Study Strategy for CFA Candidates That Work Full Time

REQUIRED DISCLAIMER: CFA Institute does not endorse, promote, or warrant the accuracy or quality of the products or services offered by Mark Meldrum. CFA ® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

[@lioneljabumunemo3309]

often times I hear people say to succeed in life you must have a role model...my search is over!

[@aitbek22]

Professor, Thank you for not having monotonic voice and keeping us motivated and entertained sometimes. It's hard to comprehend the level of your influence throughout the world, and I am only one of the guys who watch your videos, but you sir are making a world a little better place by doing this.

[@livinindubai]

you remeber the video where Mark ranted about a bike-dude? man i'd love to hear it agian haha

[@nabilk2455]

My favourite part so far is hearing MM rant about technical analysts and describing them as neckbeards who don't shower

[@xiaofeixue7001]

Thanks Professor Meldrum. You taught me how to learn!

[@orhanburakerdinc38]

I am listeining to this while working and its been a great motivation for and even made my day. Thank you a lot Mark

[@gesalbte]

Best lesson I've ever had, professor!

[@georgekush349]

You’re the GOAT for this! Thank you for saving me so much time

[@pandalanhukuk804]

That should be a class in university. :D

[@beyondmaster]

You are great! Will get your study notes as support and as a thank you later on!

[@gopalsatheesh1]

Prof Mark, Listening to your video trying to figure how to perpare for CFA Level1 was indeed great. Hats off to you. Makes very good sense.

[@andielovespizza8971]

satheesh kumar could you tell me your CFA journey after 10th grade?

[@abhishekpal1111]

@@andielovespizza8971 he applied for CFA level 1 when he born.

[@VarunVargheseMuriyanat]

This is a life saver. Thank you so much Mark

[@kaueoliveira1660]

Thanks for the content! Congratulations for the proactivity!

[@omarmahmoud9179]

you're actually the greatest professor! making the CFA like a peace of cake "and i do not mean it's that but i mean you're motivating and giving us hope that it's not impossible" keep it up, wishing you well and a continuing good health

[@sumantsourabh7832]

It's the single most important KZbin video I have ever seen on how to study effectively... Hats off you you Sir Mr Meldrum.

[@PritamSahaWow]

This is great! Thanks for this lecture. :) Now I understand where all went wrong. I was busy making my own notes and that all consumed my very valuable time.

[@gregoryhristov]

I have to reconsider my entire approach, completely. It turns out that l do everything contrary to what you've said. And this totally makes sense. New begging for me. I will stick to this approach 100% . Thank you,sir ! I am looking forward to 22!

[@joseemiliovalverdedomingue4831]

Did you pass?

[@nqvietanh343]

You got the point. I should have changed my way of studying cfa to your suggestions years ago. Thank you!

[@pooja.goldensunrise]

I had been average; in all my students life... I followed first two ways of learning. Making notes and memorising later.. Wow Mark, never thought how reinforcement can turn u into a super genious . Never known, learning this great way. Thank u so much mark..glad to have found you. Thank u universe 🙏💕🙏

[@SahajPS]

It's the traditional indian way of rote learning. What exactly did we learn at schools? Most of our time was spent on completing notebooks and lining them up for submission. In the name of learning, all we ever did was clerical work. There is no need for 7 hour schools since majority of your time is spent writing down crap in notebooks

[@abeed6690]

Very Practical ! Thank you Mark .

[@donranabs4048]

This is great, I never thought that I had to analyze how I learn, and truthfully the administrative part is probably 60% for me, I'm a slow reader :-P

[@yihaozhou4313]

I bought Mark's video and they are SUPER HELPFUL!! He can charge it for triple the price and I'll still buy it for real.

[@RahulGupta2013]

Thankyou so much sir for Level 1 videos.. It was of great help.

[@anuradhabelgaonkar7273]

Prof. Meldrum can't thank you enough. I just bought the pdf notes for free. You are a true star. Can't believe i got all material for free. Thank you for taking so much of efforts & providing these absolutely free. Huge respect to you.

[@tuttinmissy]

Gold as usual Professor! Waiting for the 24th get LVL 1 Results.

[@PareshTayade]

Eye opener! Thank you Sir!!

[@debashreemishra895]

I'm dealing with the same problem huh... thanks for the info

[@kwameodoom1305]

Thanks for the advice. I'm gonna use the strategy

[@AmanYadav-dd3zc]

Thanks Professor, very thoughtful advice

[@jacobparker88]

This video is the best combination of effective marketing and providing immediate value to viewers that I have witnessed. Absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much for the amount of time you have saved. I actually enjoy watching your videos.

[@ikenza4906]

Great help. Thanks

[@hamzakhattak1097]

Mark I can agree with that highlighting part as whenever I do the highlighting or underlining, there is never enough time to going back to that text. Although I am studying something else but there is so much to relate here.

[@amatelrahman100]

Thank You :) You're amazing!

[@arnoldwillie1528]

this is going to save me so much time, thank you

[@riezkylaksmana8665]

Thank you Professor!

[@roym9808]

Mark, This video has helped to change my beliefs on "how to study effectively" . I cannot thank you enough . Pass or fail this weekend, I've gained skills to add effective value further down the road. Thanks!

[@MsSucka]

Did you pass?

[@miguelfialho6504]

Love this!!

[@justhuman1225]

you are a passionate teacher. I loved every bit of your video and got the guidance that's needed. Thanks Sir

[@YashShah-wf6zx]

wow i have now realized that i was wasting so much time doing the unimportant stuff. Thank you MM!

[@FarChu215]

Visual conceptualization is the best way to go. Studying for the CFA level 1 exam while getting my PhD in Biotechnology with an additional focus on Bioinformatics. The only way to learn diverse disciplines is visual conceptualization.

[@kelsieornelas448]

Hi Mark -- Thank you again for putting in all the time to make these helpful videos. I was curious if purchasing the question sets can be bought separately if I already took notes from your videos. Thanks!

[@MarkMeldrum]

The way i am doing it is to put them into the notes at various places to signal that it is time to do problems. so they won't be available outside of the Notes.

[@lindan1727]

great video!

[@bkassymov6222]

Hello, Mark. Thank you for your great work, it's unbelievable. Are there free materials for the Dec '18 exam?

[@abcnikhiltripathi]

They (Professor) are very admirable.

[@saptarshisengupta9114]

Exactly what i needed..

[@lightyagami3160]

Hey Professor! Great advice!! Never thought of learning this way. Can I know how I can get access to these notes?

[@sticksandwater21]

Hi Mark! I'm new to your channel. I've been impressed by the way you break things down into new perspectives. I was just wondering if you still recommend reading the entire CFA curriculum even if I buy your notes/videos? Hope to hear from you soon.

[@MarkMeldrum]

I recommend it yes - however, you can move it from 'necessary' to 'recommended'.

[@danielgutierrez9452]

@@MarkMeldrum So would it be like reading the notes, and at the end of chapters use your questions and videos? Thanks in advance

[@xuqhmichael]

Awesome this is what i need

[@romaman892002]

I like this video, straight to the points that matter. This comment was made 3 minutes into the video.

[@jalalSali]

Hi Mark, Thanks very much for these videos! I work full time and have been finding strategies to learn more in a short period of time. Was wondering where i can find the related reinforcement (problem-solving exercises) of each reading. I would love to watch your videos of a reading, read notes and then do the problem solving before i move to next reading? Does your website have that? And, does the way i am thinking to prepare make sense to you?

[@trungvocfa]

thank you very much :)

[@alextishko3361]

Hi there, thank you for the video. Could you give an example or two of useful “functional learning”?

[@arashrabie7873]

ok,thank you

[@jaciwachira]

I'm going to try this

[@prashant4695]

Thank you 🙇 soo much sir this knowledge you are sharing price less

[@jessekapito9911]

Hey Mark, thank you for all you do. I am beginning to study for Level II and was wondering if you post reviews of each topic on KZbin. If not, I would certainly pay. Just want to make sure.

[@MarkMeldrum]

Level 2 and 3 are at MarkMeldrum.com

[@royjacob5203]

hello mark great job! your work has made cfa not looking like a monster. from where do I get the ethics podcast.

[@MarkMeldrum]

markmeldrum.selz.com/categories/all Level 1 items are on page 2

[@fawaz84]

Many thanks 🙏🏻

[@desertrose89]

"doing problems till you're dead" lol

[@HG51_]

Javeria A a one liner for how you get the CFA, problems, problems, problems

[@mariae4123]

looooooooooooooooollllllll

[@kartikchaudhary2233]

Mark if you can do a caveat video for do's and don'ts that will be helpful. Thanky in Advance

[@prashant4695]

Thanks

[@ashugurtoo4835]

Thanks Mark.... 😊🙏

[@carlosarmiento359]

Hi Mark, thank you for preparing this video. Will you be able to share a direct link to your notes for level 1 June 2018? Looking forward to your response, thanks once again!

[@jokamcy443]

Hi Mark, thanks for all the great insight from your videos. Definitely helps a lot with the studying. I purchased one set of notes on Jan 19th and see that the payment posted to my card on Jan 20th, yet I haven't received the notes. What is the normal time frame to receive them after purchase?

[@MarkMeldrum]

You bought through Gumroad. They would have sent you a purchase confirmation. In that e-mail was a download link. Check your e-mail (deleted message and spam folder). I will send you a test e-mail to ensure that the e-mail you gave Gumroad was in fact your real e-mail. Simply respond 'Yes" if you get it.

[@shanemacnamara207]

Hi Mark, Your videos are great, thanks a million. The notes you supply, are they just the notes you would see in your videos or are they broken down into a bit more detail? Thanks, Shane

[@MarkMeldrum]

They are exactly what is written on the screen - you add the extra detail as i talk, if you need it. It saves you the time of making your own notes.

[@amirsadsale1447]

Thank you

[@eternalflame1258]

Recently registered for my level 1 . Hoping to ace it 🤛🏼

[@waleed.junaidy]

Hello SIr Mark, You mentioned in your video that do 30 mins video and 1 hour practice in that ratio but my question is the topics that we have covered in the half hour from where would we just get the specific topical qustions for that 30 mins of video only? suppose we have not covered a certain topic and that qustion shows up in the questions and that topic is in the next 30 mins of video how would we proceeed and furthermore how can we distinguish that qustion from the other ones?

[@supertuber781]

Hello everybody. Great video. I have got one issue and it may concern thousands of persons when working (and whatever the first studying strategy in place is and the time we have) is what anglo-saxons call "metawork" I think (organizing, planning, changing its method, looking for other sources of information...) That is to say spending time dedicated to work but not really working! I have burnt many hours during my previous exams with that problem. If one day, you have time to give some precious tips to avoid losing time with that useless work, it woul be welcome. ;-) Regards.

[@itshassanmahmood]

All right so there are readings that have lots of theory and literature in them. What do you suggest for those? Do I use the same technique?

[@motivatiadja]

Thanks for sharing this, its really useful :) Now I realize that where I was making mistake , thanks again

[@zhanibekgabdushev457]

Hello Mark! I would like to thank you for your videos. I passed CFA level 1 in Dec 2018. Initially I was making notes and highlighting electronic books. But luckily I found this video and decided to follow your strategy! and it worked!!!! thank you so much! I just have one question. Does this strategy work for CFA Level 2?

[@NANCYYANANZHAO]

Hi Zhanibek, may I get your suggestion on how to "watch the videos for half an hour and do the problems for 1 hr"? Did you do the problems by selecting specific los? Congrats on passing level 1 again!

[@saketgaikwad3561]

Honestly this video is not only apt for CFA but also for other finance related exams.

[@chbun2013]

Thank you Mark! Quick question: if the level 1 videos are free on KZbin, what is the difference between the video packages available on your website and the free videos?

[@MarkMeldrum]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKevdHqLo9eUlaM

[@chibuzornwankwo7231]

Hi Mark, I work full time in a Bank. I studied for Dec Level 1 on my own but didn't make it through (was on band 10). That's the first time in my life that I had to resit and exam. After getting through the hurt, I want to prepare for the 2017 Dec. When is the best time to start and how do i get your materials?

[@MarkMeldrum]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKG5l4CgmqeDp5I Video Notes here: markmeldrum.selz.com/categories/all

[@alantan9863]

Hey, you're 1 step away. Go and resit.

[@LiquidityProd]

After downloading CFAI onto my Kobo/kindle.. I was excited to read the text like a 'book'. After I checking reddit for others opinions on whether reading CFAI text was efficient someone kindly linked this video. I am so grateful. This video summarized my beliefs and experience from past learning. Thank you Mark Meldrum.

[@MRJT2006]

i took notes for this video :D

[@siddharthsingh3561]

Hello Mark, I am working full time, i must say your way of teaching is impressive. Can you let me know how can i get your notes that you are talking about in your video

[@bolsadedinheiro1727]

Great videos as aways. Where can I buy the notes that you mentioned? Couldnt find anywhere on your site

[@kevinassang3158]

It looks like i was doing the wrong thing ahaha. Thank you sir i will definetely use your approach To prepare the CFA 2018 level 1. even for my major in financial management i think the same approach will be very useful, right?

[@mankuuuu]

Hey Mark, First of all a big big thanks for providing such lucid videos.I am employed full time in IT with no prior background in Finance. I am aiming at Dec L-1. Should i be requiring to put more effort or this strategy will take me through.

[@MarkMeldrum]

This will get you through. Having an IT background I am assuming that you have been through Quantitative courses (abstract math, logic, calculus). Those are just more pure versions of the applied quant you will find in CFA.

[@mankuuuu]

Thanks for the prompt reply... Yes i am comfortable in Quant part. Boarding in the journey of CFA, thanks to you ..

[@Shivastorm88]

Mark, my biggest issue with the CFA is that I've always had it easy at school. Never really had to study or do homework to understand stuff, including through my BBA and my Masters. However, I do realise the CFA is a different beast altogether. My question for you is how do you recommend I actually tackle problems? Let's say I don't have the answer, should I try to guess to the best of my knowledge, then look at the answer to see if I got it right/wrong, and understand how to get the answer? Or should I go back to the curriculum and figure out how to get to the answer, and then apply it to the problem?

[@Shivastorm88]

Also, by now I've been through the reading twice. Once through Schweser study material to get a high-level understanding, and once through the CFA material (what can I say, long-distance relationship gives me a looooot of free time!) Do you believe there's even a point to go through the readings a third time at this point? Thanks!

[@MarkMeldrum]

Well, if you are guessing then you don't understand the concept. If you are giving it your best shot and still coming up short, see how it is supposed to be done. Then ask yourself, do you see where you went wrong? Do you understand what you missed? Or were you way off? Its an unfortunate truism in life that we learn more from our mistakes than from our successes. So to be really smart we have to make a lot of mistakes. That means if the questions are too easy, you need harder ones. If the questions are too hard, then you are on the right path.

[@MarkMeldrum]

As the video pointed out - re-reading is a poor study strategy. Try this - watch some of my videos for a whole reading, then read the CFA text. I am sure that while you are reading, the speed at which you can read will be increased dramatically. There will be no/little need to stop for understanding. You will find that you may not even need Schweser.

[@Shivastorm88]

Thanks for the quick reply!

[@user-tg7ei6tb9x]

@@MarkMeldrumamazing stuff and so inspirational you are Mark. Can I ask this then, is there any point in reading the CFA study books at all ? Usually one “thinks” the way to study is to read the book from cover to cover as a starter,but your expert opinion makes one think no need for reading books, maybe only checking back if unsure once done videos and tests ? Thanks sir

[@accatutoraliarwama2758]

Thank you sir

[@matthewlittler8387]

I wish I had found this last year when I started studying for the August 2021 exam. I am using your course for the November 2022 exam and noticed that the study planner has the ratio of reading/videos to EOCQ/q-bank reversed from what you suggest in this video. Am I misunderstanding something?

[@307platinum]

Mark, I've been watching your videos and notes for Micro and they have been extremely helpful, thanks. Just wondering, if I were to read the Kaplan text as opposed to that provided by the CFA, would I be able to still follow along with your videos?

[@MarkMeldrum]

I see no reason why not. Their text should also follow very closely with CFA material.

[@307platinum]

Mark Meldrum Thank you for your swift reply! Got it.

[@ZP08]

Mark, can you pls advise what the best way to incorporate your lecture Notes into our study regimen is? Should we use your notes on an as needed basis only? Or would you suggest reading the notes in entirety in conjunction with the videos? Before/after?

[@LostBunga]

Sounds like a plan. May I ask where I can purchase the level 2 notes?

[@MarkMeldrum]

markmeldrum.selz.com/categories/all

[@duncry79]

I did all the most ineffective methods. I had taken level 1 for 4 times and I had hit a band 10 on the latest attempt. Now I know that is because I had done shit and waste so much time. I waste months making my own notes and I really think I improve the understanding. Now, I am going to hit the functional and reinforcement strategies with so much effort, the likes of which the world had never seen before.

[@MarkMeldrum]

Welcome to the fight, young Jedi.

[@emanuelcandelario1825]

Wow!!!! JUST WOW!!! Thanks Mark! Great Video!

[@emanuelcandelario1825]

Wish I would have saw this a year ago!

[@priyasachdev3836]

Notes taking keeps connected/Concentrated

[@ngoccuongnguyen3206]

Trillion thanks, Mark. You are amazing :-)

[@kanimetisabekov4923]

Hi Mark! I started my preparation from mid February. I work full-time and can dedicate max 4 hours a day for preparation. I have a question: is it enough just to watch your videos and do problems without reading any material (Schweser for example) ? If not how can i allocate my 4 hours at the most effecient way?

[@MarkMeldrum]

If you can solve the problems, if you can understand without the need to read, then do what works for you.

[@LewisRobinson828]

Hi Mark. Lewis here. I bought ur CFAL1 package. Right now im contemplating my whole approach since i am note digitally note taking. So in this video, are u strongly suggesting to just watch ur videos, refer to your notes, and do most of the studying on application?

[@mohdalfaaz5688]

You are just awesome sir. your video really helpful. I would really wanna thank you from the core of my heart that I could able to finish my curriculum today ; 2 months before exam just because of your video even though I am full time working.. I did buy your videos note for big section like FRA, and this way of study is really great. I would like to know the strategy for those who are done with entire curriculum and wanna to review. shouldIi review everything one again in the month of April and keep entire May month for practice questions and mock exam or i should just jump to mocks and practice questions first..

[@MarkMeldrum]

Hit the questions....

[@mohdalfaaz5688]

Thank you Sir.. You are the best.

[@innovationst403]

9:30 Hi Mark, when you suggest 30 minutes of reading into 1 hour of questions, how does that work when the EOC questions and Qbanks typically test the entire section? Wouldn't you have to watch an entire reading video in order to complete the questions?

[@TreasureXsu]

Hi Dr. Mark and thank you, My question is how long is the total hours of all your CFA level one videos? Are ones here on KZbin all I need, or are there any else where?

[@MarkMeldrum]

All L1 are here on KZbin for free. At regular speed, they total about 120 hours. However, you can watch them at 1.5 speed and that bring it down to 80 hours.

[@BookinablinkByBallage]

Mr Meldrum, thank you for your very valuable advises, i went to your website but i couldn't find the notes you spoke about in this video, they're only included in the 3rd December 2018 full package ! would you please show me how to purchase the notes of June 2019 when they're available ? thank you Sir.

[@MarkMeldrum]

The 2019 notes will be available from my site beginning August 15 for the 2019 season.

[@liwen4736]

like a hammer hitting my head!

[@gracieliu5975]

Hi Mark, thank you so much for those great videos, I passed the Dec exam. I have a question for you. Because I work full time, so I decided to take level two exam in 2018 so I can have enough time to prepare. But I also want to start learning level two soon. Just wondering, is it ok to follow your videos for the 2017 exam? I'm not sure if you will also do 2018 level 2 videos and not sure when it will become available online. I understand that every year there won't be much changes in the curriculums, if you will do 2018 level two videos, will you start from the beginning and create brand new videos, or just simply add/ delete the videos using the ones you made for 2017 please? Thank you!

[@MarkMeldrum]

To update to 2018, I will redo just those LOS and reading that have changed. I keep all the raw data files, so adding in and taking out sections, and then recompiling the files is straightforward. takes about 6 weeks to update all files. 2018 will be out late July so I will be done by early September.

[@gracieliu5975]

Mark Meldrum thank you so much, Mark! I'll subscribe to the 2017 videos first.

[@35mmlove_eric]

Hi Mark, how do I watch 30 mins of video and do 60 mins of questions when the end of chapter quizzes cover everything? wouldn't I need targeted questions for the readings/videos I've just completed? Worth doing selected sections of the mock exams or better to save them to really mock the exam?

[@MarkMeldrum]

I would save the mock exams. We are adding questions everyday to the markmeldrum.com site. So after each reading there is a quiz generator that gives you quizzes 10 questions at a time, over and over. There are the end of reading questions. In the Video Notes for FRA, Quant and Fixed Income I have added another 200-300 questions by reading. Don't forget some of your undergrad textbooks on the same subjects.

[@NANCYYANANZHAO]

@@MarkMeldrum Hi Mark, very useful tips. I am using the Kaplan Schweser notes to compliment your videos. In another study strategy seminar you mentioned that it doesn't matter whether we read the text first or watch your video first, as long as we do both. My question is: when reading the text, is it recommended to read for short period too? Should I go to your video immediately after reading? How should I combine these two sources with the questions? Thanks!

[@thiagodiniz8216]

Dr. What is your opnion about one day off per week to take a rest? I

[@fahimistihadanik1495]

Is this study material still relevant for the year 2023?