CFA® Level II Crash Course

• Ethical and Professional Standards
• Economics
• Quantitative Analysis
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Asset Valuation
• Portfolio Management

The objective of this course is to give the participants a very intensive preparation for the AIMR CFA® Level 2 examination.

 

At this course, most weight will be given to Financial Statement Analysis (25-35% weighting at the exam) and Asset Valuation (35%-45%). However, Ethics, Quantitative Methods, Corporate Finance, Economics and Portfolio Management will also be covered. Asset Valuation includes debt and equity investments, derivatives investments (forwards, futures, options, and swaps) and structured securities. The final program will very closely reflect the current curriculum. The Level II examination will consist of 50 percent essay/short answer questions or problems (morning session) and 50 percent item set/multiple choice (afternoon session). Therefore, a major objective of this crash course is to train the participants in both of these question formats. The course is designed as a number of fast-paced classroom presentations of app. 1-2 hours followed by multiple choice quizzes and short essay questions. Very useful practical guideline solutions will be provided to participants at the end of the course. Historical evidence confirms that this CFA Level 2 Crash Course significantly improves the chances of successfully passing the official examination. However, participation in this course will not by itself be sufficient preparation for the exam. It is expected that the participants have studied carefully the CFA® curriculum materials prior to this course!

 

Day One

08.30 - 08.45  Welcome and Introduction

08.45 - 12.00  Ethical and Professional Standards

• Study Session 1 + 2
  • Code of Ethics
  • Standards of Professional Conduct
  • Standards of Practice Case Book

• Small test

Investment Tools (I)

• Study Session 3
  • Quantitative Methods for Valuation

• Small test

12.00 - 13.00  Lunch

13.00 - 17.00  Investment Tools (II)

• Study Session 4
  • Economics for Valuation
• Study Session 5
  • Financial Statement Analysis: Analysis of Accounting Choices
• Study Session 6
  • Financial Statement Analysis: Global Issues
• Study Session 7
  • Financial Statement Analysis: Earnings Quality Issues and Financial Ratio Analysis

• Small test

Day Two

08.30 - 08.45  Recap

08.45 - 12.00  Investment Tools (III)

• Study Session 8
  • Corporate Finance: Capital Budgeting, Capital Structure, and Dividend Policy
• Study Session 9
  • Corporate Finance: Warrants, Convertibles, and Mergers and Acquisitions

• Small test

12.00 - 13.00  Lunch

13.00 - 17.00  Asset Valuation (I)

• Study Session 10
  • Basic Concepts
• Study Session 11
  • Equity Investments: Industry and Company Analysis
• Study Session 12
  • Equity Investments: Valuation Models
• Study Session 13
  • Equity Investments: Valuation Models and Measures of Value Added

• Small test

Day Three

08.30 - 08.45  Recap

08.45 - 12.00  Asset Valuation (II)

• Study Session 14
  • Debt Investments: Valuation Issues
• Study Session 15
  • Debt Investments: Structured Securities
• Study Session 16
  • Derivative Investments: Forwards and Futures

• Small test

12.00 - 13.00  Lunch

13.00 - 16.00  Asset Valuation (III)

• Study Session 17
  • Derivative Investments: Interest Rate Derivatives, Options, and Swaps

Portfolio Management

• Study Session 18
  • Capital Market Theory and the Portfolio Management Process

Mock Examination

Evaluation and Termination of the Course