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Financial Training Solutions’ CFA prep courses prepare you for each of the exams in the CFA Program, which is set by the CFA Institute and written by candidates across the world. CFA candidates often aspire to a career in investment and portfolio management, and many already work in the field. If you want to prepare for CFA Level I, II or III, then FTS – the training organisation that offers CFA exam prep on Skillfully – will support you with superb resources, expertise and experience.

COURSE TOPICS

FTS ensures that all topics for each CFA exam are covered, including ethics, quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting & analysis, corporate finance, equity, fixed income, derivatives, alternative investments, and portfolio management. FTS aims to prepare you to answer every question in the required format by working with you though each one of the 360+ learning outcomes required by the CFA Institute.

The information here applies to candidates preparing to take exams for the CFA Institute’s updated curriculum.

CFA® PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

The CFA Program sets the global standard amongst finance professionals for investment industry knowledge. The CFA Institute – which determines the curriculum, administers the exam, and awards the charter – describes its program as a “globally recognised, graduate level curriculum that links theory and practice with real-world investment analysis and portfolio management skills.” The program focuses on portfolio management, asset valuation, financial reporting, and corporate finance.

The CFA Program consists of a series of three examinations: Levels I, II, and III. The Level I exam is offered four times per year, and Level II and III exams twice per year.

The entrance requirement for the CFA Program is to have a bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree, or to have two years or less remaining in your undergraduate (or equivalent) studies, or to have four years of professional work experience (which does not have to be investment-related).

FTS will guide you through the entire CFA Program curriculum. Classes will take you through all the important topics and drive the key concepts home to help you retain vital information. Structured, focused, and motivating: these classes are designed to help you pass the CFA Program exam – first time!

FTS partners proudly with Kaplan Schweser, the global leader in CFA exam prep material. Kaplan Schweser has constructed the most effective and comprehensive study packages in the industry, and has helped hundreds of thousands of candidates prepare for CFA Program exams. FTS and Kaplan Schweser are CFA Institute Prep Providers.

BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH FTS

FTS’s packages for 2025 all include Kaplan Schweser’s outstanding material. By working with FTS rather than purchasing directly through Kaplan Schweser, you will enjoy major benefits.

Firstly, FTS provides candidates with more than they get by buying directly from Kaplan Schweser, because FTS also includes training on pre-requisite material, and offers its own responses to any questions from candidates. The CFA instructor at FTS, Tim Davies, is highly responsive and available to assist via Zoom, phone, or email.

Secondly, FTS is very competitively priced, after shipping costs and customs duty are taken into account.

LEARNING OPTIONS

Levels I, II and III courses are offered online. For Level I there is also an in-person option.

Online classes are designed to cater for distance learning, and for students who prefer to learn from the comfort of their home, and at convenient times. The classes consist of 75 hours of training, are archived in your online account, and can be accessed at any time.

In-person classes – available for Level I only – consist of 18 lectures of 4 hours each, providing a total of 72 hours of interactive training. The venue is The Wanderers Club, 21 North Street (corner Rudd Road), Illovo, Johannesburg.

Everyone who studies with FTS receives the Schweser Masterclass OnDemand Classes, which guide you through the entire CFA Program curriculum. The classes are pre-recorded and archived in your online account, and can be accessed at any time.

All delegates also receive the Schweser Masterclass Workbooks, a 2-volume set of workbooks containing the class content presented at the in-person and online classes. The workbooks contain concise but thorough coverage of the CFA Program curriculum, examples, and practice questions to guide you through the lectures.

Everyone also receives FTS’s own material covering areas that are pre-requisite for the 2024 exams. These areas are not part of Kaplan Schweser’s offerings, but are essential for candidates to know.

SCHWESER ESSENTIAL STUDY PACKAGE

If you choose to supplement the Schweser Masterclass OnDemand Classes and Schweser Masterclass Workbooks with the Schweser Essential Study Package, you will also receive:

SchweserNotes^TM (physical books and ebooks). This 5-volume set consists of clear, exam-focused study notes and examples that cover every Learning Outcome Statement in the most effective possible way. The notes contain exam tips and strategies, end-of-reading module quizzes, topic assessments, and formula sheets.

Book 1: Quantitative Methods and Economics
Book 2: Portfolio Management (Part One) and Corporate Issuers
Book 3: Financial Statements Analysis and Equity Investments
Book 4: Fixed Income and Derivatives
Book 5: Alternative Investments, Portfolio Management (Part Two), and Ethical & Professional Standards

Module Videos. You can reference these 40+ hours of recorded videos as you are reading through your SchweserNotes^TM books to reinforce your understanding of the material. These videos are available to view at any time.

SchweserPro^TM QBank. The QBank prepares you for the CFA Program exam, with over 3,000 exam-like questions and custom quizzes, tutorial videos with detailed answer explanations, and performance metrics to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses.

CFA Institute Question Review Videos. 10+ hours of in-depth CFA videos walk you through the End-of Reading questions from the CFA Institute Program curriculum. You will get expert advice and strategies from CFA instructors as they guide you through the questions.

CFA Mock Exams 1-4. Each practice exam mimics the length, computer-based format, and difficulty of the actual CFA Program exam, and provides detailed solutions. The exams are in the same format – Computer-based test (CBT) – as the CFA Program exam.

Checkpoint exams. Three checkpoint exams assess your knowledge – at 1/3 of the way through, 2/3 of the way through, and the end of the study program. These checkpoint exams simulate the length, format, difficulty and interface of the actual CFA Program exam.

Schweser’s QuickSheet^TM. This foldable, 6-page, laminated document summarizes key formulas, definitions, and concepts for a quick review of every major topic in the CFA Program curriculum.

InstructorLink. With InstructorLink, you can ask questions, and receive answers from an instructor at any time.

Kaplan Schweser community. This is a community forum for engaging with Schweser experts and other CFA candidates to post questions, find answers, and engage in meaningful discussions throughout your studies.

Schweser’s PassProtection^TM. If you do not pass the exam, your next study package is free of charge. Terms and conditions apply.

COSTS PER OPTION

Costs depend on whether classes are taken in person or online, and whether the Schweser Essential Study Package is included or excluded.

• Online classes, incl. Schweser Essential Study Package – R14,375-R15,180 incl. VAT, depending on the Level
• Online class, excl. Schweser Essential Study Package – R9,775 incl. VAT for any Level
• Weekly in-person classes, incl. Schweser Essential Study Package (Level 1 only) – R17,825 incl. VAT
• Weekly in-person class, excl. Schweser Essential Study Package  (Level I only) – R13,225 incl. VAT

Flexible payment options are available by arrangement. Please contact Skillfully for further information.

Prices do not include CFA Institute registration and exam fees. You’ll need to register on the CFA Institute website (www.cfainstitute.org), and pay registration and exam fees to the Institute.