[WokSz]

Hi guys,

Did those who completed the certificate use external providers or are the resources provided by the CFA enough?

(Very little Accounting / Finance knowledge).

[Tokyoround]

I used BPP. Only paid for distance learning, wasn't going to fork out for classroom when I already understood most of the material. Quite useful but the online lectures/slides don't really explain much. The question were alright though.

[Jelkin]

(Original post by Tokyoround)
I used BPP. Only paid for distance learning, wasn't going to fork out for classroom when I already understood most of the material. Quite useful but the online lectures/slides don't really explain much. The question were alright though.

What's it like? Useful? Expensive to do?

[Tokyoround]

(Original post by Jelkin)
What's it like? Useful? Expensive to do?

Depends Jelkin, if you want to move away from traditional Actuarial areas like insurance and pensions, it definitely helps! Mercer is one company I know of that make it compulsory for everyone to do and a few Actuaries there even end up doing the CFA after qualifying.

If memory serves right its about £190 to sit each exam (2 exams), typical multiple choice/box fill questions. Unit 1 is more about laws/regulations, different stock exchanges and how they work/how a company gets listed, a little capital gains and inheritance tax. Unit 2 is more mathsy.

I think you can get a slight discount if you pay for both at the same time, you also get candidate membership as part of your registration. I paid about £400 for BPP online access and study materials. Prices/course offerings might be different at 7city, Kaplan, etc.

[Jelkin]

(Original post by Tokyoround)
Depends Jelkin, if you want to move away from traditional Actuarial areas like insurance and pensions, it definitely helps! Mercer is one company I know of that make it compulsory for everyone to do and a few Actuaries there even end up doing the CFA after qualifying.

If memory serves right its about £190 to sit each exam (2 exams), typical multiple choice/box fill questions. Unit 1 is more about laws/regulations, different stock exchanges and how they work/how a company gets listed, a little capital gains and inheritance tax. Unit 2 is more mathsy.

I think you can get a slight discount if you pay for both at the same time, you also get candidate membership as part of your registration. I paid about £400 for BPP online access and study materials. Prices/course offerings might be different at 7city, Kaplan, etc.

Yeah, I'm considering it! Maybe something to think about - I know people in investment at my company take it. Thanks for the info

[SuperMtheory]

Depending on how much knowledge of finance you have, you may not need to use any study provider.

The IMC is an industry standard qualification for those working in asset management (since it gives you the ability to be registered by your company for CF30 position eg, trader, junior PM etc etc . Some who work in a controlled function in investment banking also hold it as an alternative to the SI qualifications. Having done the rules and regs part of the SI qualification as well as the whole IMC, I'd say there's no real difference.

Bear in mind, that the real "biggie" is the CFA. That is actually quite difficult to complete, not because it is overly challenging intellectually but rather the amount of knowledge retention required.

Anyway, I do have a great IMC study aid available which I actually used and is still mostly relevant. Please PM me for more details.

Cheers

[partoftheweekend]

(Original post by WokSz)
Hi guys,

Did those who completed the certificate use external providers or are the resources provided by the CFA enough?

(Very little Accounting / Finance knowledge).

If you need them I have the BPP IMC Books for Unit 1 and 2 inc review texts and everything else. Covers everything you need to complete the course. Its the 2007 version but not a lots changed, and its basically gathering dust in my room. PM if you want.