Deep Dive: CFA® Level I Prep 2026
by Deep Dive Prep
Latest episode
QUANT - Estimation and Inference
QUANT - Estimation and Inference
About this podcast
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.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 105 episodes
- QUANT - Estimation and Inference · 11 min · Season 11 Episode 7Reading 7: Estimation & Inference with Mara Ellington & Dorian Hayes. In this bite-sized CFA L1 episode, we turn symbols into intuition: • Sampling methods: simple random…
- QUANT - Simulation Methods · 11 min · Season 11 Episode 6Dive into Simulation Methods from Quantitative Methods – CFA Level I with Mara Ellington & Dorian Hayes. • Normal vs lognormal curves for asset prices & returns • How Monte…
- QUANT - Portfolio Mathematics [2026] · 11 min · Season 11 Episode 5Portfolio Mathematics – CFA Level IJoin Mara Ellington and Dorian Hayes as they turnChapter 1 Quantitative Methods into something you can actually use. • Build intuition for…
- QUANT - Probability Trees and Conditional Expectations [2026] · 12 min · Season 11 Episode 4CFA® Level I Boost w/ Mara Ellington & Dorian Hayes Learn how to turn messy scenarios into clean probability trees and sharp conditional expectations—in one focused session. •…
- QUANT - Statistical Measures of Asset Returns [2026] · 11 min · Season 11 Episode 3Statistical Measures of Returns with Mara Ellington & Dorian Hayes. In this bite-size Quant Methods episode, we turn raw return data into insight: • Means that matter…
- QUANT - Time Value of Money [2026] · 13 min · Season 11 Episode 2Time Value of Money Deep Dive with Mara Ellington & Dorian Hayes. In this episode we turn abstract formulas into real decisions: • Present value (PV) of bonds & equities from…
- QUANT - Rates and Return [2026] · 13 min · Season 11 Episode 1Hosted by Mara Ellington & Dorian Hayes Ready to finally “get” rates & returns instead of memorising formulas? In this bite-size episode we turn Quant Methods – Chapter 1 into…
- ETHICS - Ethics Application · 15 min · Season 10 Episode 11This module brings ethics to life through realistic scenarios and case studies that apply the Code and Standards. You'll practice identifying violations, applying ethical…
- ETHICS - Introduction to the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) · 13 min · Season 10 Episode 10This module introduces the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS), a set of voluntary, ethics-based principles that promote fair and transparent reporting of investment…
- ETHICS - Standard VII: Responsibilities as a CFA Institute Member · 12 min · Season 10 Episode 9Standard VII reinforces the duty to uphold the reputation and integrity of the CFA designation. It requires members and candidates to comply with the Code and Standards, avoid…
- ETHICS - Standard VI: Conflicts of Interest · 13 min · Season 10 Episode 8Standard VI addresses the importance of identifying and managing conflicts of interest that could compromise objectivity. It requires full and fair disclosure of any potential…
- ETHICS - Standard V: Investment Analysis, Recommendations, and Actions · 21 min · Season 10 Episode 6Standard V focuses on maintaining the integrity and quality of investment research and decisions. It requires professionals to base analyses on thorough due diligence, clearly…
- ETHICS - Standard IV: Duties to Employers · 14 min · Season 10 Episode 6Standard IV outlines the responsibilities investment professionals have toward their employers. It covers the duty of loyalty, maintaining competence, and acting with integrity…
- ETHICS - Standard III: Duties to Clients · 16 min · Season 10 Episode 5Standard III emphasizes the fiduciary responsibility investment professionals owe to their clients. It outlines duties such as loyalty, prudence, and care; ensuring fair dealing…
- ETHICS - Standard II: Integrity of Capital Markets · 19 min · Season 10 Episode 4Standard II protects the fairness and transparency of global capital markets. It focuses on two key areas: Material Nonpublic Information—ensuring analysts don’t misuse inside…
- ETHICS - Standard I: Professionalism · 13 min · Season 10 Episode 3Standard I covers the fundamental duty of acting with integrity and professionalism. It sets expectations around knowledge of the law, independence and objectivity…
- ETHICS - Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct · 15 min · Season 10 Episode 2This module introduces the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Conduct, the backbone of ethical investment practice. You'll explore the six core…
- ETHICS - Ethics and Trust in the Investment Profession · 15 min · Season 10 Episode 1This opening module explains why ethics and trust are foundational to functioning capital markets. It explores how ethical conduct enhances investor confidence, defines…
- PORT - Introduction to Risk Management · 17 minThe final chapter frames risk management as an enterprise-wide process. It describes risk governance, risk tolerance and budgeting, distinguishes financial from non-financial…
- PORT - The Behavioral Biases of Individuals · 18 min · Season 9 Episode 5Here the curriculum turns to behavioral finance, categorizing cognitive errors and emotional biases that can distort investor decisions. It illustrates common biases (e.g…
- PORT - Basics of Portfolio Planning and Construction · 19 min · Season 9 Episode 4Focusing on practical implementation, this chapter explains the Investment Policy Statement—its key components, objectives, and constraints—and shows how client information feeds…
- PORT - Portfolio Management: An Overview · 23 min · Season 9 Episode 3The chapter adopts a portfolio perspective, highlighting diversification benefits and the risk–return trade-off. It walks through the three-step portfolio-management process…
- PORT - Portfolio Risk and Return: Part II · 19 min · Season 9 Episode 2Building on Part I, this chapter introduces capital-market theory. It derives the Capital Market Line and the Security Market Line, decomposes total risk into systematic and…
- PORT - Portfolio Risk and Return: Part I · 27 min · Season 9 Episode 1This chapter lays the foundations of modern portfolio theory. It reviews the historical risk-return profile of major asset classes, explains risk aversion and utility, shows how…
- ALT - Hedge Funds · 18 min · Season 8 Episode 6Long/short, event, relative-value, macro … Unpack the strategy zoo. • Key features: leverage, shorting, derivatives and flexible mandates. • Direct vs. fund-of-funds vs…
- ALT - Natural Resources · 18 min · Season 8 Episode 5Timber, farmland, and commodities join the alternatives toolkit. • Contrast land-based investments (farmland, timberland) with commodity futures rolls. • Dive into…
- ALT - Real Estate and Infrastructure · 13 min · Season 8 Episode 4Bricks, mortar & bridges. Compare the cash-flow engines ofincome-producing property and long-lived infrastructure projects. • Equity vs. debt vs. REIT structures for property…
- ALT - Investments in Private Capital: Equity and Debt · 18 min · Season 8 Episode 3From start-ups to leveraged buy-outs. Map the spectrum ofprivate equity (VC, growth, buy-out) and private debt (direct lending,mezzanine, distressed). • Key terms: committed vs…
- ALT - Alternative Investment Performance and Returns · 18 min · Season 8 Episode 2Measuring performance is trickier here. Longer life-cycles,irregular cash flows, leverage and complex fees mean IRR and MOIC trump simpletime-weighted returns. • See capital…
- ALT - Alternative Investment Features, Methods, and Structures · 19 min · Season 8 Episode 1Why alternatives? They promise higher expected returns andlower correlations—but at the cost of liquidity, longer holding periods andspecialised know-how. This module: • Distils…
- DERIV - Valuing a Derivative Using a One-Period Binomial Model · 15 min · Season 7 Episode 10Construct a simple up/down binomial tree to price a European call. Learn risk-neutralprobabilities, replicate pay-offs with ∆-hedged portfolios, and generalise theframework for…
- DERIV - Option Replication Using Put–Call Parity · 13 min · Season 7 Episode 9Employ put–call parity to replicate forwards, build collars, and decompose equityvalue into debt + option components. Extend to forward parity for off-marketstrikes and see how…
- DERIV - Pricing and Valuation of Options · 16 min · Season 7 Episode 8Break option value into intrinsic and time components, test moneyness, andstudy six core inputs (spot, strike, time, rate, volatility, income). Use arbitrage andreplication…
- DERIV - Pricing and Valuation of Interest Rate and Other Swaps · 11 min · Season 7 Episode 7View a plain-vanilla swap as a strip of forward contracts: solve for the par swaprate that sets initial value to zero, then track mark-to-market gains as rates move.Covers…
- DERIV - Pricing and Valuation of Futures Contracts · 13 min · Season 7 Episode 6Derive fair-value futures prices at inception, then follow daily variation margin tosee how gains/losses crystallise. Compare futures with equivalent forwards…
- DERIV - Pricing and Valuation of Forward Contracts and for an Underlying with Varying Maturities · 14 min · Season 7 Episode 5Price and mark-to-market forwards between trade date and expiry—first fornon-income assets, then for instruments with cash flows. Extend the logic tounderlyings that have their…
- DERIV - Arbitrage, Replication, and the Cost of Carry in Pricing Derivatives · 14 min · Season 7 Episode 4Link spot and forward prices through no-arbitrage. Build synthetic forwards bycombining cash positions with borrowing/lending, then adjust for dividends,storage, or FX rate…
- DERIV - Derivative Benefits, Risks, and Issuer and Investor Uses · 20 min · Season 7 Episode 3See how issuers hedge earnings, how investors gain cheap leverage or preciseexposures, and where dangers lurk: basis, liquidity, counter-party and systemicrisk. Real examples…
- DERIV - Forward Commitment and Contingent Claim Features and Instruments · 18 min · Season 7 Episode 2Firm promises vs. flexible rights: dissect forwards, futures and swaps(linear pay-offs) then contrast them with options and credit derivatives(non-linear, buyer-only choice)…
- DERIV - Derivative Instrument and Derivative Market Features · 22 min · Season 7 Episode 1Quick tour of the derivatives universe: define what makes a contract aderivative, classify popular underlyings (equities, rates, FX, commodities, credit),and compare OTC versus…
- FIXED - MBS Instrument & Market Features · 28 min · Season 6 Episode 19From pass-throughs to CMOs we unpack prepayment mechanics, tranche types and commercial vs. residential differences. Understand PSA curves, extension risk and how agencies wrap…
- FIXED - ABS Instrument & Market Features · 15 min · Season 6 Episode 18Explore structural credit enhancement, tranche waterfalls and trigger tests. Compare classic asset classes—autos, cards—and newer niches like solar leases and whole-business deals.
- FIXED - Fixed-Income Securitization · 16 min · Season 6 Episode 17Follow the pipeline from loan pool to special-purpose entity to tranche. See how credit- and time-tranching reshape risk for issuers and investors, plus the economic case for…
- FIXED - Credit Analysis – Corporate · 19 min · Season 6 Episode 16Dive into business risk, moats, management and detailed financial ratios. Finish with recovery analysis across the capital stack and why ratings can lag the market.
- FIXED - Credit Analysis – Government · 19 min · Season 6 Episode 15Blend qualitative governance checks with quantitative debt, growth and external-balance ratios to rank sovereign default risk. Contrast with sub-sovereign and supranational…
- FIXED - Credit Risk · 14 min · Season 6 Episode 14Define default, recovery and credit migration. Walk through structural vs. reduced-form models and see how ratings, leverage and cyclical forces feed into spread moves.
- FIXED - Curve-Based & Empirical Risk Measures · 16 min · Season 6 Episode 13Swap from yield-shift to curve-shift analytics: key-rate durations, twist & butterfly exposures, plus empirical (regression) duration when cash-flow data are messy.
- FIXED - Yield-Based Convexity & Portfolios · 9 min · Season 6 Episode 12Add curvature to your risk toolkit. Topics: standalone bond convexity, duration-plus-convexity price estimates and building target-duration/convexity portfolios.
- FIXED - Yield-Based Duration Measures · 11 min · Season 6 Episode 11Compute modified, money duration and price-value-of-a-basis-point for bullets, zeros, floaters and perps. See how convexity tweaks the linear estimate.
- FIXED - Interest-Rate Risk & Return · 15 min · Season 6 Episode 10Break total return into income, reinvestment and price change. Link Macaulay duration, investment horizon and curve shifts to work out when rising rates can still boost realised…
