have a basic understanding of terms like asset, liability, profit, loss. Although everything is done from scratch and no prior knowledge is required.

The Engineering students have an advantage in the subject quants which has topics on statistics, probability, compound interest. The commerce students who are not good with math’s or did not have the same in higher secondary have to put a little extra effort although everything done from scratch. It is not difficult math’s questions, but applications of basic principles to do calculations involving Money.

FRM is a specialization in the area of Risk management and people with profiles in Audit, IT, Risk Department, pressure the same. The application is primarily in the Banking, Energy, Fintech, All Financial institution and related organizations. Please go through the syllabus and Scope portion of the First class playlist on YouTube.

There is no overlap between any level of CFA and FRM L2.

There is an overlap between CFA L1/L2 and FRM L1. Please watch the syllabus section of the Introduction playlist of each to get an understanding.

If you are a working professional will advise you against giving any two levels together.

There is an overlap in subjects like Quants, Fixed Income, Derivatives, Portfolio in CFA L1 and FRM L1.

The overlap is partial and the approach and tackling questions is different for both.

It is easier to appear for CFA L2 with FRM L1 than CFA L1 with FRM L1. Obviously, since FRM L1 has overlap with both levels of CFA.

If you are a student, you can manage the two together, especially since the exams are a month apart now. Watch the First class before deciding.

• It would be hypocritical to say no since lots of students have done it.
• There are about 70 readings in part 1 and about 80 in part 2. If you are a working professional would not recommend the same.
• If you are not working, and wish to do it, please watch the first class properly for both levels, and then decide.
• If you will be able to complete 150 readings in whatever number of weeks left, along with practice. Also, you can target to complete a portion of L1- say 70 percent of the syllabus till the exam registration deadline. And on the basis of achieving the target, register for both levels or for only one level.
• Those who have appeared for L1 once and haven’t cleared can think about giving both parts together, but be careful about the retention of so much content,
• The content of the two levels does not overlapping. And working professionals would still advise against it.
• The content of the two levels does not overlapping. And working professionals would still advise against it.

CFA is a course on Finance and FRM is a course on Finance, specializing in Risk Management. If you are a working professional, you should go through the Syllabus & Scope portion in the Introduction playlist on the YouTube channel and check which is closer to your profile. Better to make an informed decision before investing your time and money.

The difference between the number of levels, time taken to complete or the cost should not be a concern when you think from a long-term perspective.

The work experience requirement can be achieved post completing all levels and you can still write on the Resume, that you have cleared all levels.

FRM exam paper is relatively more difficult than the CFA

If you want to pursue both courses, it is better or easier to start with CFA and then do FRM. Although one can start with FRM as well, everything is covered from scratch.

Watch the lecture to have all the information on both courses

Eligibility Criteria, Exam Format, Difficulty Level, Cost, Job Profile, Pass Rate, etc. Click Here

CA covers subjects and areas like accounts, cost, tax, audit, and law. And finance is just one paper. CFA is a specialization in Finance.

Also, the expense part could be a contributing factor for finance. To know more, please check the following lectures:

Career seminar: Click Here

1st class of CFA Level 1: Click Here

CFA, FRM, and CAIA are referred to as the Triple Crown in the US. To learn about finance watch the below lecture: Click Here

CA covers subjects and areas like accounts, cost, tax, audit, law. And finance is just one paper.FRM is a specialization in Finance and Risk Management.

Also, the expense part could be a contributing factor for finance. To know more, please check the following lectures:

Career seminar: Click Here

1st class of FRM Part 1: Click Here

Watch this short clip to know more: Click Here

If you’re an MBA student & confused if you should pursue CFA/FRM then watch this lecture: Click Here

If you are looking at doing an Industrial training, there are a couple of things you need to consider:

• The advantage would be to experience in a reputed organization, an industry of your choice, making contacts, grooming yourself, and proving yourself to increase your chances of getting permanently placed. Also an increased stipend. (Even if you change the city for this and do not save any money- it is not an issue, you shall be earning throughout your life, what matters is the profile, experience, learning, grooming, and building a relationship with the company)
• However, there is a flip side to this as well. More often, you shall be asked to defer your exam by a term, and will not get enough holidays to take the exam in the earliest term that you are eligible. You also need to consider your level of preparation in case you don’t have to defer the exam but will get a very limited leave period(maybe 2/3 months) which is insufficient to prepare for 8 subjects and revise. Also, the preparation is getting hampered due to strenuous working hours.

Hence we need to decide the tradeoff.

• Either become CA 6 months early or have 9 months of Industrial Training Experience. If you become a CA earlier by 6 months, you shall have more than 6 months of qualified experience eventually since you shall start early.
• If I am confident to crack a job without Industrial training, and I am confident about my interpersonal and presentation skills, then I would want to be a CA fast, make sure of my preparation and get into a full-time qualified job. If I am not sure about the above, I can take a 6 months delay in my career, improve upon myself, and take up industrial training.

Hence, think, talk to people in that company over LinkedIn, evaluate your preparation, and make a decision, and move forward. Do not overthink and waste time. Write down all the pros and cons and decide. No one else can decide for you. Watch the following to know how to crack CA in the first attempt: Click Here

Want to pursue CA, CS, and CMA? Check out this lecture on detailed description of these courses: Click Here

There are three things that I look at:

• Job Profile – the most important aspect is the role offered, and the department offered. If you do not understand the role, read about it, connect with people on LinkedIn, and ask questions. Do not have expectations that you will start executing top-notch work from Day 1. You will have to learn everything from scratch and climb your way up. Focus on what you can learn in that profile, which is the department, and how does it helps you get closer to your long-term goals. To be an investment banker, you need to start with equity research, you may not get the front-end IB role immediately.
• Pay – It depends on your personal situation, and also you feel more confident if this is good. It depends a lot on the current market situation, roles available, right place and opportunity, etc. Seems to be the most important factor but it isn’t. A 20-30 percent compromise is fine if you are getting a good role. Even 40 percent if it’s an amazing role, but it should help in the long term.
• The company- of course, a brand is important. But if you do not learn much in a big brand, then go for a small company or a start-up. In your next job interview, you shall have to explain and prove your experience and learning in the previous job. So that’s the most important part. When you do not go for a brand like the Big 4 or the Banks, look for the boss and the long-term vision of the company that you are applying for. If they have a good culture, long term vision, and you will get good exposure in terms of learning then yes.
• The location of Mumbai, Bengaluru, or NCR, makes interviews at other locations easy and good for networking. But this is the least important factor. If you get to travel in your beginning stint. Do take up. You learn a lot. Even if the location is Hyderabad, Pune it’s good. Then Kolkata and then other cities. But this is not important. If you are getting a low pay job in your hometown, but good or same profile, take that. You shall be able to do a lot more as you will have more support.

The above is not exhaustive but the points you need to think about. Whatever options you have, make sure to write down in a table the pros and cons of all offers. Then make an informed decision. Talk to multiple people in the profession, but It’s only you who has to decide.

To know which technical skills you should have: Click Here

• Even if you didn't have Maths in Class 11 and 12, you can still do CFA. Of course, you will have to work a bit harder as compared to the students who had Maths in 11 and 12 or are good at the subject.
• Mathematics does not include everything but focuses on areas like Annuity, Probability, and Statistics. There shall be no use of Calculus or Trigonometry. Our recommendation would be to watch the syllabus video of the introduction playlist of CFA L-1 very carefully: CFA: https://youtu.be/VK15zFT0VBU
• Even after watching the Introduction Lecture, if you are unsure, I would recommend you to start studying with the first few lectures of Quants. Since I cover everything from scratch and therefore, I believe you will not have any problem completing the lectures. The first few chapters of Quants are uploaded online on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8Cbw5inKewA?si=6e4EwQUTqZhpH3Ln

Watch the above lectures and make an informed decision.