Question to everyone who has passed the CFP exam
31 RepliesJump to last post
[quote=ChrisVarick][quote=WealthManager][quote=ChrisVarick]
15 hours a week for how long? Or just 15 hours total...[/quote]Total, but the number can be deceptive. Please remember that I went to the review course which was intensive. I estimate that 5-hours of the 15 were pre-review course and the other 10 were post-review. I also didn’t count time listening to audio versions of the flashcards that the instructor offered. I listened to them for about 30-minutes each way to and from work for over a week. I also continually reduced the number of flashcards that I listened to.<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
With that said, I do truly believe that the review method that I posted is very effective. Review only what you don’t know and be sure to get through every topic rather than know everything about some topics.
--WM
[/quote] Wow 15 hours? That's actually quite impressive. Thanks for the recommendation, unfortunately I don't live near Danko classrooms, but I think I will take on a Kenneth Zahn class. Are they pretty much similar?[/quote] Stop worrying about the CFP until you have actually been hired by a firm TO BE A PRODUCER. In fact, don't worry about it until you've survived, if at all. The letters after your name don't matter if you can't produce. Period.[quote=ChrisVarick]
Wow 15 hours? That's actually quite impressive. Thanks for the recommendation, unfortunately I don't live near Danko classrooms, but I think I will take on a Kenneth Zahn class. Are they pretty much similar?[/quote] Ken Zahn is the person who designed the materials. I never met him. Brett is a unique character. He does a good job of making the long days in class less painful. --WM[quote=deekay][quote=ChrisVarick][quote=WealthManager][quote=ChrisVarick]
15 hours a week for how long? Or just 15 hours total...[/quote]Total, but the number can be deceptive. Please remember that I went to the review course which was intensive. I estimate that 5-hours of the 15 were pre-review course and the other 10 were post-review. I also didn’t count time listening to audio versions of the flashcards that the instructor offered. I listened to them for about 30-minutes each way to and from work for over a week. I also continually reduced the number of flashcards that I listened to.<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
With that said, I do truly believe that the review method that I posted is very effective. Review only what you don’t know and be sure to get through every topic rather than know everything about some topics.
--WM
[/quote] Wow 15 hours? That's actually quite impressive. Thanks for the recommendation, unfortunately I don't live near Danko classrooms, but I think I will take on a Kenneth Zahn class. Are they pretty much similar?[/quote] Stop worrying about the CFP until you have actually been hired by a firm TO BE A PRODUCER. In fact, don't worry about it until you've survived, if at all. The letters after your name don't matter if you can't produce. Period. [/quote] Deekay, I completely agree, but for the time being since I'm stuck in an office, I might as well utilize my time here. The letters don't mean a darn thing to me, but I have learned a lot from the material. I started the program before I thought I was going to switch firms this early (anticipating I was going to take the March exam), but now that I am in the process of switching over, I will definitely put the exam on hold as ALL I CARE about is prospecting and building my book of business.Let's bring this topic back up. I'm planning to sit for the test this July. Before I shell out some bucks for the study guides I thought I would ask the opinions of those of you who passed which one(s) are best. My plan is to do a self-study and online. I do not have the time to head out of town for a week or weekend for a crash course. I do have two and a half months to study though.
I don't think it matters too awful much what material you use to study. What is important, in my opinion, is a good in-person or at least a live on-line reveiw course. Having someone walk you through what has been tested in the past and being able to ask that person a question was incredibly helpful for me. I used the college for fin'l planning for both the coursework and reveiw. My reveiw was 5 weeks (I think) of Monday/Wednesday/Friday for 3 hours a night. It was led by an indy in Florida for the investments, an accountant for the accounting and an attorney for the estates. Either way, good luck.
Does anyone know where i can buy a cd that contains practice questions for the cfp exam?
I want to use the most inexpensive coursewoek out there for the cfp. Bryant university online self study $1700 then pay for a really good exam review. Either dalton at university of miami or Zahn. Think that is a good plan. Can you share what programs you used?
@infoe - I just passed the CFP in July on the first attempt. I used the Bryant University online self study and then used the 10 week Keir program. I didn’t want a 4 day “cram” review because I learn better over a longer period. The 10 week Keir program allowed for questions and replays if you missed a session. YMMV depending on your experience and background.
@beaglemeister
I am considering the Bryant University online course, you felt it prepared you enough?
[quote=AlpineBlue]@beaglemeister
I am considering the Bryant University online course, you felt it prepared you enough?[/quote]
If you are new to the industry, you may want to use the Bryant virtual classroom course for a deeper dive on the material. If you are going to do the profession justice, you need to learn the principles, not just “cruise through” the course.
On the other hand, if you have a few years in the business under your belt, you may want to take the self paced program and just get through it so you can get to the cram course. (This is what I did). The self paced program allows you to attack the material at your own pace, spending more time on your weak areas and “reviewing” the areas that you already have mastery of.
I recommend the 10 week Keir cram course as it definitely prepared me for the CFP exam without having to sit in a hotel room for 3 days. I did take a time off before the exam and study in a college library for about a week. Passed on the first try.