2026 CFA Exam Information Session

2026 CFA Exam Information Session
Want to learn more about the CFA exam and how to prepare for it? This event is for you! Hear from a panel of recent Level 1, 2, and 3 passers as they explain their journey and study process. Members, Non-Members, Candidates and Students are welcome to attend. Hosted by: Membership Engagement Advisory Group.









Participants will:
 
  • Receive tips from new charterholders on how to study most efficiently for the CFA exam
  • Hear about discounts available for CFA Review programs from Kaplan Schweser
  • Learn about CFA exam scholarships and eligibility requirements   
  • Meet other active candidates who are preparing for the next exam

Moderator:



Grant Podolski, CFA, CAIA | Janus Henderson

Grant Podolski is the Head of Institutional Client Relations at Janus Henderson Investors, where he is responsible for leading the North America Institutional Client Relationship Management team and delivering investment strategies that are aligned with our institutional clients’ needs and goals. He has held this role since joining the firm in 2025. Before this, he was a client strategist at Legal & General Investment Management America starting in 2020. Grant began his career in 2013 with NISA Investment Advisors, building and implementing customized investment strategies for large institutional clients and held various positions within the firm. Grant has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Saint Louis University. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA® Executive Director, Client Relations). He has over 12 years of financial industry experience.

Panelists:



Gil Fitzgerald, CFA | William Blair | Level 3 Passer and CFA Charterholder

Gil Fitzgerald, CFA, is a senior regional associate on the intermediary distribution team at William Blair Investment Management. Before joining William Blair in 2020, Gil held positions at Discover Financial Services and Alley LLC. Gil is a CFA charterholder and a member of CFA Society Chicago’s Membership Engagement Advisory Board. He is also a dedicated volunteer tutor with Tutoring Chicago. Gil received a B.S. in finance and business analytics, with a minor in Spanish, from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.




Maria Ruiz | Calamos | Level 2 Passer

As a risk management associate, Maria Ruiz measures, monitors, and assesses risks within investment portfolios. She joined Calamos Investments in 2025. Previously, she interned at Oak Hill Advisors and served as a financial researcher at Mexico’s Central Bank, where she analyzed systemic risk in the mutual fund market. She holds a BS in Actuarial Science from Instituto Tecnológico Autonomo de Mexico and an MS in Financial Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.




Pavithra Vaitheeswaran | Level 1 Passer

Pavithra Vaitheeswaran is a finance professional with expertise in audit, valuation, financial analysis, and transaction-focused work. She is currently pursuing her M.S. in Finance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she serves on the Academic Leadership Committee, and supports instruction in Corporate Finance and Financial Accounting. A Chartered Accountant and CFA Level I candidate, she brings hands-on experience from Deloitte and KPMG, leading complex audits, conducting cross-border engagements, and delivering high-impact financial insights for multinational clients. Her project work spans equity research, DCF modeling, M&A valuation, and portfolio strategy, including generating outperformance on a live $500K institutional fund. Pavithra combines strong analytical rigor with leadership, technical depth, and a global perspective across finance and accounting.
Agenda:
4:30 PM Registration and Pizza
4:45 PM Program
5:45 PM Networking
Fee: Free (Must Register to Attend)
 
When
3/18/2026 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Where
33 N La Salle St Lower Level Vault Chicago, IL 60602 UNITED STATES

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