RSS feed for Schweser's Public CFA Exam Bloghttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.phphttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=290&public_blog_level=cfa1Greetings all! It's late Sunday morning here in La Crosse and I woke up to a few posting on the Level 2 and public blog - thanks to those who have shared a bit of their experience so far. We hope all went well on Saturday, of course. I do suspect that many of you walked out feeling a bit down and frustrated, even though you were glad it was over. Candidates seem to be either what I call "overconfident" or "underconfident" after the exam and our feelings aren't always a predict...en-usSun, 08 Jun 2008 12:50:27 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=288&public_blog_level=cfa1I'm a bit late with this, but I wanted to make sure to wish everyone GOOD LUCK on the exam. Sleep well, travel to and from your exam center safely, be successful on the exam, and enjoy the festivities (or rest) after. Best wishes from all of us at Kaplan/Schweser, Jodi ...en-usFri, 06 Jun 2008 14:54:25 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=264&public_blog_level=cfa1Greetings everyone! I've been posting on the Level 2 blog and thought that this might be a good cross-over subject, please note that it's written from a Level 2 perspective. Several of the points apply to all levels, though. Jodi Hello again! In this blog, I'll share a sample of some tactics I used when taking the exams. I know many of you have already started taking exam, so I though I'd post this now. I apologize a bit for the rambling nature, I also might seem like ...en-usThu, 22 May 2008 22:04:30 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=236&public_blog_level=cfa1It's that time of year when candidates are starting to get worked up. I can literally feel the tension when I talk to or even email candidates. It's very important to get serious about this time of year, but channel that energy into more effective study and an increased urgency to tackle challenging topics. Fight the urge to channel it into delving into more detail and getting bogged down in those topics you should really be letting go of or at least putting...en-usTue, 22 Apr 2008 19:25:12 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=226&public_blog_level=cfa1Greetings! Once upon a time, I was too a candidate. And, I remember turning over the calendar from March to April and freaking out, just a bit. I (and all of the charterholders at Schweser) remember what it was like to be a candidate at this time of the year. I was sick of studying, stressed out, freaked out about how little time I had left to review, mad that I couldn't go out with friends, a bit upset that I was in studying and not enjoying the Spring weather (or Fall for you in th...en-usWed, 23 Apr 2008 17:33:19 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=225&public_blog_level=cfa1Greetings! As noted in the subject line, the topic of this blog is how to attack (I like that word, the exam is a bit of a battle) the item set style questions. Should you read them all the way through, and then approach the questions, or the reverse - read the questions first and then read the vignette? Here is my take: This is a toughie. If I have to pick (and I hate making choices), I would say read the vignette first. I bolded the word read because that's ...en-usWed, 23 Apr 2008 17:15:17 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=199&public_blog_level=cfa1Ok, so forgive me, I had to get one more "cheer" subject line in. No, I was not a cheerleader in high school or college. I'm just a little punchy from work...and the subzero (Fahrenheit subzero) temperatures that just won't go away here in Wisconsin. As you may have guessed from the title, this will be a bit of a product focused blog... let's just say that seminars are near and dear to me. Up until last year, I would say that I am "pro-seminars" primarily because I cr...en-usMon, 10 Mar 2008 08:31:26 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=196&public_blog_level=cfa1I'll admit that I have been procrastinating at posting a blog. I'm usually overly prolific with the blogging, and to be honest, I'm a bit embarrassed at how long it's been since I blogged. But, this blog is a special message to all my fellow procrastinators out there – you know who you are. You are running late or behind on something as we speak. Now, I know all the arguments. We still manage to get things done. We love the rush of adrenaline as the dea...en-usThu, 21 Feb 2008 19:50:29 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=181&public_blog_level=cfa1 I wish I could say that reading the Level 3 curriculum was all you needed to pass the Level 3 exam. If all you needed was an understanding of the concepts in the curriculum, all you would have to do is read and learn the 2008 CFA Institute curriculum. Unfortunately, it's not that "easy." Here is my prescription for success at Level 3. I recommend that every Level 3 candidate start with the Schweser Study Notes. We find that many candidates rely on...en-usTue, 05 Feb 2008 08:42:16 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=173&public_blog_level=cfa1First of all, I'd like to congratulate all new Level 3 candidates! Passing the Level 2 exam was no simple task and by doing so you showed your ability to stand up to and conquer a difficult test in an unfamiliar format. At Level 1 the questions were all multiple-choice and divided into groups by topic area. Each Level 1 question is more or less a stand-alone question; each tests a separate concept about the topic. At Level 2 you were introduced to the item set. The item sets were als...en-usThu, 21 Feb 2008 19:51:23 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=163&public_blog_level=cfa1I hope that everyone had a great holiday season and a safe new year. Many of us in content were out of the office during the holidays and now things are ramping up quickly around here again (updating Secret Sauce, working on the first week or so of the Weekly Online (starting in just a couple weeks), creating new videos for the Schweser Library, assessing the Online Practice Exams and determining what new/revised questions we need, etc.) that I've been a bit behind on blog postings. Th...en-usTue, 08 Jan 2008 13:17:34 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=161&public_blog_level=cfa1Here I go again, finding myself writing a blog about studying early. Many of you know that CFA Institute recently indicated that the December Level 1 results will be released on January 23rd. You can’t wait until then to start studying. Some years you may have gotten by with it, but not for 2008. I have been totally immersed in the Level 2 curriculum for the past 5 months (and will be going forward) and as one of the Level 2 experts here at Schweser, I feel ...en-usThu, 13 Dec 2007 14:42:30 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=160&public_blog_level=cfa1Those of you who have used Schweser in the past may be wondering, "What happened to Books 6 and 7?" The short answer is that they were renamed Practice Exams Volume 1 (Book 6) and Practice Exams, Volume 2 (Book 7, formerly JKE/Excel/Practice Exams). Each volume contains 3 full-length exams. For 2008, Practice Exams, Volume 2 also contains a Bonus Section featuring Actual CFA exam questions and analysis. What follows is a longer explanation, which includes specific produ...en-usWed, 23 Apr 2008 09:51:08 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=159&public_blog_level=cfa1I’m the Senior Vice President of Faculty and Content here at Schweser, but before I started doing this I was a finance professor for 10 years teaching undergraduate and MBA finance courses. Please indulge me for a few minutes while I take off my “corporate” hat and put on my “teacher” hat. In all the years I taught finance, not once did I walk into class the first day, hand out the textbook, announce that the final exam was in 16 weeks, wish everyone good luck, and walk out. My life ...en-usTue, 04 Dec 2007 11:01:12 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=158&public_blog_level=cfa1Greetings! A few weeks ago I posted a "Getting Started (Version 1.1)" blog where I gave you information on delivery dates for products and services listed in the Getting Started Document that is packaged with each set of Schweser Study Notes. This blog is a follow up on that blog and also offers suggestions for what to do with the 8 weeks or so before the official study season or "Spring Se...en-usMon, 26 Nov 2007 14:40:17 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=153&public_blog_level=cfa1NEW in 2008! Experience the Weekly Online Program from 6:00 to 9:00 pm London Time One of my favorite parts of my job as the Level 2 Manager is, believe it or not, teaching the Level 2 Weekly Online Program. Last year I sat by myself in a small studio in La Crosse, Wisconsin and talked into a camera from 6:30 to 9:30 pm New York time once a week. You might think that I would have gotten lonely and gone a little stir-crazy. However, the amount of interaction bet...en-usSun, 02 Dec 2007 12:36:17 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=152&public_blog_level=cfa1Picture this: You've studied diligently for months agonizing over details, memorizing equations, and understanding how concepts interlink among study sessions. Finally, the day before the exam has arrived. You've been told that at this point there is nothing more you can do and not to bother cramming. All you need to do is get a good night's rest and dream happy thoughts of a life you once knew coming back to you... You set your alarm and look at the clock one l...en-usTue, 10 Jun 2008 12:57:05 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=144&public_blog_level=cfa1Do I Really Have to Start Studying Now for 2008 Now? Yes. Yes. Yes. Even I, "Queen" of the late studiers, started reading Ethics about this time. I always meant to get through the Standards of Practice Book before Thanksgiving (US), but straggled over into December. But, even I "started studying" now. Now is the time where you start developing habits, start getting used to studying instead of taking that nap, or watching TV, or playing video game...en-usMon, 26 Nov 2007 14:40:39 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=141&public_blog_level=cfa1Hello 2008 Level 3 CFA Candidates! I have received many requests over the last several weeks from candidates asking how the 2008 Level 3 curriculum has changed. I can only say that I am very glad I didn't answer before we finished the Level 3 Study Notes! Traditionally, revision and publication of the Level 3 Study Notes has required a significant amount of work. Every year Eric Smith, CFA, FRM - Senior Project Manager, and I have had to add a few LOS here and there, remo...en-usMon, 26 Nov 2007 14:50:21 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=139&public_blog_level=cfa1One of the biggest challenges you will face as a CFA candidate is retention. It is hypothesized that there is a strong correlation between exam success and the start date of your studies. The earlier the start date, the higher the chance of success. Unfortunately, there is a dark side to relying too heavily on an early start. You see, your objective is to "peak" at the right time - where "peak" is defined as possessing the optimal level of...en-usMon, 19 Nov 2007 09:04:58 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=138&public_blog_level=cfa1Well, it's time to let you all know that I'm not perfect. Shocking, yes, but reality :o) I recently posted the first error for the 2008 Level 2 notes. Sigh. It's like the first dent in a new car (or in the new Vespa scooter for those of you in urban areas). You know it's going to happen, but that doesn't make it easier when it does. So, I thought this might be a good time to remind you to check both our updates page and CFA Institute's errata post...en-usMon, 26 Nov 2007 14:58:37 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=135&public_blog_level=cfa1I knew some of my blogs for the June 2007 exam would come in handy! I wrote this one back in Mid-April. That is the time that candidates are typically, shall we say a bit "uptight" and I worry about them losing focus on THE goal - that of passing the exam. So, Level 1 December candidates, here's my message to you. Just replace January with July, April with October, May with November, and Spring with Fall (for us in the Northern Hemisphere...en-usTue, 27 Nov 2007 14:52:34 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=131&public_blog_level=cfa1Hello! It is a beautiful fall day here and I was in Madison this weekend (which is as close to my beloved San Francisco as I can get around here), so I am in a great mood! (And, I get to work on the Level 2 QuickSheet and assignments for Practice Exams, Vol. 1 (formerly known as Book 6), plus video slides, that just caps it off and makes it a perfect day!) Many of you have ordered (Thank you!) and received product already and many of you have read the "Getting Star...en-usSun, 02 Dec 2007 12:40:42 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=127&public_blog_level=cfa1Well, Sunday brought bad news for this Minnesota Vikings fan. Not only did we lose to Green Bay, but Favre broke Marino's old record. So, the game will be forever in some sort of record book. We'll see clips of the pass over and over and over. Amazingly, it's pretty calm around here, though. Usually, it's Favre, Favre, Favre, Packers, Packers, Packers, and a sea of green shirts all over the place after a game like that (Packer fans are a select group) b...en-usMon, 26 Nov 2007 14:56:43 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=125&public_blog_level=cfa1I suspected eventually that it would "get out" that I'm an avid equestrian, so when the opportunity to have a horse-related Blog, I had to take it. So, bear with me a bit - this won't be an analogy about a "normal" sport like football or baseball. What prompted this Blog is that we've heard from some candidates who didn't pass the June 2007 exam haven't signed up for 2008 because they are "undecided or wanted to ta...en-usSun, 02 Dec 2007 12:43:16 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=123&public_blog_level=cfa1We have been informed by CFA Institute that the initial registration deadline for the June 2008 exams has been extended to October 3, 2007. If you intend to register as a candidate for the June 2008 exams, you will save US$88 by submitting your registration prior to October 3. I know it seems like eons 'til exam day, but the earlier you dedicate and invest yourself in the process, the better off you will be - the first part of the process is signing up ...en-usMon, 26 Nov 2007 14:57:54 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=122&public_blog_level=cfa1Greetings Everyone! I just can't contain myself any longer. The Level 1 books started coming in last week and that's an exciting time around here. We get so caught up in the creation and review of the product and all that is going on around here (audio, video, etc.) that we sometimes forget there is an end product. After working on the Level 2 Corporate Finance and Portfolio Management material, I really needed the emotional boost that comes from seeing s...en-usWed, 16 Jan 2008 16:55:03 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=117&public_blog_level=cfa1Greetings! Some of you who took Level 2 last year may know me from the Level 2 Blog, or an Online Seminar, or SSFA at Windsor. For the rest of you, my name is Jodi, and I'm the Director of Content Development at Schweser, as well as part of the Level 2 content team. I received my Charter in 2005 and I currently specialize at Level 2 with Dr. Tim Smaby, CFA. Last year we debuted Level-specific Blogs. This year, we wanted to communicate with you right at the start o...en-usMon, 26 Nov 2007 14:47:27 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=113&public_blog_level=cfa1First of all, I'd like to congratulate all new Level 2 candidates who were successful on the 2007 Level 1 exam and are now embarking on the journey called "CFA Level 2." And to all of you returning (I prefer "experienced") Level 2 candidates, I want to tell you how much I admire your perseverance. If you are a new Level 2 candidate, you may have asked yourself "How is Level 2 different from Level 1?" and "What do I need to do differently ...en-usMon, 26 Nov 2007 14:49:20 -0400admin@schweser.comhttp://www.schweser.com/public_blog/blog.php?item_id=112&public_blog_level=cfa1To All Prospective CFA Charterholders; Your time is extremely valuable, so I appreciate your willingness to allow me to clear up an issue that appears to be causing confusion amongst candidates who have registered for the 2008 CFA Exams and to outline key products/services that Schweser has to offer to help you effectively prepare yourself for a successful outcome. The CFA Program Curriculum materials that are bundled with your registration fees ar...en-usWed, 23 Apr 2008 09:53:44 -0400admin@schweser.com