A realistic six-month plan totalling roughly 300 hours, built around the portfolio-management core and timed essay practice. Thread ethics throughout, and start writing constructed-response answers earlier than you think you need to.
| Month | Focus | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portfolio management core: IPS + start Ethics | You can draft an IPS from a client case |
| 2 | Asset allocation + rebalancing | You can set and adjust a strategic allocation |
| 3 | Your pathway + fixed-income/equity portfolio management | You can manage each asset class in context |
| 4 | Risk management + derivatives for risk | You can hedge a portfolio with derivatives |
| 5 | Behavioural finance + performance evaluation + deep Ethics | You can evaluate results and spot biases |
| 6 | Timed essays + full mock exams | You write concise, on-point answers under time |
Final-month tips
Sit full-length, timed mocks covering both the essay and item-set formats, and grade your constructed-response answers honestly against the guideline answers. Aim to write exactly what is asked, concisely — padding does not earn marks. Confirm the current structure, pathways and logistics with CFA Institute.