Three attempts at L2. I guess I better “rethink my life” and “shame on me.” Life gets in the way sometimes and it’s shortsighted to make statements like this.
Ultimately, experience will trump however many times you took the damn exams. Currently in the late stages of interviewing and the hiring manager didn’t even bring up the CFA. The focus has been on my experience in the sector they want me to cover.
I never said life didn’t get in the way. I failed Level 2 once. That was because I only had four months to prepare, and in those four months I moved to a new city, bought a new house, started a new job, and had a baby. So I’m well aware that life gets in the way.
I took it again the next year–but I told myself that if I didn’t pass it this time (after studying about 500 hours across two years), that I would probably never be able to pass it, and that I would stop. However, I passed, and now I’m on Level 3.
Winners never quit, and quitters never win. But if you can’t win, then quit. Or keep paying $700 per year for a test you can’t pass.