[Haven’t started yet - maybe in the next few weeks.
What’s your strategy?
Usadaro
I tried to start reading behavioral finance (curriculum 2). Couldn’t finish first page. After dec2012-june2013 exams with much cramming oct thru May, I have no motivation whatsoever to study for level 3.
I will try to read oct after my anniversary
I’ve been kind of bored lately, enough to think about starting, but I’m reading Fountainhead which is a long bloody book. Finish that and I’ll get started. I don’t really enjoy reading though so it could take a while haha.
Wasting time that you’ll never get back. There are plenty of other things that I’d rather do than study CFA 
Starting the CFA program you mean?
Since you like reading i will give you all my books haha, 100lbs of them, and you don’t even have to return them.
Atlas Shrugged’s longer.
The Fountainhead is probably one of my favorite books I’ve ever read.
I started in September for Level III. It’s never too early, as long as you take your own really good notes. Not Schweser notes - your own, in a way that you will understand it 6 months after you create them.
I did CAIA II last week so I’m going to start today.
To add a little to the other responses on CAIA, it can add a fair bit of value if you’re buying funds for your clients, I’ve not really seen anything so far in FRM or up to L2 CFA that covers who to measure performance of investment managersor perform proper Due Diligence, although this could be covered in CFA 3.
For those interested in commodity investments you’re probably better off going to Energy Risk Professional (ERP) from GARP those friendly guys who brought you the FRM. Obviously it’s commodity focused particularly in energy (i.e. Oil & Gas), although I’m not sure how much agriculture is in there.
I’ll order the books on the 25th and maybe start skimming shortly after. Probably will not kick into full gear until January though. Unless there are L3 candidates in Chicago who want to start earlier than that. I’d be game for some early motivation.
I’m going to start the Monday after Thanksgiving - December 2. I have yet to put together a schedule, but it’ll probably be something like 5 days/week through January (four weekdays and one weekend day), accompanied by an increase in hours/week in mid-January, then after the Superbowl I will add Sundays in, starting in March I’ll bump the hours again, and then in April sometime I’ll go full-steam ahead 7 days/week.
Til then, traveling and FIFA.
Screw FIFA. GTA V FTW. Shoot some pedestrians and go skydiving while shooting your bazooka mid-air.
i think it’s generally easier to start studying after the summer, because i don’t like to go out in the cold.
But it’s hard to study during holiday season because people are all partying and invite you out.
As for TV, sports, or anything else, i just stop following them (although i cheat from time to time).
Yes, the last week I will take all nights to review. But the whole point of starting early is that my study hours per week will be much lower I and I will get all weekends free (except for that last one)
Dude, props for the taking the double whammy like a champ! Good luck with the triple whammy homerun, that’s dedication. I’m not you and I’m f^&*^ exhausted. I’m 25 and I don’t think anyone that age especially if you have a full-time job expects what we’ve been through, except for med school students and lawyers maybe. Not too excited about having to hit CFA books for the 4th time. I need the inspiration.
naa
Tempted to start on Monday morning. Wary about starting half arsed and ending up wasting time. Last year I read econ in late October and must have skimmed it because I re read it in April and it felt brand new.
i find I can get about 7-10 hours during the week with minimal impact though. It’s January when I start doing Sundays that it starts to suck. Then April when I add evenings really sucks.
slightly addicted to GTA and FIFA at the moment though so I’ll need to finish them off before starting in earnest.
How far into GTA are you? I’m at about 60% complete according to the save screen. I think I might start reading next week since I’ll be travelling for the next week or so.
I’m only about 25% complete so I’ve still got quite a way to go. Does it keep getting better as the story evolves?
started with a cheeky half hour this morning using 2013 schweser behavioural finance notes.
didn’t feel too bad. to be fair, in the last 2 years i’ve probably spent more time in the studying routine than in the non studying routine so it feels like going back to normal.
probably going to go for a relaxed pace until kicking in properly on January 2nd.