QUANT - Rates and Return [2026]

About this episode

This episode simplifies key concepts in rates and returns from Quant Methods for exam preparation.

Hosted 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 clear, exam-ready intuition. Holding period, arithmetic & geometric mean returns – when each one actually matters. Nominal vs real return (and why inflation quietly eats your gains). Simple, compound & effective annual rates: from r to EAR step-by-step. Cash flows on a timeline: discounting & compounding made visual. Goal: walk away able to explain every key formula without looking at your notes.

People in this episode

Hosts: Mara Ellington, Dorian Hayes

Topics covered

• rates and returns
• quantitative methods
• investment returns
• nominal vs real return
• cash flows
• discounting
• compounding

Keywords

• rates
• returns
• arithmetic mean
• geometric mean
• nominal return
• real return
• inflation
• cash flows
• discounting
• compounding

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Quant Methods – Chapter 1

More episodes of Deep Dive: CFA® Level I Prep 2026

• QUANT - Estimation and Inference · January 26, 2026 · 11 min
• QUANT - Simulation Methods · January 21, 2026 · 11 min
• QUANT - Portfolio Mathematics [2026] · January 20, 2026 · 11 min
• QUANT - Probability Trees and Conditional Expectations [2026] · January 15, 2026 · 12 min
• QUANT - Statistical Measures of Asset Returns [2026] · January 10, 2026 · 11 min
• QUANT - Time Value of Money [2026] · January 5, 2026 · 13 min