Interested in CAIA and CFA designations.. Suggestions please.?

Question

Essentially I have made the decision to start studying for the CFA exam. I am currently working as a Forensic Accountant but looking to get into the finance industry and out of typical accounting. I have talked to friends in the finance industry and a couple have suggested studying for both the CAIA and the CFA. Has anyone done this and also what books would you suggest? It seems the Schweser guides are popular, do I need to also get additional books for the CFA. As far as the CAIA I have not seen much in the way of books. BTW I am planning to sit for the CFA in June 2006 and with my girlfriend a full time first year law student I have the time and motivation to study and do something with myself. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Do you have a time machine so that you can go back to June 2006? Or are you just asking this question a couple of months too late.

I used Schweser. The books were OK -- but I didn't really look at them much. Instead, I just took practice exams to find out what I knew and what I didn't know. It pointed to the areas where I needed to study & told me where I didn't need to study -- so I was happy with the results (I passed Level one).

My opinion is that a few months of study is enough time for someone who already knows some of the material. You should think about the December 2006 exam.

Answer 2

there is no clean answer to which concern is greater efficient - accounting or finance. the alternative relies upon on your occupation objectives and private skills. As for CFA examination, i've got self assurance (and that i'm purely a point I CFA candidate) that a finance substantial is greater possibly to have familiarity with maximum factors of the CFA curriculum. yet bear in innovations that an accounting degree makes you eligible to look interior the CPA examination, which a lot of human beings fee plenty greater beneficial than CFA. in case you have chose to get the CFA qualification, take the 1st examination on your senior 3 hundred and sixty 5 days and something 2 interior of two-3 years after commencement.