Hey,
Yeah I'm currently doing C1 only. Like yourself, I'm planning to complete the rest of the subjects during my 9 months prior to the CA Program. My employers have expressed that I should complete the GDipAppFin after the CA program, but I just couldn't be bothered waiting 3 years.
In the future my goal is to work within Equities Research or Equities Capital Markets, after a few years with the current Big 4 I'm employed at. I'm planning to do the Investment Analysis stream, having talked to a stockbroker friend who works at the Private Client Division at a Bulge Bracket IB. He said that the Investment Analysis stream from the GDipAppFin is a good pre-program to the CFA program . He also said that it is essential to do the GDipAppFin and the CFA if you intend to work for an IB within their Equities Research or within Equities Capital Markets as an institutional stockbroker. As for working within the Corporate Finance/Transactions Services department of a Big 4, I'm not too sure what stream would suit well. I presume either Corporate Finance or Investment Analysis. However, I will try to clarify that with seniors at my Big 4. Therefore, my other option would be to do a mixture of Investment Analysis and Corporate Finance, as they blend well together.
Not sure yet. I'll keep u posted in the future about my decision.
Cheers,