Category: Article

In the dynamic and competitive field of finance, pursuing a professional certification is a strategic move to enhance your knowledge, skills, and career prospects. While there are several finance certifications available, the CFA Certification stands out as one of the most prestigious. In this article, we’ll compare the CFA program with other prominent finance certifications, highlighting the differences and helping you make an informed decision based on your career goals.

• CFA Program Overview:
  The CFA program is a globally recognized qualification offered by the CFA Institute. It is renowned for its rigorous curriculum, comprehensive coverage of investment topics, and emphasis on ethics. The program consists of three levels and requires passing exams for each level.
 
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA):
  The CPA certification focuses on accounting and financial reporting. It is essential for professionals in auditing, taxation, and financial accounting roles. While CPA covers accounting regulations and laws, the CFA program emphasizes investment analysis and portfolio management.
 
• Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA):
  The CAIA designation is suitable for those interested in alternative investments such as hedge funds, private equity, and real assets. While the CFA program provides a broader view of investment management, CAIA is specialized in alternative investments.
 
• Financial Risk Manager (FRM):
  The FRM designation is designed for professionals specializing in risk management, including credit risk, market risk, and operational risk. While the CFA program covers risk management as well, FRM delves deeper into risk analysis and mitigation strategies.
 
• Chartered Financial Planner (CFP):
  The CFP designation is geared towards financial planning and wealth management. It focuses on personal financial planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and taxation. CFA, on the other hand, is more investment-centric.
 
• Investment Banking Certifications (e.g., Series 7, Series 79):
  Investment banking certifications, like the Series 7 and Series 79, are required for specific regulatory purposes in the United States. These certifications are necessary for professionals engaging in securities trading and investment banking activities, whereas the CFA program offers a broader investment knowledge base.
 
• Key Differences:
• Breadth vs. Specialization: The CFA program covers a wide range of investment topics, while other certifications tend to specialize in specific areas.
• Global Recognition: The CFA program is recognized worldwide and is highly regarded by employers in the finance industry.
• Exam Structure: The CFA program consists of three levels of exams, while other certifications may have varying exam structures.
• Ethical Emphasis: The CFA program places a strong emphasis on ethics, making it a valuable asset for maintaining ethical standards in the finance industry.
 
• Choosing the Right Certification:
  Consider your career goals, interests, and strengths when choosing a certification. If you’re interested in a comprehensive investment education with a global reputation, the CFA program may be the best fit. For specialized areas such as risk management, alternative investments, or financial planning, other certifications may be more suitable.

Selecting the right finance certification is a critical decision that can significantly impact your career trajectory. The CFA program stands out for its comprehensive curriculum, global recognition, and emphasis on ethics. However, other certifications offer specialized knowledge in areas like accounting, risk management, and financial planning. Assess your career aspirations, strengths, and interests to make an informed choice that aligns with your professional goals. Regardless of the certification you pursue, continuous learning and commitment to excellence will undoubtedly contribute to your success in the dynamic world of finance.

At Kaplan  we provide CFA  training for all levels of the CFA exam.  This training is available in classroom and online formats to suit your studying style. Studying with us will provide you with opportunity to learn from experienced CFA Charter holder trainers, benefit from valuable CFA Schweser study materials and resources, and receive unparalleled student support. Contact us today to know more about this program.

This is the first in a three-part series of articles focusing on the significant benefits that investing in an effective CFA learning program can have for your organization and employees.

• Part 1: Benefits to Your Organization
• Part 2: Benefits to Your Employees
• Part 3: Critical Elements of a Successful CFA Learning Program

Achieving the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a crowning achievement for many finance professionals. It demonstrates several key qualities that employers value:

• a high level of expertise in investment analysis and asset management
• the dedication necessary to successfully complete a rigorous program
• a high ethical grounding

As such, it remains popular among aspiring finance professionals, as well as the organizations that hire them.

The drawback is that earning the CFA designation is a challenging process spanning multiple years. The relatively low pass rates on the CFA exams confirm just how hard the CFA exams are. Furthermore, most candidates pursuing the CFA Charter are already in the workforce, which further complicates the preparation process.

Employers that recognize and support employees as they pursue the CFA charter, stand to realize tangible benefits. Offering access to an effective CFA exam prep program complemented by support from your organization in the form of mentorships, work flexibility, and tuition reimbursement can benefit your organization in multiple ways:

• Increase company loyalty and improve retention
• Enhance your organization’s competitiveness
• Lower exam and tuition costs

 
Increasing Company Loyalty and Improve Retention

It’s no secret that companies are concerned about employee retention. According to LinkedIn Learning’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report, 93% of organizations worry about retention. In this report, Van Ton-Quinlivan, Futuro Health CEO, divulges “Everyone wants experienced workers but lacks the capacity to train the new folks, so they are stealing talent from each other. We need to figure out a way to break this cycle — and that includes investing in the training capacity to grow brand new workers.”

When you invest in your team members, they feel valued, creating loyalty that results in lower turnover and improved job performance. In a tight labor market where skilled professionals freely migrate from company to company, investing in your employees is a deeply personal benefit that keeps motivation high. Formal training programs, tuition reimbursement programs, and associated internal support are being successfully employed by many companies to attract, retain, and upskill high-performing employees.

A recent survey from Strategic Education, Inc. found that 76% of respondents, who said their current employer offers tuition benefits, indicated that they felt valued by their current employer. Taking that one step further, providing key employees with educational opportunities, such as a CFA learning program aligned directly with their career aspirations and your organization’s talent needs, is known to provide dividends in the form of increased expertise and employee retention.

Learn How Kaplan Schweser’s Corporate Programs Can Benefit Your Team and Organization

Enhancing Your Organization’s Competitiveness

Organizations that offer an effective CFA exam prep program help increase your firm’s competitiveness by developing employees into skilled professionals, strengthening your organization’s talent, accelerating productivity, and enhancing your organization’s credibility and reputation.

Addressing Skill Gaps and Strengthen Your Organization’s Talent
A recent McKinsey & Company survey found that “87 percent of executives said they were experiencing skill gaps in the workforce or expected them within a few years.” With respect to the financial services industry, a PwC study indicated that a large majority of CEOs ‘see a skills gap emerging because of a deficit in the supply of skilled workers.”

The same PwC study indicates that those same CEOs saw “significant retraining or upskilling their current workforce as their main approach to closing this skills gap.” So instead of competing for talent, you’re investing in talent internally.

Enhancing your organization’s credibility and reputation

There is a high regard for CFA charterholders globally, and having charterholders on your staff enhances your organization’s credibility. It is a testament that your team has proven skills and knowledge to positively impact the bottom line. It also demonstrates that your organization is committed to superior professionalism and a strong work ethic, traits that resonate with clients. It helps earn their trust that your organization has the capabilities to successfully meet their needs.

Lowering Exam and Tuition Costs

CFA Program registration fees for the 2024 CFA exam season are on the rise. CFA Institute is increasing its early registration to $940, while standard registration is increasing to $1,250. With historical average pass rates hovering between 41% for the Level I exam and 55% for the Level III exam, exam fees alone can quickly add up. And if an employee fails, as most people do at least once along the way, registration fees alone can be an expensive proposition.

Furthermore, the cost of failure is not only financial; failing an exam can take a toll on your employee’s emotional well-being. This can result in disappointment, embarrassment, and frustration that can negatively impact job performance.

With such high stakes, the best way to keep the costs down is to have employees:

• register only during the early-bird period
• communicate with their managers to ensure aligned expectations during the study period
• participate in CFA exam prep programs that increase the likelihood of passing each exam the first time

Trusting in a proven CFA exam prep program for your employees can generate improved outcomes on the exam, minimize exam and tuition costs, and result in happier and more productive employees. This is how the organization and the employees both win.

Preparing with the Industry Leader

Kaplan is the most respected and trusted CFA exam prep provider in the industry. For more than 30 years Kaplan Schweser has helped over 500,000 candidates prepare for the CFA exam while supporting hundreds of financial services organizations.

We have helped candidates achieve their career goals through our experienced trainers, world-class support, and digital solutions. Contact us today to know how our CFA B2B learning programs can help your organization achieve your talent development and cost-constraint goals!

The CFA program requires candidates to pass three separate exams. Each CFA level requires candidates to prepare a lot of material. To be successful, you need to prepare an effective CFA study plan that includes a detailed prep schedule.

Having a study schedule can help you organize your study planner around the topics on which you will be tested. To master these curriculum topics and utilize the time you have we have outlined our recommendations for the CFA Charter and provided you with tips for creating an effective CFA study plan.

Tips For Creating an Effective CFA Study Plan

1. Stick to your CFA study schedule and don’t fall behind.

Once you create your study schedule, be disciplined and stick to it! To provide the motivation to stay on task, take a CFA Program review course and prepare for it like a university course; read the relevant material ahead of time, get at least a big picture of the topics to be covered, and write down any questions you want to ask.

Another great way to stick to your study plan is to form a study group that meets on a regular basis. Studying with others who are facing the same challenge you face provides motivation and support. In addition, being able to ask questions or explain a concept to someone else helps develop your own mastery of the topics. Build the class times and study group meeting times into your schedule, and, once again, stick to it!

2. Prepare, Practice, Perform.

A very useful organizing structure for your plan is based on the three key stages of learning: Prepare, Practice, and Perform. The path to success is to focus on the Learning Outcome Statements (LOS) provided by CFA Institute.

These are performance-based objectives that provide detail on exactly what you are expected to be able to DO on exam day. For example, one LOS might be “Calculate and interpret Net Present Value (NPV).” The command words “calculate” and “interpret” are what you should be able to do correctly.

3. Review regularly.

The material you learn when you begin will not stay with you until exam day if you don’t go back and revisit it once in a while. Plan to spend a few hours each week going back and reviewing material you think you’ve already mastered. Do some CFA practice questions and, if you make any mistakes, dig into those concepts again until you know them.

4. Cover all of the material.

Don’t play the prediction game by guessing which Learning Outcome Statements from the CFA Institute won’t be tested and then ignoring that material. Every LOS is fair game for the exam, and you have to be ready for anything to be tested.

5. Study Ethics and Professional Standards last.

We recommend studying Ethics and Professional Standards after you are comfortable with other CFA topics because preparing for these questions mainly relies on using the ROTE learning method, which is the process of memorizing information based on repetition.

6. Reserve the last month for CFA Mock Exams.

During the last month or so before the exam, begin to take practice and CFA mock exams in realistic settings. Take the exam on your own with no notes, and be sure to block off at least 3 hours to simulate one session. The key is to use the exams to identify how prepared you are by assessing your areas of weakness and addressing them. If you get a question wrong, note whether the issue was the application of your knowledge to the question, or a fundamental lack of understanding of the concept. Keep track of your scores and look for an upward trend…by exam day, you should be scoring above 70% consistently.

7. And finally, reward yourself.

Make a plan to do something fun and relaxing on the day after the exam…golf, hiking, time with family, video games, or simply sleeping. You’ve earned it!

If you are interested in joining hands with a leading CFA tuition provider to help make your CFA journey easier, then Kaplan Professional Middle East is here to offer you the expertise of having helped students to successfully ace their CFA exams for several years with the industry’s leading trainers. If you are looking for CFA training, join us as a student to kickstart your CFA exam preparation.

If you have considered sitting for CFA level Iexam, you probably have questions. You’re always welcome to reach out to our knowledgeable Student Support team with any questions you have about preparing for the exam. Here is a list of most frequently asked questions we receive from people preparing to take the first step toward becoming a CFA charterholder.

What is the CFA® charter?

Let’s start with the basics. The Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) charter is a professional designation administered by CFA Institute. According to CFA Institute, it’s the most respected and recognized investment management designation in the world.

How do I earn the CFA charter?

To earn the CFA charter, you must pass three levels of the exam in order: Level I, Level II, and Level III. Each exam builds on the mastery demonstrated by achieving a passing score on the previous exams.

Is the CFA charter a degree?

It is not a degree. It’s a professional credential that demonstrates mastery of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management. Candidates often weigh the benefits of the CFA charter against those of an MBA, which may be a contributing factor in this common misunderstanding.

What To Expect on the CFA Level I Exam?

Candidates should expect the CFA Level I exam to be complicated. Candidates should take their prep seriously and anticipate using an approved CFA calculator when answering the 180 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours and 30 minutes.

What is the date for Level I of the CFA exam?

The Level I CFA exam is offered multiple times per year so find a CFA exam date that works for you.

Can I postpone my CFA exam after I’ve registered?

You can only postpone your CFA exam after you’ve registered in specific circumstances, mostly related to medical reasons. It’s easier to withdraw, but unless you withdraw within three days of registering, you will have to pay the registration fees again and re-register. There are many CFA exam postponement rules for candidates to be aware of, especially if you think you can’t take the exam on the scheduled date.

What are the requirements to sit for the CFA exam?

An individual wishing to enroll in the CFA Program and register for the Level I exam for the first time must possess an international travel passport. In addition, candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

• Have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) or two years remaining in your undergraduate studies
• Have accumulated 4,000 hours of applicable professional work experience (not required to be investment-related)

Candidates may also have a combination of full-time professional experience and education that totals a minimum of 4,000 hours. Those hours of experience/education must be accrued prior to enrollment in the program.

What is the format of Level I of the CFA exam?

The exam format is computer-based with 180 multiple-choice questions. There are two 2 hours and 15 minute session times.

What topics are tested on the Level I CFA exam, and what is their weightage?

The weights of the Level I exam topics are subject to change on a year-to-year basis, at the discretion of the CFA Institute. Currently the Level I CFA exam weights and topics are:

• Ethical and Professional Standards (15-20%)
• Quantitative Methods (6-9%)
• Economics (6-9%)
• Financial Statement Analysis (11-14%)
• Corporate Issuers (6-9%)
• Equity Investments (11-14%)
• Fixed Income (11-14%)
• Derivatives (5-8%)
• Alternative Investments (7-10%)
• Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning (8-12%)

How much time does it take to study for the exam?

The average candidate for Level I of the CFA exam should spend a minimum of 300 hours over the course of six months preparing for the exam.

Can I Take a CFA Level I Mock Exam In-Person?

Yes, through Kaplan Schweser you can visit a Prometric exam center near you and take a practice test just like you will on exam day. Your in-person mock exam appointment can be scheduled for any day; there are no predetermined dates for “Mock Exam Windows”.

Ready To Start Preparing for the CFA Exam?

Looking for more guidance on how to prepare for Level I of the CFA® exam? Enroll in our CFA Level I, program to receive expert instruction, CFA Program study materials, and more. Give yourself the best chance to prepare, practice, and perform on the CFA exam.

What is Corporate Income Tax in the UAE?

Corporate tax is a direct federal tax imposed on the profit of most businesses, corporations, and other entities operating with a commercial license in the UAE. The federal government has imposed a 9% tax effective from June 1st, 2023 on a taxable income of AED 375,000 or more.

When will the UAE CIT tax be effective?

For taxable persons, their financial year starting on of after 1st June 2023 will be subject to CIT.

 Therefore if businesses have their financial year starting on  1st July,  CIT will be effective from the financial year starting on 1st July 2023 on their taxable income.

However, for businesses that have their financial year starting on 1 January the first financial year subject to CIT will commence on 1st January 2024.

Do individuals who are freelancing have to pay CIT?

yes, freelancers that conduct a business or a business activity in the UAE will be subject to CIT. 

However freelances and the self employed in general do benefit from top line relief of AED 1 million amd bottom line relief of AED 375,000.

In addition, freelancers and indeed most businesses will also benefit the small business relief for tax periods up to and including 31st December 2026.

Are free zone companies exempt from the 2023 corporate tax?

A freezone company is not exempt from CIT, it however can benefit from a 0% CIT rate as long as it is a qualifying freezone entity. 

For a freezone entity to be a qualifying freezone entity is meest all the criteria as per article 18 of the decree law and the recently announced cabinet and ministerial decisions no 44 and 139 respectively.

Will the federal government provide UAE CIT relief to small businesses, and who would be eligible?

Yes, small businesses (except A Constituent Company of a Multinational Enterprises Group as defined in Cabinet Decision No. 44 and  Qualifying Free Zone Person) whose revenue in each tax period up to and including 31 December 2026 does not exceed AED 3 million.

Furthermore, A Taxable Person shall not be able to elect to apply the Small Business Relief if their Revenue in any relevant or previous Tax Period has exceeded the threshold of AED 3 million.

Who is exempt from UAE CT?

The following persons are exempt from UAE CT, either automatically or by way of application:

1. The UAE Federal and Emirate Governments and their departments, authorities and other public institutions;
2. Wholly Government-owned companies that carry out a mandated activity, and that are listed in a Cabinet Decision;
3. Businesses engaged in the extraction of UAE natural resources and related non-extractive activities that are subject to Emirate-level taxation after meeting certain condition
4. Businesses registered in Free Trade Zones are exempted given that they comply with all the regulatory requirements, and they don’t operate businesses with Mainland UAE
5. Public Benefit Entities that are listed in a Cabinet Decision;
6. Investment Funds that meet the prescribed conditions;
7. Public or private pension or social security funds that meet certain conditions; and
8. UAE juridical persons that are wholly-owned and controlled by certain exempted entities after meeting certain conditions
9. Individuals’ income, unless the employment income comes from business/commercial/professional engagement, freelancing, or any other economic activities that must have a permit or must be licensed
10. Individuals’ income from real estate investments, as long as these investments are done in a personal capacity and not as a business which requires a commercial license
11. Individuals’ income, capital gains and dividends earned from personal investments in shares and securities
12. Individuals’ income and interest gained from deposit and savings accounts

How is Corporate Income Tax Calculated?

CIT is payable on a taxable person’s taxable income.

The taxable income for a Tax Period is the accounting net profit (or loss) of the business, after making adjustments for certain items as defined in the Corporate Tax Law. 

For UAE CT purposes, the accounting net profit should be prepared in accordance with accounting standards accepted in the UAE. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is the most frequently used accounting standard in the UAE.

Will I have to pay UAE CT alongside VAT in the UAE?

If you are a registered business for VAT, you will have to pay VAT and CIT separately. If your business is not VAT registered, you may still have to pay CIT.

 What should I be doing to prepare for UAE CT?

To assess what the UAE CIT regime means for your business, as a starting point, you should:

Read the Corporate Tax Law and the supporting information available on the websites of the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Tax Authority.

Use the available information to determine whether your business will be subject to UAE CT and if so, from what date.

Understand the requirements for your business under the Corporate Tax Law, including, for example:

• • Whether your business needs to register for UAE CT.
  • What is the accounting / Tax Period for your business.
  • By when your business would need to file a UAE CT return.
  • What elections or applications can or should your business make for UAE CT purposes.
  • How UAE CT may impact your business’ obligations and liabilities under contracts with customers and suppliers.
  • What financial information and records your business will need to keep for UAE CT purposes.

Regularly check the websites of the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Tax Authority for further information and guidance on the UAE CT regime.

Invest in training your team with Kaplan’s corporate tax course UAE which will provide a deep understanding of the legislation and tips and strategies for compliance and maximizing profits.

What records should I keep for UAE CIT purposes?

Taxpayers are expected to prepare and maintain financial statements for the purposes of calculating their taxable income and should maintain all documents and records that support the information in the CIT return or in any other filing made with the Authority.

Exempt persons are required to maintain all records to support their exempt status.

How long must I keep my records for UAE CIT purposes?

Records and documents should be kept for at least seven years following the end of the relevant Tax Period.

Will I need to submit my financial statements to the Federal Tax Authority?

The Federal Tax Authority may request for the financial statements to be submitted alongside the CT tax return, or for the financial statements to be provided upon request.

Are there any consequences for non-compliance under the UAE CT regime?

Yes, as per the recently released cabinet decision no 75 of 2023, penalties and fines will be imposed on taxable persons. 

For example if a taxable person fails to submit a tax return within 9 months from the end of the tax period, the penalty will be

a.. 500 for each month, or part thereof, for the first twelve months afer the latest filing date. 

b.. 1,000 for each month, or part thereof, from the thirteenth month onwards.

If you are interested in learning more, Kaplan offers an internationally certified Diploma in Corporate Income Tax. This program is available in both classroom and online formats, and it is offered in English and Arabic. By enrolling in this corporate tax preparation course will have the opportunity to learn from experienced tax experts and benefit from valuable study materials and resources. Speak to our program advisers today!