So here is my personal update. I took a few days off from CFA studying because I was burned out and found myself just sitting there and not really learning much. The pace got so slow that it made sense to step back for a while. I was hoping it would rejuvenate me as that's worked in the past. But the truth is I've been fighting this since day one. I've never hit my weekly target for hours and that just meant I had to speed up the pace as we get closer if I'm to have any chance. I thought it made sense to try and knock this out from Jan-June but Level I took me the better part of 14 months to properly prepare, I don't know that 5 months for Level II was ever a reality. I would rather prepare on my own time frame and then take the test when I'm ready. If that means I have to wait 10 months after I'm ready then it's disappointing but so be it. I found myself not happy in general and just got tired of it. I also had to admit to myself that part of studying full time and then waiting for the results to come out in August was really just an attempt at justifying not looking for a job.
So as of today here is my current plan. I'm starting the options mentoring next week and that last nine weeks. I'm looking forward to finally being able to put in some serious hours on something that makes me happy and brings in money. I also believe it's something I will be a part of for a very long time in the future, so this just makes sense to me. I still very much want to complete the CFA program so I will still study each day, just not 4-5 hours per day. The mentoring last until the end of June and I might be done with CFA by then as well. So the rough plan is to just study both a few hours each day, in addition I will be doing job research. I'll just kind of diligently put in hours each day towards those three things and play it by ear. I also already starting making sure I exercise an hour a day, I started that a week ago. Between taking some time off, exercising, and putting in some time on something I'm passionate about, the quality of my life really got dramatically better these last few days. I'm truly happy right now. I know we've talked in the past about finding that right balance, as of today I've got a better grip on that than the last few months.
You actually may be on to something. I know you say you struggle with your sizing but playing small enough on each position that it does not cause you to be anxious to checkin every 20 minutes may be to your benefit. As you know I recently put on 1 SPY iron condor and it is so small I do not care to look at it on a intraday basis. Especially during the leanring process.
ReplyDeleteI know it is tuff to realize that you probably will not pass the CFA level 2 the first go round. But you had good intentions and like you said will still work on it, but at your own pace. I am glad to hear that you are going to get to spend some time to dedicate to options.
I really think that working towards a balanced life is the key to happiness. Like we talked about the last time we met, I do not want trading or investing to define who I am. Thats not to say that it isn't a big piece of who I am, I just don't want that to be all I am. I think you understand what I mean.
I'm really OK with accepting that the Level II isn't going to happen this June. It bothered me at first because I dedicated so much time to it at the expense of options education, but it wasn't wasted time. I had to do it at some point and now the majority is out of the way. I am currently happy with the new balance of life and looking forward to spending time on options education and trading. I will be posting much more frequently now.
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