Resolutions: less at the waist, more in the head

Happy new year! Similar to many others, end-of-year festivities kept me from this blog. More generally though, my mind was completely diverted from the general topics that this blog only reflects. It is shamefully surprising how quickly do-gooding falls by the wayside when things get busy. Thank goodness for people who have dedicated their livelihood to doing good, or worldwide philanthropic efforts would be as stop-and-go as public attention.

Again, as many others, I have woken this January with a Holiday Hangover. It's now time to sober up and strengthen my character with some resolutions for self-improvement. But because I would like to be different from most people in some respect, this time I'm putting money on the line to keep my resolutions. And no, I'm not dedicating the steady financial drip of an underused gym membership. The membership I seek requires buckets of funds and hours of toil before setting foot in the establishment: charter to the CFA Institute.

This isn't a decision I've taken lightly, because of the big commitment of time and money. However, I've always taken great stock in titles and certifications, and this is something that I can pursue while working. I'm also fortunate that my company offers some reimbursement for the costs.

So while my resolve is afire, I'll push forward, and have you join me on this venture. This weekend I will

• review the company forms again and gather all of the information I need for reimbursement.

• order the Schweser study materials, which I have heard are good. The Essential package (practice exam book and QBank) should be sufficient, since practice questions are the best way I prepare myself.

Once the materials arrive, I can flip through to get a handle of the amount/type of material. I haven't yet decided on whether to take the June or December exam; once I've settled on that, I can create a study plan.

But first, I should probably get some dinner.