Book excerpt: Clear, concise instruction for all CFA Level I concepts and competencies for the 2018 exam The same official curricula that CFA Program candidates receive with program registration is now publicly available for purchase. CFA Program Curriculum 2018 Level I, Volumes 1-6 provides the complete Level I Curriculum for the 2018 exam, delivering the Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) with expert instruction on all 10 topic areas of the CFA Program. Fundamental concepts are explained in-depth with a heavily visual style, while cases and examples demonstrate how concepts apply in real-world scenarios. Coverage includes ethical and professional standards, quantitative analysis, economics, financial reporting and analysis, corporate finance, equities, fixed income, derivatives, alternative investments, and portfolio management, all organized into individual sessions with clearly defined Learning Outcome Statements. Charts, graphs, figures, diagrams, and financial statements illustrate concepts to facilitate retention, and practice questions provide the opportunity to gauge your understanding while reinforcing important concepts. Learning Outcome Statement checklists guide readers to important concepts to derive from the readings Embedded case studies and examples throughout demonstrate practical application of concepts Figures, diagrams, and additional commentary make difficult concepts accessible Practice problems support learning and retention CFA Institute promotes the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence among investment professionals. The CFA Program Curriculum guides you through the breadth of knowledge required to uphold these standards.The three levels of the program build on each other. Level I provides foundational knowledge and teaches the use of investment tools; Level II focuses on application of concepts and analysis, particularly in the valuation of assets; and Level III builds toward synthesis across topics with an emphasis on portfolio management.