Which are the best books for CFA? As far as study material is concerned, there is no dearth of it when it comes to your CFA Preparation. However, a wide variety of available choices can actually confuse you and make finalizing one publication to refer from a tedious process. While most reference books follow the same course outline with each of them having learning resources, practice questions, etc. the right study material can go a long way in easing the burden while you are preparing for your examination. Keep in mind that there is no one book that is the key to success, each guide has their pros and cons and it is essential to choose one which is the most suitable for you and your learning style.
The following are the best books (or study material) for the CFA Exam:
Kaplan Schweser CFA
Kaplan Schweser CFA is one of the oldest companies’ providing learning material for CFA aspirants. With over 20 years’ of experience, it is a reliable option for any candidate. It offers a variety of study material including learning resources, question banks, practice exams. The 5 volume set offered by Kaplan, popularly known as Schweser notes include everything a candidate would need to pass the CFA exam. As compared to other available options, the notes are much more concise. They are extremely useful in helping candidates process the CFA Learning Outcome Statements.
The set of books included two volumes for practice exams as well while also including Kaplan Schweser’s compact guide which can be used by students as the exam day approaches, containing concise explanations of major topics parts of the CFA curriculum as well as tips, strategies and plans to improve your exam day performance. Kasper Schweser is one of the most experienced providers in the field and its resource materials are certainly a safe starting point for all CFA aspirants who are looking for an up to date, easy to understand CFA learning material.
CFA Institute Curriculum
These volume of books are one of the most reliable sources of exam preparation. The books contain detailed and lucid explanations of concepts. It is not only a good source for exam preparation but also to clarify your concepts. This includes a 6 set volume of books covering the entire syllabus, is extremely useful for candidates who are not from a finance background due to its easy explanation and presence of relevant examples. Even though there are questions available for practice at the end of each chapter, the book set does not provide exam papers or mock tests and the curriculum books have lesser practice questions as compared to other reference books. This set of books can mainly be used for understanding the concepts.
Wiley Study Guide
With years of experience in test-prep, the Wiley CFA course material will be some of the best material you’ll find. The study guide has proven to help candidates understand, retain and master the CFA curriculum. Eventually, it helps candidates in passing the examination. Developed in collaboration with authors that have years of personal teaching experience and professional expertise, the books contain a comprehensive explanation of fundamental concepts along with in-depth examples. It helps students by providing them tips and test-taking advice throughout the text. A unique proposition about the guide is that it is colour coded which makes it easier for students to follow. It helps them in retaining important concepts and sets of financial statements.
Havels Learning System: Question Bank
A book solely for the purpose of practice and solving questions. The 2 volume book set comprises of questions based on 58 readings on which a student is tested in exams. The 2 volumes cover the entirety of the CFA curriculum and consist of more than 2400 questions available for practice. The book set even has a separate ratio formulae section and a comprehensive answer key to facilitate easy learning.
While there are a lot of reference books available in the market, the ones discussed above are the best. We measured them on the basis of their relevance, difficulty, extent of practice questions available and more. You can use E-commerce portals like Amazon or Flipkart order these books. You can also find them in bookstores that keep educational books and study materials in the city.
