Mercury Institute Sri Lanka’s only approved prep provider by CFA Institute USA

Tuesday, 13 June 2017 00:08 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Earn the most respected and recognised investment management designation in the world with Mercury

Mercury’s CFA program, which commenced in 2003, has been awarded Approved Prep Provider accreditation by the CFA Institute USA and is the only institute to hold this prestigious status in Sri Lanka and is amongst the few to do so in South East Asia. 

The teaching method adopted by lecturers who are competent and are from a CFA background follows a structured teaching method in accordance with the CFA institute’s recommended guidelines.

Additionally, Mercury’s policy of size-controlled classes provides individual attention and a one-to-one learning environment for students. The prescribed minimum of 300 learning hours for each level is conducted with an in-depth coverage of the syllabus, followed by revision at the end of each session. This time-tested high-quality program delivery method has enabled Mercury to achieve student pass rates at examinations in all three levels in line with or above global pass rates. This has enabled Mercury to obtain and maintain the Approved Prep Provider status from the CFA Institute USA. 

The CFA exams are considered to be among the toughest globally. Mercury’s presence in this domain for over a decade has made it firmly understand that students need proper guidance and coaching in order to succeed at these examinations. Thus the CFA program at Mercury is tailor-made to suit the specific learning needs of those dedicated students aspiring to become CFA charterholders.

As the most prestigious qualification in the world of investment and financial management, the CFA designation creates unlimited opportunities across borders with several top global employers such as JPMorgan Chase Bank, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup.

The qualification provides a strong foundation of real world investment analysis, portfolio management skills and practical knowledge to keep up with today’s competitive investment industry. Therefore, the CFA qualification is suited for portfolio and wealth managers, investment and research analysts, professionals involved in the investment decision-making process and finance students who want to work in the investment management profession. 

No qualification is as widely respected in the industry for its breadth of advanced and current skills, global relevance and ethical grounding as the CFA charter. And none is harder to obtain. Thus CFA charterholders have an in-depth understanding and the capacity to tailor and implement specific solutions in the investment profession.

The qualification is the professional standard of more than 31,000 investment management and financial institutions worldwide. Employers recognise that CFA charterholders have a broad investment perspective and understanding of the global marketplace. Hence, charterholders are at an upper salary scale compared to their counterparts in Wall Street.

Completing the CFA program shows that you have mastered a broad range of practical portfolio management and advanced investment analysis skills. The program consists of three levels, the completion of which signifies the mastery of a rigorous curriculum. Each level requires passing a six-hour exam, which assesses 10 specific topic areas that provide a framework for making real-world decisions in the industry. The specific topic areas include Ethical and Professional Standards, Quantitative Methods, Economics, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Corporate Finance, Equity Investments, Fixed Income, Derivatives, Alternative Investments, Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning. The program curriculum increases in complexity as you move through the three levels:

 

  • Level I: Focuses on a basic knowledge of the 10 topic areas and simple analysis using investment tools

  • Level II: Emphasises the application of investment tools and concepts with a focus on the valuation of all types of assets.

  • Level III: Focuses on synthesising all of the concepts and analytical methods in a variety of applications for effective portfolio management and wealth planning



The CFA institute does not divulge the pass mark, which is based on a non-disclosed calculation. Hence, candidates are expected to set a standard score of 70% to ensure the successful completion of the exam. This displays the intensity of the exam and the CFA Institute’s attempt to maintain the standard of the qualification. Therefore only the most dedicated complete a program that requires 1,000 hours of intense study, three six-hour exams and four years of work experience.

To further enhance the value of the qualification, the CFA institute has a strict no exemption policy. Additionally, to register for the program the minimum requirements are: a student in the final year of a bachelor’s degree program (BSc, BCom, BBA with any specialisation), an equivalent professional qualification (CIMA, ACCA, CA, CMA, etc.), four years of professional work experience or a combination of the three entry requirements.

 

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