What have you learned after all these exams?

CFA General
#1
  • I’m more emotionally immune to market movements especially when it comes to my personal portfolio - I’m able to appreciate the market on a longer term perspective - I’m more willing to reflect on the mistakes I made in the past and improve my reasoning/convictions - I am far more skeptical on 3rd party reports than before - I find myself more interested in explaining to others how financial products work and why specific events happen in the market - I reread certain books after the exams and developed a deeper understanding of them (E.g. the Joel Greenblatt ones are great) - I care about friends and family more - I have lost weight and have been hitting the gym a lot more - I feel better about myself What did you learn?
#2

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts” - Rahul Roy

#3

Discipline and persistence. The exam material that covered the discipline I work in was pretty basic. I’m already forgetting about much of the rest. But the rigorous process I underwent to achieve success, I’ll never forget, and I fully intend to use that as a blueprint towards my other goals.

#4

That knowing is half the battle.

#GIJoe

#5

I learned that I spent way too much cheddar going out on weekends (saved way more while studying).

#6

I leanrned that first you get the money, then you get the power, then you get the respect (its the key to life)

#7

^ what part of the exam taught you that?

#8

^Ethics

#9

Serious answer here. I actually enjoy reading a lot more now. I never really read any books except for school before. But after reading the entire level 2 and 3 curriculum, I find that I read books a lot faster and that has increased my desire to read more.

#10

I learned that the Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.

#11

I can relate to that. Especially when researching or reading specialized books/publications on a subject I read like 200-300 pages in one sitting.

#12

I have learned that even if I have utterly failed in life, I probably will hate my life just a little less than some of those CFA exam proctors.

#13

Do you hate your life less than the proctors hate their lives, or less than you hate the proctors?

#14

I feel as if there’s a story behind this comment.

#15

Pray tell. This is what AF is about.

#16

That’s good to hear. My experience was the opposite. Before the CFA, I would go to the public library and try to read a book a week. After the CFA, then CAIA, I have barely read outside of work. I need to get back on it.

#17

I’ve learned the major benefit of being a charterholder is the help it provides when connecting with strangers who’ve shared the agony. it’s the 1 thing we have in common.

#18

My BS meter when it comes to people discussing the financial markets has grown 10-fold.

#19

I am now can achieve superior performance to non-CFAs.

#20

To hate the cabdriver is to hate yourself. This was quizee but I think he is more Jesus than most out here. And I have started to seriously drink a different Italian red every other day. They know their wine, the bloody Italians.