Ishaan Arora

Is the CFA charter losing its value because everyone's doing it now?


I hear this a lot. And I think people are confusing two very different things.

Everyone is attempting the CFA.
Not everyone has it.

There are only 2 lakh CFA charterholders in the entire world. Across 160 countries.

That is it.

For context, India alone produces over 1.5 million engineers every single year.

2 lakh charterholders globally is not "everyone doing it". That is still a very small and exclusive group.

Now here is where the confusion comes from.

A lot of people register for the CFA. A lot of people talk about doing it. LinkedIn is full of "CFA Level 1 candidates".

But the pass rates tell a very different story.

Level 1 hovers around 40-45 per cent. Level 2 drops further. Level 3 is no different.

Most people who start it never finish it. The ones who do are a genuinely small group, and that number is not changing anytime soon.

And the demand for that small group is only going up.

Investment banking, equity research, portfolio management, wealth management, risk advisory, and investment consulting.

Every single one of these functions values the CFA deeply, and the industry is growing faster than the number of charterholders.

More capital is being managed globally than ever before.

Markets are getting more complex. The need for people with serious financial expertise is rising every year.

On top of that, the CFA Institute keeps updating its curriculum to stay relevant.
The syllabus today looks very different from what it was even 5 years ago.

It evolves with where the industry is going.

The charter is not losing its value.

If anything, the world is going to need a lot more people who have it.

19 hours ago | [YT] | 50

Ishaan Arora

The most predatory product sold to young people in India today isn't a scam or a scheme. It's a credit card with a welcome bonus and zero financial education attached to it.

Banks will approve a 22-year-old's credit card in 10 minutes. They'll show you the cashback, the rewards, the airport lounge access, and the welcome points.

What they won't show you is what happens when you pay only the minimum due for 6 months. Because that's where they actually make their money.

And honestly, you can't even blame the kids. Nobody teaches this stuff. Not in school, not at home, not anywhere.

You get your first salary, a bank representative calls you within the week, and suddenly you have a 1 lakh limit and the feeling that you've made it.

I have a credit card, and I'll be honest: used correctly, it's one of the smartest financial tools available to a young person today.

So here's what I wish someone had told me and every other 20-something before they got their first card:

>> 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲.

This is the mindset that wrecks people. The moment you start spending like that, the limit is yours; you've already started losing.

>> 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦.

The minimum due is a trap designed to look helpful. If you have a 50,000 rupee bill and pay only the minimum, the remaining amount starts attracting interest at anywhere between 36 to 42% annually.

>> 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞

Every missed payment, every high utilisation, every default quietly damages a number that will decide whether you get a home loan, a car loan, or even a rental agreement someday. Start building it early and protect it like it matters because it does.

>> 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝

Cashback, air miles, lounge access, reward points. All of it is genuinely valuable if you're paying your bill in full every month. The rewards are funded by people who can't pay on time. Don't be that person.

A credit card is not good or bad. It's a tool. And like any tool, it depends entirely on who's holding it and whether they know what they're doing.

If you're in your 20s and just got one or are thinking about getting one, the best thing you can do is understand it before you use it.

The bank already knows how this works. Now you do too.

1 day ago | [YT] | 37

Ishaan Arora

5 books I'd recommend every aspiring investment banker to read.


> Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers & Acquisitions
> The Accidental Investment Banker
> Monkey Business
> Barbarians at the Gate
> The Intelligent Investor

If you have more book recommendations, drop them in the comments :)

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2 days ago | [YT] | 238

Ishaan Arora

“MBA hi karna tha toh engineering kyu kiya?”

Every non-commerce student planning to do an MBA has heard this at least once!

And every single time this question pops up, it only creates self-doubt and overthinking about whether it’s actually a good decision!

If you are in a similar situation, this one post will solve it all! Since your relatives have already done a good job stating the disadvantages of this decision, let me tell you why it’ll be the best decision of your career!

📌Salary growth is massive

An MBA can triple or even quadruple your earning potential. In India, mechanical engineers make around ₹3.5 LPA, but with an MBA, that jumps to ₹12 LPA or more. Some even earn up to ₹28 LPA. Globally, salaries rise from $88,570 to $138,960!

📌You gain power to negotiate salaries and promotions

Most engineers wait for appraisals to get a raise. MBA graduates know how to negotiate, understand business metrics, and can demand better salaries because they speak the company’s language: profits, revenue, and growth.

📌You become eligible for leadership roles (not just technical ones)

CTO, VP of Product, CEO; these aren’t engineering roles; they’re business roles with a technical edge. Without an MBA, your chances of getting these titles shrink significantly.

📌You move into leadership faster

Without an MBA, most engineers remain in technical roles for years before getting a management position. With an MBA, you skip ahead to leadership roles like Product Manager, Operations Head, or VP much faster.

📌More career options beyond engineering

You’re no longer limited to coding or technical work. An MBA gives you access to industries like finance, consulting, marketing, and tech management, which typically pay more and offer faster career growth.

📌Companies prefer engineers with MBAs

Many top firms actively recruit engineers with MBAs because they bring technical expertise + business acumen. This makes you a high-demand candidate in industries like technology, finance, and operations.

📌You build a high-value network

Your MBA classmates will be future CEOs, startup founders, and senior executives. These connections open doors to high-paying jobs, partnerships, and funding opportunities if you ever start a business.

📌Helps if you want to start your own company

Many engineers struggle with the business side of startups. An MBA helps you understand funding, scaling, and operations, making investors more likely to trust you with capital.

📌Future-proof your career against tech layoffs

Engineers are often the first to be laid off during downturns. An MBA ensures you’re not stuck in just one field; you can pivot to consulting, strategy, operations, or finance anytime.

Tag an engineer who might find this useful! ⭐

5 days ago | [YT] | 54

Ishaan Arora

"Just do CA/CFA, you'll be set for life."
This advice has destroyed more careers than it's built.

Students commit 3-5 years to these professional courses they don't fully understand, then realise it's not for them when it's too late.

Here’s a simple way I tell my students to test the waters before going deep.
Go with short-term courses first!

🌟Saves time
🌟Are cheaper
🌟Helps you understand the curriculum


So if you’re someone who’s planning to make a career in finance, here are 5 NISM courses you can do before you jump into your master's, CFA, FRM, etc.


📌NISM-Series-XII: Securities Markets Foundation Certification

- Learn the basics of Indian securities markets, including primary and secondary market operations.
- Understand mutual funds, derivatives, and financial planning.


📌NISM-Series-VIII: Equity Derivatives Certification

- Get in-depth knowledge of equity derivatives, futures, options, and their trading strategies.
- Learn how clearing, settlement, and risk management work in the equity derivatives market.


📌NISM-Series-V-A: Mutual Fund Distributors Certification

- Understand mutual fund structures, types, and how they are distributed.
- Learn how to evaluate schemes and recommend suitable investment products.


📌NISM-Series-X: Investment Adviser Certification (Level 1 & 2)

- Gain expertise in financial planning, portfolio management, and investment products.
- Learn about taxation, risk profiling, and the role of behavioural finance in advising clients.


📌NISM-Series-XV: Research Analyst Certification

- Master fundamental research techniques, industry analysis, and valuation principles.
- Learn how to create effective research reports and analyse market trends.


Each of these certifications helps you develop specialised skills, making you job-ready while you're still in college!


Which one are you planning to take first? 👇

1 week ago | [YT] | 109

Ishaan Arora

The real unemployment crisis isn't coming. It has always been here.
We just never realised.

Think about it.

Millions of people spent their entire careers forwarding emails, sitting in meetings that could have been a message, and writing reports nobody read.

Not because they were bad at their jobs. Because the jobs themselves were designed around process rather than output.

AI didn't expose a flaw in people. It exposed a flaw in how we defined work.

When a $20 tool can replace what took someone three hours, the problem was never the person.

It was that the three hours were never really about thinking. They were about doing. And doing, it turns out, is the easiest thing to automate.

If you want to be irreplaceable:

>> Build taste, not just skills. Anyone can learn a tool. Very few people develop the judgment to know when something is good, when it's wrong, and why it matters.

>> Become the person who connects the dots. Data is everywhere. The people who will always have a seat at the table are the ones who can look at a mess of information and tell you what it actually means.

Stop trying to compete with AI on speed. Compete on the thing it will never have.

A point of view.

1 week ago | [YT] | 82

Ishaan Arora

Your degree alone is nothing but just a piece of paper!

What you do alongside college is where the real difference gets created:

→ Build skills through short-term courses and certifications
→ Learn practical tools like Excel, financial modelling, design, coding, etc.
→ Work on live projects instead of only theoretical assignments
→ Start posting your learnings and work online
→ Network with people working in your dream companies
→ Do internships, even if they are small in the beginning
→ Attend events, conferences, and industry sessions whenever possible

Most students wait for college to end before they start preparing for the real world.

Start while you're already in it. 💯

1 week ago | [YT] | 61

Ishaan Arora

"My son gave NEET and is now threatening sui**de. I'm at the office and asked my wife to watch him."



This is what a father posted on X after NEET was cancelled.

22 lakh students woke up to find that years of their lives had been put on hold indefinitely because the NEET paper leaked. Again.

This isn't the first time. It happened last year. It's happening this year. And there are already Telegram groups openly claiming the next leak is being prepared.

Students were being checked like criminals before entering exam centres. Pockets, collars, sleeves, shoes, water bottles. What for?

And nobody's checking what's happening inside the system itself.

The system that's supposed to protect the future of 22 lakh students is the one betraying them.

And people casually saying, “Arey, Rexam hojayega, chill karo."

Do you know what going through all of it again means for a NEET aspirant?

They woke up at 5 AM every single day. Studied 12-14 hours. Skipped birthdays, festivals, and time with family. Sacrificing everything for one shot at their dream.

And then being told, "Sorry, the paper leaked."

No clarity. No timeline. Just uncertainty.

For students who've already been living under crushing pressure, this isn't just disappointing. It's devastating.

The stress, the anxiety, the fear of not being good enough. And now, on top of that, they have to deal with a system that doesn't even function properly.

Parents are watching their kids break. Students are losing hope. Some are at a point where they don't know if they can keep going.

I'm not saying one exam should define a student's worth. It shouldn't. But if we're going to build a system where it does, then that system needs to work.

If we're going to tell 17-year-olds that this exam is their only path to becoming a doctor, then we owe them a fair shot.

If you're a parent whose child gave NEET, please be there for them right now.

If you're a NEET student reading this, I know how hard this is. I know it feels like everything you worked for doesn't matter. But it does. Your effort, your dedication, and your resilience through all of this matter.

This system failed you. But you didn't fail.

Don't let this break you. Reach out to someone if you're struggling. Talk to your parents, a friend, or a counsellor.

You're not alone in this, even if it feels like you are. 💛

1 week ago | [YT] | 50

Ishaan Arora

The hardest truth I've learned in my 20s? Motivation is a lie.

Nobody tells you this when you're starting out.

You think the successful people around you are just more motivated than you. More driven. More inspired.

They're not.

They just showed up on the days they didn't feel like it.

As someone who's built a company, mentored hundreds of students, and watched people transform their careers from the ground up, I can tell you the one thing that separates people who make it from people who don't.

It's not talent. It's not timing. It's not even an opportunity.

It's what you do repeatedly when nobody is forcing you to.

No teacher chasing you. No deadline breathing down your neck. No one is clapping for you.

Just you, your choices, and the quiet compound interest of your daily habits.

Nobody's coming to hand you the life you want.

You're either building it quietly or you're not.

That's it. That's the whole thing.

Focus on consistency; the rest will follow!

1 week ago | [YT] | 144

Ishaan Arora

Just 1 prompt, and Claude made an entire DCF financial model literally in minutes!

To be honest. I wasn't expecting much.

DCF models are not simple. Discounted cash flow analysis is the kind of thing finance students spend semesters on. Analysts build careers around doing it well.

It has assumptions, projections, weighted cost of capital, and terminal values. It's not a one-prompt kind of task.

Except it kind of was.

What came out was a structured, working model with revenue projections, expense assumptions, free cash flow calculations, and a valuation output.

The slides are attached so you can see them yourself.

Now the obvious question. Does this replace finance people?

No. And anyone telling you it does doesn't understand what finance people actually do at a senior level.

The model is only as good as the assumptions behind it. Knowing which numbers to trust, which to question, and what the output actually means in a real business context still requires a human who knows what they're doing.

Finance students who are still figuring out how a DCF works can now see a complete, structured model and reverse engineer it.

That's honestly a better way to learn than most textbooks. Professionals can use it to build a first draft fast and spend their real time on the assumptions and the story behind the numbers.

And founders who need to present projections but don't have a finance background can finally do it without outsourcing it entirely.

It's a starting point. A really good one.

Do you want me to make a detailed video on how I did it? Let me know in the comments!

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1 week ago | [YT] | 105