CFA Coaching

“FEMS – Finance Education Made Simple” as the name suggests, seeks to simplify the complex world of finance for students and professionals alike through instructor-led trainings for various finance related courses like CFA, FRM and CFPCM.

Our training methodology focuses on basic concepts of all topics to help you build a strong foundation for your career in finance. We ensure logical understanding of complicated financial concepts which help our students in the exam that they intend to appear for and also in quick recall for applicability in real life situations.

The FEMS Advantage
» High focus on concepts for sound topic understanding
» Simplified study material for easy learning and quick revision
» Small batches for greater individual attention
» Personalized doubt clarification sessions
» Separate batch for students with no finance background
» Faculty with extensive topic knowledge and industry experience
» Sound educational background of IIT/IIM/CFA/CA for all faculties
» Over 100 hours classroom coaching
» Mock tests simulating actual exam environment

CFA Program CFA coaching

CFA program is a graduate level program which provides the skills and conceptual knowledge required in today’s world of finance. It is the most widely known and respected investment credential in the world.

Benefits of CFA Program
» The CFA Program is the most widely known and respected investment
credential in the world.
» Employers recognize the CFA charter as the definitive standard by which to measure
the competence, integrity, and dedication of serious investment professionals.
» The CFA Program curriculum focuses on the practical knowledge and current
skills necessary in the global investment management profession.

CFA Exam
CFA exam consists of three Levels I, II & III. Passing all the levels is a prerequisite to earn a CFA Charter.

Level I exam consists of multiple choice questions
Level II exam consists of item set question
Level III exam consists of item set questions and essay question

by Swati Arora

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CFA or FRM: Solving The Dilemma For Students

CFA and FRM are two of the leading financial certifications in India. Many MBA students pursue these financial certifications to enhance their financial knowledge. We catches up with Aditya Ahluwalia, expert CFA coach to seek answers to the CFA or FRM quandary and also career options after CFA and FRM.

The advantage that a MBA student with a CFA degree have over a MBA specializing in finance?

I have personally done both the degrees. I did my masters in business administration (MBA) from FMS Delhi. The MBA finance degree in my opinion covers about 20% of what gets covered in the entire CFA curriculum (in terms of financial knowledge). A MBA degree is more holistic to management as it will also cover non finance subjects like HRM, systems, marketing and general management. CFA is a certification dedicated to the field of finance. In my opinion no examination is as exhaustive and comprehensive in finance as CFA is.

What are the job opportunities for MBA students after CFA?

The opportunities in the finance world in India though growing are becoming extremely competitive. A lot of MBA students are competing for the same job. During campus placements companies do not have the time to go through each and every resume or interview every candidate. The students who get shortlisted for campus placements are students who have an extra push on their resume. A CFA degree also gives the recruiter a perception that the student has more financial knowledge than just a MBA finance student. Hence CFA does support a lot to get shortlisted for the interview stage of MBA placements. Even after placements the knowledge that a candidate gains is useful in his future job pursuits.

What are the profiles that a MBA in Finance with a CFA degree will be offered?

CFA is a comprehensive exam in finance. So whether it be investment banking or portfolio management or equity research or strategy consulting in the financial domain or corporate finance in a manufacturing company, CFA concepts are going to be directly applicable to your job. For anyone who is interested in a career in the financial domain the CFA designation gives an edge and imparts value to your knowledge and resume. A CFA qualification today is more of a requirement than an advantage for a career in investment banking of private equity. Doing a CFA today is not a guarantee of finding a job in investment banking or private equity, it is depends on your financial understanding and communication skills.

What is the difference between CFA and FRM?

That is a very common question that many students have.. I believe that degrees of MBA, CFA and FRM have to be looked at compliments rather than as competing with each other. CFA teaches you the inside-out of finance, MBA finance teaches you how to link the financial aspect with the overall business management perspective.FRM is a designation which is dedicated to risk management. It gives the candidate a very good perspective about credit, operational and market risk aspect of a business. A lot of students today (including me as a student) have taken all 3 designations. I believe all 3 degrees added to my knowledge and enhanced my employability. I would advise students not do an either or for the courses. CFA and FRM are not standalone designations and are supposed to be complimented with either a MBA degree or work experience.

How should a student decide between opting for a CFA or a FRM?

Firstly students have a misconception that CFA takes 3 years while FRM just takes 2 exams. So they should not base their judgment on the duration of the course. CFA curriculum is much more exhaustive than FRM. In one level of CFA it can be argued that you learn more than two levels of FRM combined.

Coming to choosing between CFA and FRM, if someone wants a more holistic designation in finance then he or she should opt for CFA. The CFA certification does not restrict the domain to any niche in finance and for students who are not sure of their preference in finance should opt for CFA. CFA will teach you risk management, corporate finance, risk management and portfolio management hence the scope is broader. If a candidate is sure that he wants to pursue risk management i.e. any profile in a bank or credit rating agency. The profiles can range from credit risk, relationship management, treasury or any profile related to risk management then one should opt for FRM as it is more direct and relevant to the niche of risk management in finance.

If equity research, investment banking, portfolio management is your preferred field then CFA is the designation to pursue.

Does having cleared Level 1 or Level 2 in CFA have any relevance?

Definitely, mentioning that you are a level 1 to level 3 candidate of the CFA exam holds a lot of weightage. Having cleared level 2 would be equivalent to having a FRM degree. Clearing one level of CFA also has value hence students should not be deterred from mentioning the same in their resume. Even if the candidate decides not to finish the CFA course he or she can still mention level 1 or level 2 in their resume. Students from a non-finance background typically can use the CFA degree to come at par with students from a finance background during their MBA course. The perception issue that majority engineers have about lack of financial knowledge can also be altered after pursuing a CFA course.

Apart from CFA degree other things a student can do enhance his resume?

I have experience in working at a senior level at a fund management company. I did my MBA, FRM, CFA and CIA (an alternative investment certification) which has helped me gain a lot of knowledge. During my MBA degree i also did a large number of NCFM modules which overlap with CFA curriculum and hence is not necessary for every candidate to pursue. Instead of running after random certifications, I would advise students to concentrate on basics. If you have done your MBA from a top tier institute that is good enough. Also doing live financial projects adds a lot of practical knowledge and helps in establishing industrial contacts which can be useful during placements. Apart from the above mentioned financial certifications, I do not believe any other course will add significant value to a student’s resume. Also the CFA society networking events are quite useful. They open up good networking opportunities.

What questions should MBA students who have successfully cleared CFA or are pursuing CFA expect in interviews?

Equities is very big in the Indian market and given that many back-end and front-end equity research firms hire from top management schools hence being thorough with your valuation concepts, relative P/E multiple, DCF valuation. Understand corporate finance concepts like cost of capital and WAC should be revised well. NPV, IRR are questions which every candidate must expect in the interviews. Concentrate on basics and then go to advanced terms. Majority of the students will be fresher’s in financial domain hence interviewers expect clarity of basic concepts which a student must be well-versed with. Value a company on your own using P/E or DCF model and be deep with it. Do the simple things well.

by Aditya Ahluwalia

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CFA Vs MBA

CFA vs MBA? Which is better? There have been many debates on this CFA vs MBA topic for many, many years. Is the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) status worth the time and effort to obtain it? And also, is it any better than other certifications such as the Master in Business of Administration (MBA) or the Certified Public Accountant (CPA)?

It is clear that higher education, after graduating from colleges or universities, has become a must if one wants to have good career advancement in the investment and finance fields. So for those of you who are considering a career in the investment world, you must have heard of the great debate of CFA vs MBA. Both certainly have their advantages and disadvantages. In this CFA vs MBA argument, proponents of both sides have their own valid points.

CFA vs MBA – True Value of CFA

Firstly, to really determine the true value of the CFA certification, you ought to decide whether or not your selected career path will demand a placement within a large financial company. This is because having the CFA is extremely valuable, perhaps even more valuable than the MBA quite significantly, in the eyes of employers in the finance industry. There is certainly no point getting a CFA if you do not intend on working in the financial or investment world. Please always make sure that your targeted employers value the CFA designation greatly, when compared to the MBA and CPA.

CFA vs MBA – Is MBA Easier?

Now, let us look at the MBA. The MBA, unlike the CFA, teaches the students a wide range of other non financial subjects such as business management, marketing, organizational behavior, human resources management, and strategic management. This means that the student not only will be great in the financial skills but also able to have in depth knowledge on various other topics. Although there are many subjects, the MBA is relatively simpler due to all the subjects are broken down in smaller modules.

With a MBA, one can choose to self study, do research, coursework or go for classes. On the other hand, the CFA program is purely a self-study course. Students also do not have any options to choose the subjects as they need to go through each and every given subject which are provided by the CFA Institute. On the other hand, students in the MBA program are likely able to have a range of subjects or electives that they can choose based on their preference. This means that they are able to select the subjects that they are familiar or perhaps good at. This indicates that the chances of one going through the entire MBA program are much better than the CFA.

Some experts argue that the very fact that MBA courser provide coursework to aid students, may not be able to help students to really specialize in investment or finance career.

CFA vs MBA – MBA, CFA or Both?

To attract more students to take up the CFA course, institutions have commenced to educate students on a large proportion of the CFA course within their MBA program. Some even created a “package” where students are able to study for both the MBA and a CFA concurrently. This certainly eliminates the CFA vs MBA issue! No doubt, this is most efficient way to get the best of both worlds. In short, 1 of the 2 courses will likely to propel you to success in the business world, so do not ponder too much on the CFA vs MBA matter and take action now!

by Jason T Ten

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How to Become a Chartered Financial Analyst

To become a CFA, one should pass three big exams and have large experience in profession for at least two years. Each exam is passed at one day all over the world, so the process of obtaining certificate is extended for three years. Sudden illness on the day of exam will automatically mean a delay for the whole year.
The exam registration includes the prices of the CFA textbooks. You can get a $40 discount off the total cost if you order the curriculum as an e-book. Otherwise, you can order the curriculum in hard copy format but will have to pay for the shipping and handling fees. As an example, if you enroll for the CFA Level I Exam.
Today, one can prepare for this tough exam with online study material and software programs that will help them to prepare and pass this tough exam. Internet has provided students the access to unlimited amount of information and CFA study material. Now, students look beyond the teaching provided in four walls of classroom to face the fierce competition in the field of financial analysis.
Next will be review. You have to practice and remember what you read, so best would be to take some notes during the reading sessions that you can later revisit. Along with the notes I also used a study tool called the “Financial Analyst Study Notes” for the CFA exam 1. Each of the learning objectives (LOs) from the CFA curriculum is reformatted into a question and answer there, so it’s quite handy to study and practice at the same time.
Self-assessment: the question of software and Web sites provided by the bank to help you understand and access performance. CFA candidates will have the opportunity to review and assess their effectiveness. This helps them to different objects in the strength and weakness of the curriculum CFA.
Exam candidates receive an unspecific score report as there is only a pass fail rating rather than score however the pass grade is stated at 70% but may differ and since 1989 the pass grade has been set by the Board of Governors after the exam has taken place when they review the results with help from psychometricians and each question has a minimum passing score set for it.
CFA is a managerial job where the finance person analyzes the pros and cons of investing money of the client. The certification program is conducted under CFA Institute. Tough test objective and questions are set to ensure that a CFA is competent to handle money for the best of interest for his client.

by Nichole Pattrick

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Be Aware of Distinction Between CFP And CFA

For those who tend to be inclined to make a profession in the subject regarding fund, you will discover several opportunities for that individual who is rightly qualified to become thus. Chartered Financial Specialists (CFA) and the Chartered Monetary Organizers (CFP) tend to be two of essentially the most sought after financing courses which can be undertaken through the applicants considering primary fund. Both of these are distinctive in the Mba program, where the focus can be more on the appropriate government of the organization and financial can be taught coming from that will perspective simply. CFP and CFA tend to be more specific within their program as well as content compared to Mba program.

But, considering that are both desirable, the actual prospects are usually typically uninformed of the crucial difference between these. To start along with, their particular brands tell the difference leading facie. One discounts basically along with organizing along with the various other is actually much more towards examination as well as investigation. The particular Chartered Financial Planner subject could be obtained immediately after passing the actual evaluation conducted from the Worldwide Board involving Specifications as well as Practices. They offer suggestions primarily for you to folks along with regard towards the approach the look of their budget will probably be carried out purchase to attain their own financial ambitions. That considerations mostly with the retirement organizing, investment shelling out, real-estate shelling out and other comparable strategies of monetary organizing in the degree associated with an individual. Their part is always to package adequately using the planning do without goal to reduce the actual taxes liability of the people as well regarding risk-free his or her investments.

The actual CFA will be the individual who is considered to become an expert as opposed to a new generalist, like the CFP. The actual Chartered Financial Expert title can be conferred through the Association with regard to Purchase Supervision along with Research immediately after an individual goes by the actual three tests. Their particular part can be basically of the institutional mechanic as they present the advice in order to a variety of organizations such as mutual money, insurance companies, and so on. Their particular knowledge can be of a far more particular dynamics, centering about the investment market investigation and therefore specific monetary investigation work. The crucial focus of the operate can be about the improvement along with supervision with the domain portfolios.

For anyone who is ready to do all of these courses, an individual need to find out your correct interest and inclination. You will additionally think about your own understanding associated with math, considering that in the event that it is beneficial you could choose CFA which usually needs much better understanding regarding maths. You can have the solution involving either operating on their own or perhaps seeking employment by incorporating monetary company or financial institution. If you are any CFP then a role will likely be oriented a lot more towards the coping with of the customers and also supplying their expert guidance for them. Inside case you’re a CFA, you’re a lot more prone to have a back-end task the place that the operate is actually a lot more towards handling the portfolios, seeking the opportunities in the various areas depending on the risk threshold of the clients.

Due to the fact these kinds of games could be got only after the particular due treatment regarding paying off the actual needed exams, as a result total focus shall be about clearing the particular exams and also preserving good ethical conduct as well as methods because these are generally highly appreciated in this occupation.

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