CFP Board Candidate Open Forum

  • 1.  Failed in March but Passed in July

    Posted 07-19-2018 13:09
    Hello Everyone - Hope you all are doing well.  I've taken the time over the past 2.5 years to use the CFP Boards Forum as a way to stay in tune with what others were doing.  Trying to learn from their daily rituals and habits.  Needless to say it has been a long, stressful, anxiety filled journey but it is finally done.  In March of this year when I received a preliminary Fail I felt defeated.  I honestly felt like I wasn't "good enough" to achieve the goal I had set out toward. 

    The first go around I used the Ken Zahn Live Review which was VERY helpful, however, I did not spend enough time doing practice problems. 

    This second go around I went back through the Zahn pre-study books (2) and the post live review book (1), along with the Zahn flash cards I purchased, all of the Zahn pre-study & post live review quizzes, most exams, case studies from March (I saved them all as PDFs before my student portal access was shut down), purchased a 1,700 question bank from Keir for $160, and purchased the Keir audio books for $25 off this forum. I started re-studying the second week of April and was finished with the 3 Zahn books by June 15th.  I then spent the remainder of the time doing nothing but practice questions.  I did a total of 3,000+ questions within the one month time frame.  I would listen to the auido books while driving, running, exercising, whatever just so I could subconsciously hear the material. 

    I've been told that the way you beat this exam is to do as many quizzes, mock exams, questions as possible.  This was the same process I used when passing the Series 7 last October.  It works I promise.  

    Another thing that you need to be cognitive of is how you prepare physically and mentally for the long exam.  In March I showed up to the testing center without duck tapping the back of my calculator which created anxiety because I then had to run around different offices asking for tape. I also had woken up too early out of pure anxiety and drank way too much coffee/water that morning which lead to me having to take breaks throughout the exam.  

    This second go around I slept in a little later for the 8:30 am exam, showed up roughly an hour early knowing it would take 30 minutes plus just to get checked in and seated (it did I wasn't seated until 8:34am).  I also had a simple breakfast, just enough liquids, and packed a lunch which was two peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (peanut butter for energy).  I topped lunch off with some ibuprofen to help with any headaches.  

    For those that were successful this go around congratulations!  For those that didn't receive the results they had hoped/planned for know that your today is not your forever!  Thanks again everyone for the continual posts and indirect support and best of luck to everyone else who is going down this path!

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    Michael Acosta
    Financial Advisor
    Blueprint
    Charlotte NC
    (864)593-2520
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  • 2.  RE: Failed in March but Passed in July

    Posted 07-20-2018 14:12
    CONGRATULATIONS!

    Joe

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    Joe Achenbaum
    Chairman
    Winston Advisors
    Rehoboth Beach, DE
    203.610.3003
    joe.achenbaum@gmail.com
    www.wynstonadvisors.com
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  • 3.  RE: Failed in March but Passed in July

    Posted 07-23-2018 08:54
    Congrats Michael!

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    Wendy Seale
    Financial Advisor
    Prosperity Bank
    Frisco TX
    (469)394-1015
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  • 4.  RE: Failed in March but Passed in July

    Posted 07-23-2018 08:53
    I am trying to prepare to win in Nov,
    how many hours a week did you study? 

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    Sima Alefi
    Financial Advisor
    Serenity Financial Planning
    Escondido CA
    (925)786-1490
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