I failed L1 in Dec 2013, then went pass-pass-pass.
Sorry, Greenie.
How is this a counter to anything greenie implied? I guess if you claim you put maximum effort into your first level one attempt your post could make sense. Is that your claim?
Not even close in hindsight, but at the time it felt like it. I didn’t know what maximum effort even *was* until I took the exam. Once I got an idea of what was required I adjusted accordingly.
bring out the HACKSAW!
Sorry you didn’t get anything out of them.
http://www.analystforum.com/forums/cfa-forums/cfa-level-iii-forum/91353300
Savage.
I passed in consecutive attempts by (likely) comfortable margins. Thanks for asking! 
A few years ago you said you’d respect my opinion once I had passed all 3 levels…sooo…
^that, I did.
Now that you have experienced the entire rite of passage, was I more right or wrong?
I can’t remember all that well. In the interest of my ego, I’d love to say you were entirely wrong, but that wouldn’t be entirely honest.
I still disagree that a double fail at Level I is automatic grounds to quit. I also disagree that Level II is much, much harder. For me, all 3 levels were fairly close. I put the most work in for Level II, but also had the widest safety margin (likely), while I put the least work in for Level III, and my Level I test was actually probably the closest I came to failing. Of course, not being in the industry makes level I tougher for me.
I do remember, around the beginning of May of Level II, thinking how I was definitely softening my stance on what you had said. Level II was a real slog. Almost 400 hours for Level II as opposed to 250 for Level III. But still, I wouldn’t put it on another level entirely from Level I.
Anyhow, on the whole I suppose I still disagree, just not very strongly. I still think it’s not right to have heuristic rules about when a person should give up. I can definitely see failing twice at Level I and then going on to pass II and III. It’s not likely, but absolutely possible imo.
So, make of that what you will. This process of “I told you so-ing” was a lot less “I told you so” and a lot less satisfying than I had imagined a few years ago, lol.
In order to be fair, when I wrote most of that, I was knee-deep in L3 studying, as opposed to having just passed. I was studying so much that I wasn’t getting to see my two year-old daughter, and my wife was seven months pregnant. The pressure to pass was enormously high. So I was in a bit of a foul mood.
It’s easier to say, “No sweat” AFTER you’ve gotten your L3 results.
Nonetheless, I’m glad you passed, and with (what seem like) less stress than I had.
I was one of those who read this thread hours after being notified of their failure. I think that this is the best thread I have read in this forum along with the one thread that explains in detail how to study for level 3. I completely agree with Greenman and like his logic. I think his advice is very valuable especially for those who underestaimate the exam committment in later levels.
Thank you Greenman for this lifetime advice.
^Wow! That’s one of the nicest things anybody has ever said to me.
And I’m glad you went on to finish the exam. I hope that my thread was, in some small way, the right “kick in the ass” you needed to get moving.
Ultimately it comes down to a) how badly you want it AND b) how much time you can give it. When I had failed level 2 twice the general consensus was that I should give up. However since I was in a point in life where I could give the time for it (unmarried looking for jobs etc) I cleared level 2 in my third attempt and cleared level 3 in my first. I do agree that those fail multiple times should reconsider if this is what they really want (some people who’ve fail a level 5 times + and are still at it)
I think it is O.K for people who spend more than 6 months and still not pass the level I exam. Some people with very limited finance background can struggle a lot with the material. I have a friend who also didn’t pass the CFA level I and he was working really hard on that. After he finish level I, he go straight to level II and pass it on first attempt. So I think it is not a big problem if you fail, just keep practicing and you will make it some day.
First time reading this thread, I understand the Greenman Vs. Level 1 candidates rivalry more than ever.
I was very upset when I read it at first. When I did level 1 again, I tried to prove you were wrong and when I did the level 3, I tried to prove to others that you were right. This thread was in my mind throughout the program and I hope that level 1 candidates take this advice seriously.
Hey GM, sorry I hurt your feelings so bad the other day. I really do feel bad about that.
You’re right that I have failed L3 twice (Band 10 both btw) but that is not relevant to your original point. You were addressing L1 failures and telling them to quit. I was not an L1 or L2 failure like yourself so I don’t know that feeling.
Your ‘told ya so’ response to my failing made no sense because I was never an L1 retaker. The only purpose was to be a di*k which is why you got the response that you did. Again, sorry if you shed a tear or something.
I wonder how many CFA charterholders have been produced for the sole purpose of spiting Greenman.
If spiting me is the motivation they need to pass, then by all means–spite away.
As much as I enjoy telling people “I told you so.”, I enjoy hearing it 10x more.
This is an eternal thread. I won’t join, I swear.