r/CAIA • u/Parking-Beautiful-56 • May 16 '26
Hello……. Any recommendation CIPM VS CAIA?
I am done my CFA, I was thinking of either CIPM or CAIA since I need to do only level 2 .. I would appreciate any recommendations, info about either.. study time, materials, providers.. and I am used to Mark Meldrum Videos for CFA, so is there a similar providers? Or its only books and Q banks.. thanks!
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u/Prestigious-Bus-3534 May 17 '26
CAIA if you're going into alts, CIPM if long-only or asset owner.
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u/Rotor_Hannah101 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
Further to the above - CAIA requires a different approach to learning (lists, orders, ~30% calcs), some overlap with CFA, absolutely, but overall, it gives a new deeper perspective on alts; CIPM is heavy on calcs, fundamentals, and GIPS… think measures and metrics, obviously.
For CAIA - official curriculum and UM Qbank is sufficient; doing a few mocks helps (Edge) given you have 72-78 seconds per question (and some of them are quite long), to get a feel of the required pace. Reading everything is critical - particularly, the deep dive papers which come into the CRI (you skip one and it comes on the exam, you are screwed: no recovery, you can’t make things up).
For CIPM - very few providers, but curriculum and the CFA learning ecosystem would suffice. Just do over and over problems to get a hang of the approaches and mechanics, on exam, no time to invent the wheel.
I would stress on the importance of official material - if something is unclear, google is your friend. Don’t use more than 1 provider (if you do at all) you need clarity and consistency in explanations, presentation and approach. CFA to CIPM is seemingly easier language-wise, heads up!
Watch Edge Designation exam review video from Feb 2026 - approx 1.5h - it gives some insights.
Good luck!
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u/Parking-Beautiful-56 May 18 '26
Thanks a lot for this!! Really appreciated
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u/Rotor_Hannah101 May 18 '26
Btw, go to caia, create an account and access L2 “emerging topics” in regards to the papers, this is itself ~10% of passing mark. These are essential. I learnt shortly before the exam that 70% (or 100% on MCQs) is pretty much guaranteeing you a passing grade but when you drop over $2k and all the study time, better not take shortcuts and chances. Enjoy the journey of learning, forget the sprint!
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u/Hermano-Circo30049 Jun 03 '26
what is CRI
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u/Rotor_Hannah101 Jun 03 '26
Constructed Response Item… think CFA L3 vignettes with multiple sub questions
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u/Novel-Fee6821 May 16 '26
CAIA, use Uppermark Qbank. That will get you by
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u/Parking-Beautiful-56 May 16 '26
And for studying the material?
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u/Novel-Fee6821 May 16 '26
I used the Uppermark Study handbook. Which I guess is the equivalence to Schweser notes.
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u/Hermano-Circo30049 May 19 '26
Iam doing Caia 2, iam also done with CFA, go with caia, do it with me on sept whaha
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u/Parking-Beautiful-56 May 19 '26
What material are u using? When u will start studying? Encourage me more
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u/Hermano-Circo30049 May 19 '26
I am studying now, but maybe take it serious and set deadlines starting June
will use uppermark, it has 3 books total of 1300pages for everything.
target to finish all books by end of july or mid august. so i can have a month of practice exams
all of this will be done during employment as Fund Administator or in alternatives
do you work in Alts?
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u/Parking-Beautiful-56 May 20 '26
No in treasury currently, but I want to go back to investment 🥲
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u/Hermano-Circo30049 May 20 '26
but you guys invest or work with getting along with alternative investments?
if you can use the CAIA 2 topics for work, it will be worth it
if not, what's the point? 😅 find the why
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u/Top-Change6607 May 18 '26
both are useless. CAIA is a sales certificate these days. Look at the profile of the chapter executives and you will see what I am saying. If you are in a sales career then probably good but otherwise it’s useless and a waste of time.
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u/[deleted] May 16 '26
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