Deep Dive: CFA® Level I Prep 2026

Deep Dive Prep

Master the complete CFA® Level I curriculum—one learning module at a time. Each episode is a concise, high‑impact dialogue that explains core concepts in plain English, with zero fluff and no long intro/outro. Perfect for commuters, last‑minute crammers, and anyone who learns best by listening. Independently produced; not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by CFA Institute.

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105 episodes
Updated January 26

Episodes105

Newest first

Jun 8, 2025 · 20 min
EQUITY - Company Analysis: Forecasting
Turn history into forward numbers: Define forecast objects, horizons and scenario design. Model revenues, costs, working capital and capex. Stress-test with sensitivity & scenario analysis. The result: defensible pro-formas ready for valuation.
Jun 2, 2025 · 25 min
EQUITY - Industry and Competitive Analysis
No company operates in a vacuum. This module teaches you to: Navigate third-party and custom industry classification schemes. Size markets, gauge growth and benchmark profitability. Apply Five-Forces and external factor checklists. You’ll pinpoint where a company sits on the competitive map—and why that drives valuation multiples.
Jun 1, 2025 · 19 min
EQUITY - Company Analysis: Past and Present
A forensic look at a firm’s historical performance: Dissect business models and revenue drivers. Classify costs, analyse working capital and capital structure. See how analysts craft the classic research report. Mastering the rear-view mirror sets the stage for credible forward forecasts.
May 31, 2025 · 27 min
EQUITY - Overview of Equity Securities
Dive into the world’s dominant asset class. Grasp what equity really represents and why its risk-return profile is unique. Highlights: Common vs. preferred vs. private shares. Domestic, cross-border and DR structures. Return drivers, ROE and cost of equity. These building blocks are the foundation for later valuation work.
May 30, 2025 · 17 min
EQUITY - Market Efficiency
From the Efficient Market Hypothesis to behavioural anomalies, this module asks, “Can you really beat the market?” Key topics: Forms of efficiency and their testable implications. Limits to arbitrage & trading costs. Time-series, cross-sectional and behavioural anomalies. You’ll leave with a balanced view of when active skill adds value—and when indexing rules.
May 29, 2025 · 17 min
EQUITY - Security Market Indexes
This module lifts the hood on the benchmarks we quote every day. You will: Learn the math behind index levels, single-period & multi-period returns. Contrast weighting schemes—and see why rebalancing & reconstitution matter. Survey equity, fixed-income and alternative-investment indexes and their uses as gauges, proxies and model portfolios. By the end, an index’s construction secrets—and its biases—will be crystal-clear.
May 28, 2025 · 20 min
EQUITY - Market Organization and Structure
Why this matters: Every analyst’s idea eventually becomes a trade. This module maps the entire trading landscape—from the six core purposes of the financial system to the mechanics of orders, leverage and regulation. Compare quote-, order- and broker-driven markets. Walk through an IPO, margin call and short sale step-by-step. See how regulation underpins liquidity, transparency and fair dealing. Outcome: You’ll know exactly how ideas are executed, what makes a market “well-functioning,” and how that links back to valuation.
May 26, 2025 · 20 min
FSA – Introduction to Financial Statement Modeling
Build a three-statement model from revenue to valuation, bias-aware. Sales-based pro forma income, cash-flow & balance-sheet build. Behavioral biases and how to mitigate them in forecasts. Impact of competitive forces, inflation/deflation and long-term horizons.
May 26, 2025 · 29 min
FSA – Financial Analysis Techniques
DuPont, ratios, regressions—turn numbers into stories and valuation inputs. Five ratio buckets & DuPont 3- and 5-step analyses. Cross-sectional vs. trend and common-size statements. Graphing and simple regressions for relationship testing.
May 26, 2025 · 23 min
FSA – Financial Reporting Quality
Spot bias, earnings management and GAAP departures before they wreck value. Quality spectrum: decision-useful to non-GAAP. Motivations & conditions for low-quality reporting. Detection toolkit: revenue, inventory, capitalization, CF vs. NI gaps.
May 26, 2025 · 18 min
FSA – Analysis of Income Taxes
Temporary vs. permanent differences, DTAs/DTLs, and real cash-tax impacts. Book vs. taxable profit reconciliation. Valuation allowance clues. Effective rate bridges and planning red flags.
May 26, 2025 · 23 min
FSA – Topics in Long-Term Liabilities & Equity
Leases, pensions, share-based comp—convert off-BS promises into debt-like risk. IFRS 16 / ASC 842 lessee & lessor accounting. Defined-benefit vs. defined-contribution plans. Stock grants, options and dilution math. Key presentation and disclosure checkpoints.
May 26, 2025 · 23 min
FSA – Analysis of Long-Term Assets
PP&E, intangibles, leases—track the asset life-cycle from acquisition to impairment. Purchased vs. internally developed intangibles. IFRS & GAAP impairment tests and reversals. Derecognition and key disclosure nuggets.
May 26, 2025 · 12 min
FSA – Analysis of Inventories
LIFO, FIFO, write-downs—see how inventory choices sway cost and margin. IAS 2 vs. ASC 330 valuation methods. Inflation/deflation impacts & LIFO reserves. Key turnover and gross-margin signals.
May 26, 2025 · 14 min
FSA – Analyzing Statements of Cash Flows II
Dive deeper: free cash flow, common-size cash flows, and liquidity ratios. Evaluate sources & uses across operations, investing, financing. Calculate FCFF, FCFE and coverage ratios. Spot cash-flow red flags before the income statement does.
May 26, 2025 · 12 min
FSA – Analyzing Statements of Cash Flows I
Trace cash through operations with direct vs. indirect methods and statement linkages. Link income statement & balance sheet to CFO, CFI, CFF. Build direct and indirect operating cash flows. Convert indirect to direct and IFRS vs. GAAP presentation quirks.
May 26, 2025 · 8 min
FSA – Analyzing Balance Sheets
Assets, liabilities, equity—learn placement, measurement and ratio signals. Intangibles vs. goodwill impairment tests. Financial instruments: cost vs. fair value. Key leverage & liquidity ratios and common-size BS hacks.
May 26, 2025 · 17 min
FSA - Analysing Income Statement
From topline to EPS, decode how revenues, matching, and non-recurring items reshape the story. 5-step revenue test (IFRS 15/ASC 606). Capitalize vs. expense costs. Basic vs. diluted EPS math. Common-size & margin radar.
May 25, 2025 · 19 min
FSA – Intro to Financial Statement Analysis (FSA)
Kick-start Season 4 by mapping the six-step framework analysts use to turn raw filings into insight. Purpose & context: set the question first. Collect → process → interpret data like a pro. Regulated vs. alternative info sources. How IFRS & US GAAP differences trip your comps.
May 19, 2025 · 21 min
CORP - Business Models
Strip a company to its DNA: who it serves, what it sells, how it captures value. Revenue logic, cost structure, moat and network effects. Classic vs. platform vs. subscription plays. Innovation, disruption & why some models age fast. Checklist: test any issuer’s model in five quick questions.

Deep Dive: CFA® Level I Prep 2026

EQUITY - Company Analysis: Forecasting

EQUITY - Industry and Competitive Analysis

EQUITY - Company Analysis: Past and Present

EQUITY - Overview of Equity Securities

EQUITY - Market Efficiency

EQUITY - Security Market Indexes

EQUITY - Market Organization and Structure

FSA – Introduction to Financial Statement Modeling

FSA – Financial Analysis Techniques

FSA – Financial Reporting Quality

FSA – Analysis of Income Taxes

FSA – Topics in Long-Term Liabilities & Equity

FSA – Analysis of Long-Term Assets

FSA – Analysis of Inventories

FSA – Analyzing Statements of Cash Flows II

FSA – Analyzing Statements of Cash Flows I

FSA – Analyzing Balance Sheets

FSA - Analysing Income Statement

FSA – Intro to Financial Statement Analysis (FSA)

CORP - Business Models

Deep Dive: CFA® Level I Prep 2026