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<rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Bloom Prep CFA® Blog</title><link>https://bprep.co/blog</link><lastBuildDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:28:08 +0000</lastBuildDate><language>en-US</language><description><![CDATA[CFA® exam strategy, investing ideas, and charterholder stories from Bloom Prep.]]></description><item><title>Why the CFA® Charter Worked For Me</title><dc:creator>Randy Johnson</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:28:08 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/why-the-cfa-charter-worked-for-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5b78bd2540ec9a9bc88a0712</guid><description><![CDATA[When I saw a request go out for help sharing my experience and insight by contributing a guest post to a new blog, I thought it would be a great opportunity to shine a light on a smaller group in the CFA charterholder community.  I am a CFA charterholder, and I do not work in the money management or financial services industry.]]></description></item><item><title>Seeking a Higher Meaning of Alpha</title><dc:creator>Ben Boulris</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:03:23 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/seeking-a-higher-meaning-of-alpha</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:595f9e1de3df289d4198a2fe</guid><description><![CDATA[The word alpha has many meanings. In finance, we use the term to describe the excess risk-adjusted rate of return in reference to some benchmark. This definition is in no way incorrect, but it’s a shallow application of the word.]]></description></item><item><title>Twists, Inversions, Shape Shifters—Three Theories</title><dc:creator>Gayle Buff</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 10:19:36 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/twists-inversions-shape-shiftersthree-theories</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5b63bc440e2e72545f062e9f</guid><description><![CDATA[The time or term structure of interest rates, often referred to as “yield curves,” moves continuously as bond prices respond to changes in interest rates. The yield curve graphs this relationship between bond yields (change in price reflected in yield) and bond maturity (time or term).]]></description></item><item><title>CFA Level I: Final Lap to Your Examination</title><dc:creator>Ike Amadi</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:59:45 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/cfa-level-1-final-lap-to-your-examination</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:58e60e70cd0f6881c9757267</guid><description><![CDATA[So you made a decision to become a CFA® charterholder, registered for the CFA level 1 exams, and have prepared thus far. Well done! Now, remember, CFA Level 1 is only the first of three battles which you have to wage to get to your goal: the CFA charter.]]></description></item><item><title>Thoughts on Passing the CFA® Exam from a Non-Finance Type</title><dc:creator>Samuel Kim</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:33:51 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/2018/3/13/thoughts-on-passing-the-cfa-exam-from-a-non-finance-type</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5aa811e3e2c4839970ed64ce</guid><description><![CDATA[My background may differ from many candidates, in that although I work at an asset management firm, I work in a legal-compliance role. Even though I do not participate in core investment analysis for my firm, pursuing the CFA charter has been invaluable to me in terms of having the proper context to give guidance.]]></description></item><item><title>Embrace the Challenge</title><dc:creator>Albert Chang</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:48:35 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/embrace-the-challenge</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5a2084320d9297f9736b90e7</guid><description><![CDATA[An average four-year commitment to pass all three exams is not your typical career stepping stone. Accomplishing this crazy feat in the minimum two and a half years should warrant an extra letter in the designation for awesomeness, or receive some sort of lifetime VIP pass to…well, EVERYTHING.]]></description></item><item><title>Obtaining Your Charter: A Principled Approach to Success</title><dc:creator>Ben Boulris</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 12:55:51 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/obtaining-your-charter-a-principled-approach-to-success</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:59247443db29d6a7b9a11452</guid><description><![CDATA[Hi. My name is Ben, and I’m a CFA. And the fact that you’re reading this blog means that you’re at least curious about becoming one too. As a charterholder, I understand what it means and what it costs to make that commitment—both in dollars and in your personal life.]]></description></item><item><title>A Crash Course in Discount Rates</title><dc:creator>Ike Amadi</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:24:42 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/a-crash-course-in-discount-rates</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5a79de7424a6948cfd305be7</guid><description><![CDATA[A discount rate helps analysts and managers determine the value (or potential value) of an investment or portfolio. They’re an important part of the CFA® Level I exam.]]></description></item><item><title>Passive Investing Is Dumb and Unethical…Or Is It?</title><dc:creator>Hortense Bioy</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 14:41:30 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/passive-investing-is-dumb-and-unethicalor-is-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:594d441d59cc6829aa9283b4</guid><description><![CDATA[Despite what many would like to believe, the active vs. passive debate is very much alive and kicking.In fact, it has never been so relevant. One just needs to look at flows, performance, and regulatory agendas. All seem to lean toward the passive camp, while active managers are trying to find ways to keep their jobs.]]></description></item><item><title>Warning: Unsolicited Career Advice</title><dc:creator>Derek Dedman</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 09:48:10 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/warning-unsolicited-career-advice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5e62bd3548078258c3176306</guid><description><![CDATA[I recently spoke to a finance class at a local college, a group of third-year finance students looking for an opportunity to hear from industry professionals. I have had the pleasure of speaking to groups of students like this on various occasions and I always enjoy it.]]></description></item><item><title>Is the Pain in Using Alternative Data Worth the Alpha Gain?</title><dc:creator>Eric Bissonnier</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 15:04:56 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/is-the-pain-in-using-alternative-data-worth-the-alpha-gain</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5e4d9056ee5bb23bd715b0bc</guid><description><![CDATA[Alternative data sets have been expanding rapidly in the last five years. From satellite imagery to POS transaction receipts and phone location data, the realm of the measurable has expanded, requiring infrastructure and skills to exploit properly. AI and machine learning are helpful, but is it an intellectual pursuit or adds value to a fundamental process?]]></description></item><item><title>Making Investments the Old-Fashioned Way</title><dc:creator>Mark Badros</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:43:44 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/making-investments-the-old-fashioned-way</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:595f9d0f15d5db2a14dcb2d4</guid><description><![CDATA[The old world of investing has lately been crumbling. Passive investment management has captured the bulk of equity inflows, which has fueled remarkable growth in index mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).]]></description></item><item><title>I Failed the CFA So You Don’t Have To: 7 Tips to Passing on the First Try</title><dc:creator>Elizabeth Hanano</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:54:19 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/i-failed-the-cfa-so-you-dont-have-to-7-tips-to-passing-on-the-first-try</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5930343b6a4963ad00ec3062</guid><description><![CDATA[You spend six months ignoring your family, blowing off close friends’ weddings, and generally being an irritable pain in the butt. When your friends see you, the first question they ask is, “How’s CFA studying going?” because they know you have nothing else more important going on in your life. At least all your hard work pays off, right?]]></description></item><item><title>Beating Test Anxiety: How to Build the Confidence to Succeed When It Counts—Speculation on Why We Freeze Under Pressure</title><dc:creator>Pete Baksh</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:16:28 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/beating-test-anxiety-how-to-build-the-confidence-to-succeed-when-it-countsspeculation-on-why-we-freeze-under-pressure</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5de9c68a46c08847eb7a78ea</guid><description><![CDATA[Everyone feels stress and pressure in any significant contest. Prepared or not, when the chips are down we all feel our adrenaline rise. Y]]></description></item><item><title>Credit Risk for Financial Institutions: What You Should Know</title><dc:creator>Edward Bace</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:49 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/2018/3/7/xjqebrhkzip9zi78ull8dvg91q6488</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5aa00753652dea8c73c33b51</guid><description><![CDATA[Risk management is an important feature of the CFA® exams. Since many candidates work for or aspire to work for banks, an understanding of credit risk is critical, simply because credit risk is the main risk-exposure element of the vast majority of banks in any country.]]></description></item><item><title>Why You May Want to Consider Cash-Adjusting CAPM Betas</title><dc:creator>Clifford S. Ang</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:53:54 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/2018/6/8/why-you-may-want-to-consider-cash-adjusting-capm-betas-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5b1ae4752b6a282a613b9d3f</guid><description><![CDATA[Could holding too much cash lead to misestimating the firm’s value? Yes, it could.]]></description></item><item><title>The CFA® Program: Why I did it, and why I encourage other women to pursue it, too!</title><dc:creator>Joanna Horowitz</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:10:47 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/the-cfa-program-why-i-did-it-and-why-i-encourage-other-women-to-pursue-it-too</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5adf4d9a03ce643ebcb3eda7</guid><description><![CDATA[Women remain significantly underrepresented in the finance community, and there are challenges to advancement. In my opinion, the main challenges include getting in the door at top firms and gaining the respect of our male colleagues. Holding the CFA designation helps provide knowledge and personal conviction from having accomplished such a difficult goal, as well as many other important skills and success criteria.]]></description></item><item><title>Adding Structure to Your CFA® Study Plan</title><dc:creator>Kirby Francis</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:20:33 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/2017/11/10/adding-structure-to-your-cfa-study-plan</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5a0596e28165f5d587008d2c</guid><description><![CDATA[Obtaining your CFA charter is a long journey, taking place over a minimum of 18 months—but likely longer for most charterholders. One of the biggest hurdles for candidates is coming up with and sticking to a study plan.]]></description></item><item><title>Survivorship and Related Biases</title><dc:creator>John Howe</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 03:05:00 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/survivorship-and-related-biases</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5e18de3e792187423e527fe8</guid><description><![CDATA[Ever see one of those Facebook posts that shows kids riding in the back of a pickup truck, maybe back in the 1950s, with commentary something like “We didn’t wear seat belts and we turned out just fine.”? Such posts are supposed to speak to an over-reaching nanny state, I suppose.]]></description></item><item><title>Credit’s Mixed Signals</title><dc:creator>Alex Knapp</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2025 03:26:00 +0000</pubDate><link>https://bprep.co/blog-posts/credits-mixed-signals</link><guid isPermaLink="false">58e603d6cd0f6881c973162b:58e60afa86e6c007e440dd9a:5e26341c166a41157cab8dbd</guid><description><![CDATA[Now that this decade has come to an end, it is almost unimaginable to look back to its beginning—in a world directly post-GFC—and believe the incredible run seen from practically every asset class since. Most investors who have participated in any market besides cash have done quite well since those 2009 lows.]]></description></item></channel></rss>
