DFOL — Derivatives Fundamentals (Study Hub + Practice)

Derivatives Fundamentals (DFOL) is a CSI exam covering the building blocks of derivatives: futures/forwards, exchange-traded options, swaps, and how derivatives appear inside funds and structured products. It also tests a large “real-world operations” surface area: conduct, account opening, margin, order entry, clearing/exchanges, and contract adjustments.

Official structure (CSI): 1 exam, 3 hours, multiple choice, 100 questions (with a note for earlier enrolments). Source: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/dfol/exam-credits

Use this hub to prep efficiently:

• Start with the Overview for scope and common pitfalls.
• Follow the Study Plan for 30/60/90‑day prep.
• Use the Syllabus as your objective checklist.
• Use the Cheatsheet for payoff diagrams, formulas, and terminology (glossary included).
• Train speed with Practice.

Select a section below to begin.

In this section

• DFOL Cheatsheet — Payoffs, Strategies, Margin, Market Structure, Formulas & Glossary
  High-yield DFOL review: options and futures payoffs, strategy intent, hedging logic, swaps and structured products (concept), plus the operational side (accounts, margin, order entry, clearing/exchanges, contract adjustments) with a large glossary and formula pack.
• DFOL FAQ — Common Questions (Payoffs, Breakevens, Margin)
  Frequently asked questions for DFOL: how to learn payoff logic, what formulas matter, and how to practice effectively.
• DFOL Overview — Options, Futures, Hedging, and Payoff Logic
  High-level overview of DFOL (Derivatives Fundamentals): what’s typically tested, payoff intuition, common mistakes, and a practical prep strategy.
• DFOL Practice — Options & Futures Drills
  Practice DFOL with payoff and hedging drills mapped to the syllabus: options rights/obligations, strategies, breakevens, futures hedging, and risk management.
• DFOL Resources — Official CSI Links
  Authoritative DFOL resources from the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI): course page, official curriculum, and exam credits (structure + weightings).
• DFOL Study Plan (30 / 60 / 90 Days)
  A practical DFOL study plan: 30-day intensive, 60-day balanced, and 90-day part-time schedules focused on payoff intuition, hedging logic, and repeated scenario drills.
• DFOL Syllabus — Learning Objectives by Topic
  Blueprint-aligned learning objectives for DFOL (Derivatives Fundamentals), organized by topic with quick links to targeted practice.