Interview with Anthony Vaccaro (MBA/CFA student)

Is there a specific reason for them not being covered?

I think it’s just they are small….don’t quote me directly on this….In level one and level two, there’s a section of quants – which is basically just applied mathematics. So when you’re doing the MBA, in the first year they teach you both level one and level two quants, but then by year two they’ll be teaching you the quants for the level two exam.

Would you recommend it to someone that, like you, comes from a very different academic background?

Yes, of course. I’d recommend it because…it gives you professors to bounce ideas off of, and makes sure you have a say in the concepts. And it poses a kind of rigour in your studies – when you’re left to your own devices, it’s easier to fall behind, to become complacent, to slack a little bit. In an MBA course, when you have to write an exam almost every two weeks, the marks matter, because you want the MBA, so it forces you to develop really good habits. By the time the CFA exam comes along, you have a really big advantage over others not doing the same.

Anything else you’d like to contribute or suggest for our readers?

I’d say to people that want to get into it, should be aware of two things: some people think it’s impossible and can’t do it and won’t even try. That is not true. I mean I’m no genius by any stretch, so most people are definitely smart enough to do it; but the other side of it is, people don’t realize just how much work it is. So a lot of people will enrol thinking “I can do this” until they get the books, look at it, and not even try. So all of that is just to say that I encourage people to do it, but to realize what they are getting into – it’s a huge commitment. If you have a full time job like I do, then you are basically working every single night, after work and on weekends. With that said, with great commitment comes great rewards both financially and in terms of personal satisfaction.