[Crash_test_dummy]

CFA STUDY GROUP -- MUMBAI

well, If "they" can have a GMAT/CAT study group, why can't "we" have a CFA study group? just joking, i`m a part of the mumbai gmat group and it struck me that maybe we could do the same thing for the CFA junta..what say?

so here`s the deal: CFA level 1 people from mumbai, join hands. (i have no idea what we`ll do after joining hands, but lets go one step at a time!). as i`ve realized, the material is sooo vast, and quite complex too. it takes a lot of intellectual input and would be great if we could share the load, explain difficult topics to each other, help out and cooperate...coz i really need some help here! Here are some "proposed" objectives of this group:

1. Networking: get to know fellow aspirants, get free advice, and feedback. give/receive a pat-on-the-back/find a shoulder to cry on. Learn from the experts, train the younger ones.


2. Get goodies: Okay, no free lunches here. You either get study material to share, or you pay up (provided you find a willing seller, no obligations to share your stuff).

3. Discipline: i lack discipline, and i know you do too . so if a group of us could keep each other in check and work with some discipline, there`s a chance our 20K might not go waste.


4. Teach/Learn: This is the most important objective. the course is really vast, and it would help if some ppl could divide the load and explain concepts to each other. a meeting once in a while could help.

So now, i`m all dressed up with nowhere to go. who`s in, who`s out? i hope i`m not the only member of this "group". pour in please with your views/comments/opinions/querries. just post your location, profile, and the stuff (if any) you have and we can get started on this asap. i dont mind even if this "group" consists of me and just one more willing person...i just wanna get it started!

PS: i want this to be a "study group" and not an orgy of copyright violation i mean, exchanging stuff is fine, but let`s not make this a buyer-seller forum.

[CrazyKid]

Hi Bol ,

We have formed a group of three in chennai for CFA L1 preparations. We have ordered for Schweser 2006 materials its already despatched and is likely to be delivered on Monday . If U'd like to join us and also share the cost , please call me at XXX.

Other L1 Aspirants from chennai are also welcome to join the study group.

Regards and Wishes

[Crash_test_dummy]

Originally Posted by CrazyKid

Hi Bol ,

We have formed a group of three in chennai for CFA L1 preparations. We have ordered for Schweser 2006 materials its already despatched and is likely to be delivered on Monday . If U'd like to join us and also share the cost , please call me at 9840708069 .

Other L1 Aspirants from chennai are also welcome to join the study group.

Regards and Wishes

this is so ironical ! anyways, best of luck to you guys with your studygroup...i hope some mumbaikars turn up here. try not giving out your mobile number/email id etc so freely on the net...use PM. best of luck...keep the two "groups" connected.

[harshg]

Originally Posted by Crash_test_dummy

In simple, plain, and rude words...i`d say DO NOT go for the ICFAI-CFA...it`s a fake. t.

Thanks CTD for your candour...

The next step for me now is to initiate a hot comparison button from the placement consultants ... I am sure I would be able to post some decent insight on the Indian job mart for the CFA once I have my opinion consolidated.

Can someone else also post regarding the employability in the Indian market and start salary of the CFA ( both the CFAI and the pseudo program run by the ICFAI)

Take care.

[akhil]

Can someone else also post regarding the employability in the Indian market and start salary of the CFA ( both the CFAI and the pseudo program run by the ICFAI)

I can comment on CFA ICFAI. Course contents are amazing. For non commerce background, this course is perfect start as it teaches you basic concepts. Level 1 is repetitive of 11, 12th and b.com. Level 2 and level 3 contains new topics like valuation of securities, global emerging markets , technical analysis etc.

I will be completing the course by april 2008. But i am really confident of CFA ICFAI prospects. It can take you to interview door ; the rest depends on one's knowledge.

[harshg]

Hey Hey Hey!!! Thanks Akhil for the post above but some clarity regarding my pursuit needed I think

1) there is no CFA v/s ICFAI CFA here; I think I messed up the point in my pvs post.

2) the idea was to get an expert's opinion on the employability (which is a look into the JD of the profile and the CV of the bloke who has been hired after the CFA not necessarily on the bases of the CFA ) and because we are all greedy the average salary for this person in India. Here noteworthy is to find out if the CFA was a standalone qualification or did this gent who has been hired also have some functional experience.

3) the other tangent which CTD has already opined upon.. the validity of the CFA as an additional qual post MBA to help the people with a non fin background to get employed in finance industry... hence would a CFA thappa be able to stand in for the lack of functional experience in the Indian finance indutry or not.

Please post.

[Crash_test_dummy]

Originally Posted by harshg

3) the other tangent which CTD has already opined upon.. the validity of the CFA as an additional qual post MBA to help the people with a non fin background to get employed in finance industry... hence would a CFA thappa be able to stand in for the lack of functional experience in the Indian finance indutry or not.

Please post.

the most sure-fire way to get thru any job interview is functional area experience. it is very difficult to replace work experience by any academic course. the CFA is considered abroad as a sureshot entry point into the world of finance. unfortunately, in india, cfa hasn`t got the recognition and respect that it deserves. of course, having a cfa will help you get into finance, but cfa in india is somehow overshadowed by the it`s big brother: the MBA! building a career solely on the basis of cfa in india could be a tricky business...it is better looked upon as a combo with an MBA...either pre mba or post mba. i`ve come across many job postings on naukri and times where the qualification asked for is "CA/ICWA/CFA/MBA". if you`re looking at job market abroad (like i am), then a cfa will definitely do wonders for you...you might not need an mba once you do the cfa. hope that answers some of your Qs.

[pradeep sonthalia]

hi crazy kid. i wud be coming to chennai on 111th april.
and from then i wud like to join ur grp with the CFA preparations.
can u please count me in.

[pradeep sonthalia]

hi sujay.

good to meet u here. i am sure we can help us each other well for CFA.
i am certain to join International CFA and not the HYD CFA.

i dont think that it is very very diff and can't be done. it all depends upon u.
lets forma study grp and start our studies asap.
u can call me so that we can discuss things in details.

i will pm u my tele no.

[harshg]

Originally Posted by Crash_test_dummy

the most sure-fire way to get thru any job interview is functional area experience. it is very difficult to replace work experience by any academic course. the CFA is considered abroad as a sureshot entry point into the world of finance. unfortunately, in india, cfa hasn`t got the recognition and respect that it deserves. of course, having a cfa will help you get into finance, but cfa in india is somehow overshadowed by the it`s big brother: the MBA! building a career solely on the basis of cfa in india could be a tricky business...it is better looked upon as a combo with an MBA...either pre mba or post mba. i`ve come across many job postings on naukri and times where the qualification asked for is "CA/ICWA/CFA/MBA". if you`re looking at job market abroad (like i am), then a cfa will definitely do wonders for you...you might not need an mba once you do the cfa. hope that answers some of your Qs.

This is what I thought as well...
Again India has a lot of Offshored busines in the Finance Domain ... companies like Deloitte / Fidelity Investments / Franklin Templeton / KPMG / Amex all of these have businesses or processes supporting businesses which operate Onshore (read US/Europe/Australia) .. these businesses could be to sell or manage Hedge Funds/ Mutual Funds/ Investment Portfolios for HNIs anything.

As of now the people who get hired either at the entry level ( freshers with academic experience here the finance MBAs and CAs-people with the charter get hired and get a rumoured INR 5L+ CTC ) or at the Manager level ( typicaly people with Academic qualification and functional experience running to more than 5 + years get hired and get a rumoured INR 12L--15L ++) ... the definition of functional experience is but not limited to having worked in a finance company dealing with same or similar product or workstream.. this is where the old BPO hands like me would benefit ( I hope).

The reason I want to wait for some hot profile info ( someone who has been hired in the past qtr ) before I post something concrete is because for all of us the CFA ( or the ICFAI CFA) is a huge investment in terms of both time and money and it would make sense to factor in a roi to the same.