Are videos a good way to learn for level 3?

CFA Level III
#1

I know many of you are stressed out, waiting for results - so excuse me for this post. But, if we have a few folks willing to share their experience, that would be great.

My question is whether you think videos are a good way to learn the content for level 3? I used Elan videos for level 2 and I thought they were super useful. I am a somewhat visual learner and I found the videos helped me interact with the material more. Just reading leads to a bit of drift for me, eventually.

So, while i have read the multiple posts here saying “stick to CFAI material”… my question is from a learning perspective, did any of you find videos helpful. If so, which ones? Seems like Scwheser is the main option for level 3?

Good luck to those of you that are waiting for your results.

#2

After going through Level 1 and Level 2, I am sure you know one thing at the end near the exam time you feel: all I need to know is less not all. Since you wont be able to retain all.

What that less u need to know is your personal call.

I failed in my first attempt in 2014 level 3 exams. I went thru CFA Institute books only in 2014.

But, for 2015, I purchased Irfanullah videos. I understood everything from his videos. I solved EOC and examples and his questions (at the end). In 2015, I did not spend time on reading readings from CFA Institute boooks. Unless I had some big issues. Tht was very rare.

One reason cud be I have already the CFA books in 2014. So I was comfortable with just his videos.

Waiting for results.

Decide at beginning what less information you need to recollect. Just believe in that. I did this strategy.

I want to see how I perform now in 2015.

This is my opinion and I may be wrong. And everyone is different. Everybody needs their own style and strategy to solve any issue.

#3

Haven’t passed yet, but in my view, yes. I used videos as part of the mix for level 2 and 3.

Definitely helps if you are stuck on a concept or a calc.

My experience was that I would work for 12 hours a day then I would start to study (obviously tired and unmotivated).

Listening to a dude tell you what’s happening was probably the only way I was going to absorb anything.

I would make sure you do the EOC questions before you progress to the next SS, regardless of whether you use a study guide, CFAI or videos.

#4

It depends on the quality of the videos, and the type of learner you are.

Good quality videos can help if you learn well by seeing and hearing.

For those who learn best by reading, even good quality videos may be only of marginal benefit (primarily when they explain things clearly that aren’t explained clearly in the text). Similarly for tactile learners.

#5

I am a visual learner too. What I did was watch the IFT video then do the EOC questions…if there were any questions that I wasn’t able to do I would dip into the curriculum… I went through all of the material twice this way…I felt by the end if it I was comfortable with the material. If I fail the exam it will be because of poor time management in the am.

#6

IFT vs Schweser videos?

IFT is half the price of Schweser, but I’ve seen many posts commenting on the high quality of Schweser

#7

I used Kaplan videos for L1 and L2, and made a huge difference. Definitely going for videos for L3… Andy Holmes is da man!

#8

Kaplan it is! Heard plenty of good about Andrew Holmes…

#9

I used IFT videos for L2 and L3 and passed on first try… worth it

#10

I hardly used videos except for GIPS which was very well organized. Otherwise going theough the cfai readings on GIPS is too tiring and one temds to lost in details…other than that i stick mostly to cfai books, Fin Quiz material. Level 3 is a different beast and i would say you need to get your hands soild on practise and concise understanding of topics. Just using one method of studying will not help much.

#11

I used kaplan videos by the way

#12

While I have used IFT videos, Schweser and refer a lot to David Harper and Khan academy; I found that there is no single source which is the best in all (just what S2000 said above).

For Fixed income, I always found Arif very good… (IFT).

For IPS - suggest you watch David Heatherington videos for sure. He is a tutor in Schweser, completely out of the world for me. A very good teacher as well.

Sigh, if only Peter Olinto was there for L3!!!

#13

http://financialexamhelp123.com/

No videos, but an excellent resource.

#14

Well, I think my signature summarizes what I think of the videos. “Andy Holmes, the man that brings it home” would both be a cool and factual slogan.He is excellent and provides good context, highlights common mistakes, the type of valuable info that simply reading will not provide. Kaplan videos are not a substitute for the readings by any chance but a good complement and a great reviewing method IMO.

#15

I doubt Andy Holmes will be on any of the L3 videos. It’s likely going to be mostly Dave Hetherington again.

#16

https://sites.google.com/site/cfalevel3examprep/home

best study guide ever. your welcome. donate money to him. blow his website up.

material is succint, funny, and logical. addresses the hard isuses.

#17

I have used Schweser at both Level I and Level II. Andy Holmes was a big help in Level II and its too bad he willl not be teaching the Level III videos but Im sure whoever teaches it will do a good job

#18

Unless he’s suddenly changed his long-standing policy, Andy doesn’t teach Level III.

#19

Why do you discount me by 90%?

#20

Super helpful views everyone; thank you!

Probably difficult to answer who has the best videos, since i imagine almost nobody buys multiple sets - but, since I am leaning towards Schweser: does anyone who used Schweser have any thoughts on how well they cover the material? I really found Elan incredibly useful for level 2; so if anyone can point to what’s closest to that in terms of sttyle, that would be awesome.

Thanks again!