CFP Board Candidate Open Forum

Expand all | Collapse all

4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

  • 1.  4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-03-2023 13:31
    Edited by Rebekah Horsting 02-03-2023 13:38

    Hi everyone,

    We are now approximately 4 weeks out from the March exam window. I'd love for anyone to chime in and help answer this prompt:

    At this point in your study prep for the exam:

    • Where were you focusing your attention?
    • Were you finishing a review course?
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?
    • Working through question banks?
    • Other?

    Looking forward to reading your responses!



    ------------------------------
    Rebekah Horsting
    Community Manager
    CFP Board
    candidateforum@cfpboard.org
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-03-2023 13:48
    I would focus on taking practice exams/question banks.  At this point you want to get your brain trained to understand the question & what they are asking for.  Review your results & the rationale which will help you identify any areas you need to concentrate on.  When you take the exam, pass any questions you are unable to answer in a couple of minutes or just don't know.  Answer the questions you know & come back to those.  Good luck!

    ------------------------------
    Levent Bayrasli
    Managing Director
    White Oak Financial Group
    Easton PA
    (908)698-0977
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-03-2023 13:54
    1. At this point before taking the exam I was focusing most of my attention on doing a deep dive into the question structure. I was confident in the material as a whole but wanted to do a deep dive into the best way to answer each question.

    2. I had finished my Dalton review course by that time and had my 4 day deep dive into the material. 

    3. For me, I created flash cards from review questions which I practiced almost daily. I slowly filtered out the ones that had become common knowledge and by this point I had a stack of cards from the areas of which I was the least competent. Once I had it narrowed down I did a deep dive into studying those specific topics. 

    4/5. Working through the question banks was PARAMOUNT for me. Once you gain the knowledge of understanding the math behind everything financial planning it is so important to grasp how all of your numbers are interrelated and how they fit into not only the financial planning process, but the priority in which they should be executed. Becoming familiar with question structure and relating that to how things interact was my greatest triumph.

    ------------------------------
    Robert Lively
    Financial Planning Associate
    JMG Financial Group
    Wheaton IL
    (708)261-3140
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-03-2023 13:58

    Where were you focusing your attention?

    • Being 1 month away I was solely focused on going through QBank Questions and Mock Exams. I viewed the mock exams as a way of gauging my weaknesses and based off the results from these mock exams I allocated different amounts of time for each topic. For example, Tax Planning was the topic which I found the most difficult and had the largest deviation from my average exam scores. Therefore, I spent more time on really understanding the topic as a whole in the last month.

     

    Were you finishing a review course?

    • I utilized Dalton as my review course. I had already went through all of the readings and used their QBank.

     

    Hitting Hard on Difficult topics?

    • Refer to the answer in Question #1 – Tax Planning

     

    Working through Question Banks?

    • I believe this was the most efficient way to spend the last month along with mock exams to assess weaknesses. I viewed the reading as a way of building your base level of knowledge and the QBank as a way of filling in the holes in the details of your knowledge as well as applying your knowledge.

     

    Other?

    • The most important thing is the hours you put in. The amount of studying necessary to pass is different for every individual. However, that individual knows if they have done their part in studying enough and if they have, they will be confident going into the exam. Being nervous going into the exam can very negatively impact your performance on exam day as you will question yourself on things that you were confidently answering during your study prep. Also make sure to get enough sleep and don't eat too much the morning of the exam as your brain doesn't operate as well on a full stomach or you may feel groggy.


    ------------------------------
    Eldar Feyzulov
    Financial Advisor
    ARGI
    Louisville KY
    (270)421-9782
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-03-2023 14:02
    I think everyone's journey & study plan is different, but 4 weeks out from my exam window, I was still in the midst of my review program and progressing through the modules by focusing several day stretches on particular exam topics (professional conduct, general principles, etc) until I'd watched and become fairly familiar with each section. I was still watching lecture/educational study videos and trying to drill down on the key things to remember when evaluating a question on a certain topic. I do think using question banks once you are closer to taking the exam helps you realize where you are deficient.

    I also think its easy to get bogged down trying to learn the ins and outs of every single niche topic that could possibly be tested on the exam, rather than try to focus on the big picture. For example, my initial go-round taking the exam on my first attempt, I thought I was sufficient on general planning/investing/tax principles, and devoted extensive periods of time to things like memorizing pages and pages of content around non-qualified stock options and the details around their tax treatment, etc. While this material is of course important to know and understand, I crammed on topics like that thinking that is what would give me fits on the exam, and I ended up getting maybe one question on that specific topic, but my choice to not drill-down on the fundamentals no doubt made me perform poorer on questions that I originally thought should have been easy. So, on my second attempt, I tried to focus more on big picture items and the general topics, and how the various topics come together. The CFP Exam asks questions that involve multiple areas, such as an investment-related question that has an income-tax wrapper on it, that even if you are a stud in one area, you may get the question wrong if you do not understand all of the topics in general. I highly recommend test-takers take the practice CFP exam to get an idea of how the exam questions are structured.

    ------------------------------
    Justin Seidenwand
    Associate Financial Advisor
    Fullen Financial Group
    Columbus OH
    (216)299-5486
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-03-2023 14:05
    4 weeks out I was at Brett Danko's Live Review course with about 30 others going through key concepts for the exam. We had a lot of pre-work that prepared us for the live review so we knew our weak areas heading into the 3 day course. Once live review was over, we were given a detailed, step by step study plan to follow that correlated to the exact day you were taking the exam. My recommendation would be to follow the process accordingly, and put in the long hours to be successful. It will pay off. Study your wrong answer book, which is a journal I had been keeping on concepts I had missed and didn't understand. Review concepts on flashcards, and re-read sections over the final 4 weeks to firm up weak areas that continue to plague you. DO NOT take same practice tests repeatedly, this is not a memorization test. Its a test based on understanding concepts. GOOD LUCK and leave no doubt when you enter that testing room. You will pass.

    ------------------------------
    Jason Jacobi
    LPL Registered Principal & Wealth Advisor
    Boyer Financial Services
    Newport Beach CA
    (949)554-4297
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-03-2023 15:08
    • Where were you focusing your attention?
      • Daltons Q Bank, for a couple hours a day.  I found in working through difficult topics, my time was better spent practicing questions as opposed to re reading and re watching lectures.
    • Were you finishing a review course?
      • If I was finishing a review, it was the Dalton review.
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?
      • After going through Q bank for a while I would focus on only sections that I struggled with and dedicated all my time to those sections.


    ------------------------------
    Leo Seiler
    Financial Advisor
    Edward Jones
    Lake St Louis MO
    (636)625-4004
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-03-2023 15:26
    Four weeks out I had finished up my Dalton Review and then I did the Kenzahn class. The Kenzahn review class absolutely helped me pass my test. 

    Four weeks out, I started the Kenzahn Review Study course material which had several questions banks.

    Anything I was still struggling with I wrote out on note cards. I reviewed these several times. 

    The Kenzahn review helped me to master the estate planning details. They give you TWO books to read before the class. Then one book to review during the 4 day class prior to taking the CFP exam.  If you know the in class book content well, you are ready. They basically take 7 books and narrow it down into one consolidated focused book. That is more digestible. 

    Lastly, The CFP provides a practice test  on their website. This is really a test from prior years.  I took it. I recommend you take it a week before your exam.  It helped me to pinpoint the areas I really needed to focus on and I hit that hard before the exam.

    ------------------------------
    Joy Schlie
    Investment Advisor
    Freeman Heyne Toma Advisors
    Milford OH
    (513)878-2433
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-03-2023 16:45
    • Where were you focusing your attention?
      • Review questions in areas of weakness
      • Proficiency on calculator/NPV questions
    • Were you finishing a review course?
      • Yes
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?
      • Reviewing difficult topics but being okay with not getting the very detailed tax or estate planning questions - how many double basis questions or real estate exchange questions are they going to ask?
    • Working through question banks?
      • Yes, during any downtime during the day I would try and take 10-25 question exams.
    • Other?
      • Not easy or available for everyone but the in-person review course was really helpful.  The prof was phenomenal and the dedicated time to review along with anecdotes or tips to remember certain topics was great.


    ------------------------------
    Timothy March
    Financial Advisor
    Benjamin F. Edwards & Co.
    Wheaton IL
    (630)871-2673
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-06-2023 13:31
    I was hammering on practice exams and question banks on topics I struggled with. I used the Dalton Review Course and their question banks.  I did a live review about 6 weeks out through Dalton as well that was amazing.

    ------------------------------
    David Drumhiller
    Financial Advisor
    WSECU Investment Management
    Pullman WA
    (509)329-9662
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-06-2023 15:56
    1. Where was I focusing my attention?: I used Danko and Dalton for my review, mostly Danko, but also Dalton for the questions bank. At this point I was taking as many chapter and section quizzes as possible, and was taking 4 practice tests each weekend. For anything I was unsure on or confused about, I'd make a list and go back to the books to review and understand it.
    2. I was almost wrapped up with my actual review courses, but was mainly focused on the practice questions and exams component. I was also utilizing my review team for questions I had that I couldn't answer based on materials. 
    1. For the hard topics, I feel like this process works best. Read, take practice questions, mark any unsure areas, go back to the reading for those, take more practice questions, and repeat. This way you can get a solid gauge as to where you stand on each topic, and hone in on the areas you may be a bit weak in understanding.
    2. For practice questions, time is your biggest enemy. It's not only about studying, but about creating a schedule for yourself to do as many questions as possible without getting burnt out. Most of us are working, so what I'd do is study during the week and take questions from 5 or 6 to 8 or 9. Occasionally I'd be a bit burnt out, so sometimes I'd give myself small breaks. The weekends are really where I took a deep dive into studying. Time management is crucial in preparing for this test. In 2022, I used ALL of my paid time off to prepare for this test. If you can take a week off before you test, I strongly recommend it. It'll help you focus on this solely.
    3. The biggest piece of advice I have for someone taking this test is to over prepare. Take as many practice exams and questions as you can. Take pictures on your phone of questions you got wrong. Bring your flash cards with you everywhere you go. One of the biggest challenges I faced on this test was not being familiar with certain questions on the exam date. Half the battle is understanding the question and knowing what they are looking for. If you've seen the question before, it'll be a lot easier to navigate it. 


    ------------------------------
    Peter Mako
    Associate
    Fidelity Investments
    Trumbull CT
    (914)380-2839
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-07-2023 09:04
    Where were you focusing your attention?
    Flash cards, flow charts, and practice exams. Not one specific topic, rather covering all topics to be an expert in all categories not just a few.

    Were you finishing a review course?
    Yes - Brett Danko's Signature Review.

    Hitting hard on difficult topics?
    Absolutely, I found that my first test I understood the topics that took up less % of the test. The second time around I studied all, equally.

    Working through question banks?
    Absolutely, and taking the CFP practice exam. My review course had tons of case test bank questions. I really found those to be helpful as it was more application based learning versus multiple choice.

    Other?
    I really honed in on my process of elimination. If I could quickly eliminate two answers I knew for sure were incorrect, then I would have a better chance at choosing the right answer. Timing myself for each practice test was very helpful to see just where I stood.



    ------------------------------
    Casey Gilligan
    Associate Wealth Advisor
    Mariner Wealth Advisors
    Cincinnati OH
    (513)532-5828
    ------------------------------


  • 13.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-07-2023 09:56
    • Where were you focusing your attention?   First and foremost I followed exactly what my study plan (Dalton for me) suggested.  I did this the entire time trusting their process.  I was focused a lot on question banks and mock test. That's always helped me more than reading or flash cards. A good friend of mine passed the period before me and flash cards were her go to.  That's where you have to find/know what works best for you.  
    • Were you finishing a review course?  Yes.  I followed the Dalton review day by day and week by week. 
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?  Yes but only topics that we're very likely testable.
    • Working through question banks?  Yes for sure.  Most of what I was doing be the end.
    • Other?   Couple things come to mind: I made sure I was good on the basics of my calculator and could execute the settings needed. I reset my settings multiple times so I was very confident if something got off (and you have to when you walk in).  Also I'd HIGHLY recommend the CFP practice board test.  It gets you out of your study program for a moment and lets you see an example of how the test may look. 
    Nate Geist

    ------------------------------
    Nathan Geist
    Financial Advisor
    Edward Jones
    Edmond OK
    (405)751-1659
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-07-2023 09:59
    • Where were you focusing your attention?  I used the Dalton program and was focusing my attention on any topic where I wasn't scoring at least a 70% on the quizzes and tests.  Mostly Tax and Retirement Planning.
    • Were you finishing a review course?  Yes I was finishing the Dalton Review program. 
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?  Yes, Tax and Retirement Planning were my two areas of weakness.  Learning all the retirement plans, especially those for self employed and trying to strengthen any weak tax areas. 
    • Working through question banks?  100% this is almost entirely how I studied in the final weeks leading up to the exam.  Any question I missed I would make a flash card on and then re-take quizzes until I understood why I was getting questions wrong.
    • Other?  This isn't necessarily a study tip but I strongly advise making a pre-trip to your testing location.  You want to know exactly how to get there, how long it takes, where to park, where to sign in, etc.  The last thing you need on the day of your test is the added stress about arriving at the correct location on time.  


    ------------------------------
    Kevin Wright
    Miramar Services Inc.
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-07-2023 13:10
    • Where were you focusing your attention?
      • I was focusing on doing as many practice questions as possible and re-reading what I identified as my weak areas.
    • Were you finishing a review course?
      • Yes, I was working through the Dalton Review
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?
      • Absolutely, I spent a lot of time reviewing my calculator questions and understanding the investment formulas.
    • Working through question banks?
      • 100% most important aspect of my review was the test bank
    • Other?
      • The day before the exam I closed my books and went to play a round of golf. Clearing my head and not trying to cram at the last minute put me in the best possible headspace to think critically on questions that I wasn't 100% sure of.


    ------------------------------
    Daniel O'Halloran
    Career Changer
    Emissary Wealth
    Boonton NJ
    (732)668-3788
    ------------------------------


  • 16.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-07-2023 15:57
    • Where were you focusing your attention? I was focusing most of my attention on practice questions when I was roughly one month from taking the exam. I had probably made it through 1,500 - 2,000 questions by this point. I would take between 40-50 questions, and then review the questions I answered incorrectly. From here, I would make flashcards on the concepts I needed to focus on in more detail. One key area I tried to focus on was my internal narrative. I noticed that if I wrote my flashcards in the form of a question, and then answered the question on the other side, it was almost as if I was having a dialogue with myself about the concept. As an example, I wouldn't write a paragraph about the intricacies of ILITs but I would create a series of flashcards that asked questions about ILITs (front: how long is the look-back period for an ILIT? back: 3 years). I found that I was coming back to my flashcards more often and truly reinforcing the most important topics. 
    • Were you finishing a review course? I used Dalton as a review course, and would highly recommend their program to anyone. They had all of the previous lectures recorded so I actually watched them by the time the actual "live" class was happening. Opted to not re-watch the live version and focus on questions instead. I would watch a section (such as fundamentals) then take all of the applicable practice questions associated with that section. Then repeat for each section.
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics? Absolutely. Fail in the QBank, make the flashcard, read the concept in the book. Each week I would narrow down my flashcards to the topics I was consistently getting incorrect. I probably created about 1,750 flashcards (remember, mine were short and sweet), but narrowed down the pool to about 300 by the time I was about to take the exam.
    • Working through question banks?100% - This is the best way to pass. Don't just take the questions for the sake of practice, you need to do this to understand where you are weak. From here, focus on those topics. You WILL see your weak areas on the exam (standard deviation of a two asset portfolio, I thought there was no way I would see it, pretty sure it was there). 
    • Other? On Saturdays I would go to the local university and try to do 150-200 questions in one setting. Helped prevent fatigue for the actual exam. This is a very passable exam but you have to put the time in to be successful. 


    ------------------------------
    Nelson Greene
    Solutions Consultant
    Parkside Investments, LLC
    Jacksonville FL
    (904)994-2998
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-07-2023 17:35
    Where were you focusing your attention?I was going through the Dalton review books, just reading them and focusing on the main concepts

    Were you finishing a review course?
    Yes, i did the Dalton Review

    Hitting hard on difficult topics?
    Yes, but also covering everything

    Working through question banks?
    Not so much

    ------------------------------
    Daniel Huffman
    Physical Therapist
    Cornerstone Financial Planning LLC
    Colorado Spgs CO
    (719)799-0681
    ------------------------------


  • 18.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-08-2023 08:22
    • Where were you focusing your attention?Reviewing the earlier courses and doing lots of practice questions from Q Bank
    • Were you finishing a review course?Did not take a review course
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?Yes, via questions in q bank
    • Working through question banks?Yes!
    • Other?I made flash cards as I went through my courses and studied those also


    ------------------------------
    Elizabeth Moore
    Director of Business Strategy
    Morgan Stanley
    Cincinnati OH
    (513)307-3909
    ------------------------------


  • 19.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-08-2023 10:44
    At this point in my studies it was questions, questions and more questions.   Focusing on the modules that I was not as strong in but also getting used to answering CFP Board type questions.  
    In finishing a review course, I was about to attend the live review, and it is likely some at this stage may have already attended such a class if elected to do so. 

    Good luck to all gearing up for the exam and feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions if I can share my journey in more detail!


    ------------------------------
    Travis Messinger
    Wealth Advisor
    Fulcrum Financial Group
    Spokane WA
    (509)747-2075
    ------------------------------



  • 20.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-08-2023 11:29
    • Where were you focusing your attention?
      • I was focusing my attention on answering every single question in the question bank of the review course I was using (The Dalton Review).
    • Were you finishing a review course?
      • Yes, I had attended a 4 day in person review about 6 weeks before the exam and with 4 weeks left, I had a goal to do as many questions from the question bank as possible.
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?
      • Yes. For me, retirement benefits and certain taxation topics were areas that I needed to focus on. I also found value in the Money Education Quicksheets
    • Working through question banks?
      • Yes. My goal was to try and get through the question bank twice if I could.
    • Other?
      • If there is an in-person review course that you can attend, I highly recommend it. Not only was I immersed in the material for 4 days straight 8AM-6PM (and it was grueling, I have to say), but I also had the opportunity to meet my peers and connect with them. After the review course, I stayed in touch with two people I met in my review course and we would meet weekly on Zoom to go over questions we found difficult and help each other navigate through them.


    ------------------------------
    Natalie McGinley
    Financial Advisor
    Eagle Strategies / New York Life (NY Life)
    Forest Hills NY
    (917)991-5098
    ------------------------------


  • 21.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-08-2023 17:53
    I had just taken my prep course and was focusing on the areas based on a calculation of their weighting versus how I had scored in them. (Heavy weight + lower score = highest priority. Less weighted + higher score = deprioritized entirely)

    ------------------------------
    Thomas Sutton
    Investing Support Associate
    Betterment
    New York NY
    (919)268-3813
    ------------------------------


  • 22.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-08-2023 18:04
    Where were you focusing your attention? Finishing Review course and focusing on difficult subjects and review questions.
    Were you finishing a review course? Yes, Kaplan
    Hitting hard on difficult topics? I did review all the topics multiple times, especially the challenging ones.
    Working through question banks? Yes, I took as many quizzes as I could.

    ------------------------------
    Robert Anderberg
    Investment Adviser Representative
    F5 Financial Planning
    Spokane Valley WA
    (509)998-2928
    ------------------------------


  • 23.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-09-2023 09:09
    Where were you focusing your attention?
    On work, clients, and business development. That does not mean I didn't study, but study was limited. At most 1 hour a day, but making up during flights, driving (videos and audio), side of the soccer field at my kids practice, etc. Wherever and whenever I could, not putting other priorities aside. Did not focus on specific content, but rather familiarization and understanding of overall material.

    Were you finishing a review course?
    Yes. To remove myself from everything else for one week, I attended a prep courses This was essential.

    Hitting hard on difficult topics?
    No. Provided every section equal amount of attention and care.

    Working through question banks?
    Yes. Did a lot as a final wrap-up.

    Other?
    Took a one week retreat to a remote cabin to wrap-up and focus on study. Essential for me.


    ------------------------------
    Hiroshi Asato
    Financial Advisor
    McNellis & Asato Ltd.
    Bloomington MN
    (952)548-3123
    ------------------------------


  • 24.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-09-2023 11:30
    • Where were you focusing your attention? Practice questions and reviewing wrong answers as well as topics I felt needed more review
    • Were you finishing a review course?Yes (Brett Danko)
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?yes
    • Working through question banks?Many, many questions (1,000+) - both CFP Board Practice exams and ALL Brett Danko practice questions (study material questions and final practice questions)
    • Other? Check in calls-Brett Danko


    ------------------------------
    Blair Lapp
    Senior Vice President
    Commonwealth Investment Advisors LLC
    Alexandria VA
    (202)642-0588
    ------------------------------


  • 25.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-09-2023 15:44
    Where were you focusing your attention?
    I was looking at materials/graphics that best helped me conceptualize essential topics
    Were you finishing a review course?
    Yes, Dalton Review Course
    Hitting hard on difficult topics?
    Not really. Focused more on what the test prioritized then perhaps the difficult topics in those categories. This also included reinforcing the topics I was already strong on.
    Working through question banks?
    Absolutely! I did not focus so much on whole exam practice tests, but emphasized test banks on certain topics/sections


    ------------------------------
    Christopher Browne
    Financial Advisor
    Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management
    Philadelphia PA
    (215)860-6056
    ------------------------------


  • 26.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-09-2023 16:46
    • Where were you focusing your attention?   I was focusing on the question bank and the practice exams. 
    • Were you finishing a review course?   I did go through the Dalton review course with an in-person review.
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?  Dalton had visual pages for the tough topics that simplified what I needed to know and remember.
    • Working through question banks?  That is probably #1 most helpful thing I did.
    • Other?  The in-person review was super helpful as well.


    ------------------------------
    Kelly Ellebracht
    Financial Planning Specialist
    BridgeNorth Wealth Advisors, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial, LLC
    Fredericksburg TX
    (830)456-4761
    ------------------------------


  • 27.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-10-2023 03:15

    Here are my answers to Rebekah's questions.....


    I took the 2nd CFP practice exam 4 weeks out. Do both if you have not had a chance to do the first one yet. Completing the CFP practice exams will help you gauge which areas need more attention. The Dalton simulation exams are more challenging than the CFP practice exams. I do not recommend doing more than one a week.
     
    The Dalton weekend live reviews are awesome btw. There are fewer students compared to the weeknight live reviews...which provides students ample opportunities to ask all your questions.
     
    With respect to the question banks, I completed the Dalton test bank twice before the exam. I learned from reviewing the correct and the wrong answers for each question. 
     
    Lastly, I found it important to recharge well daily. This exam is no walk in the park. You want to be in the right headspace... and walking into that exam fully recharged !
     
    Wishing all March exam takers the best of luck and success in their CFP certification journey ! Look forward to congratulating you all after you pass !


    ------------------------------
    Nita Mukherjee
    N/A
    N/A
    Los Altos CA
    (408)550-6482
    ------------------------------



  • 28.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-10-2023 08:50
    I was finishing up my Dalton Review course at this point. I focused the last 3 weeks on test banks, topics I was not comfortable on, and reinforcing topics / thoughts on things I was comfortable on. The last 10 days I literally spent 6 hour days just testing. Sample tests, CFP board practice test, quiz banks, etc. To get as much info and comfortability with the exam as I could before I sat.

    ------------------------------
    Joseph Ladner
    Financial Advisor
    Edward Jones
    Athens TN
    (423)435-1424
    ------------------------------


  • 29.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-10-2023 11:53
    • Where were you focusing your attention?
      • I focused on areas that I was weak in based on the practice questions I had taken. I would also be very proficient with the calculator problems. I had quite a few, and they are, in my opinion, the easiest to get correct.  
    • Were you finishing a review course? 
      • I did not complete a review course due to the scheduling and work.
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics? 
      • I Definitely recommend focusing your time on areas that you are unsure about. I would also check the test weighting in the preparation materials. Certain topics are tested more than others.
    • Working through question banks? 
      • I took over 1,600 practice questions. They are a great way to prepare.
    • Other? 
      • Review the case studies as well. There are numerous on the exam and it helps to see them so you can sort through the abundance of information they give you.

     

     



    ------------------------------
    Thomas Birdsey
    Client Advisor
    Bessemer Trust Company
    Palm Beach FL
    (561)835-8337
    ------------------------------


  • 30.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-10-2023 14:00
    • Where were you focusing your attention? 
      • I reread all of the material and then I would take module quizzes. Once I felt confident on the module, I’d review the next with the same process. Then, I just answered a bunch of questions the last 7 days or so and fortunately was successful enough at them to feel confident.
    • Were you finishing a review course? 
      • Yes- through Kaplan but it was just as described above. They did shorten each module to hit the high points.
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics? 
      • Yes but not too much effort on this. I had to reread some of the tax rules (the complex ones) a few times.
    • Working through question banks? 
      • At the very end (last 7 days or so) this is all I did. I think my secret to success was just rereading every word in Kaplan’s Modules. It wasn’t easy and was a slow process but it worked.
    • Hope this helps!


    ------------------------------
    Charlie Burford
    CEO & Advisor
    Burford Brothers
    Dallas TX
    (214)447-7511
    ------------------------------


  • 31.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-14-2023 13:47

    Where were you focusing your attention? Reviewing the areas where I scored the lowest relative to that areas size.  Essentially, what are my biggest gaps that I could close.  Were you finishing a review course? No, I took a practice exam and then review course material based on those results.  

    Hitting hard on difficult topics? Taxation and retirement plans were my weakest areas, so I focused on those, especially related to the minutia of special tax situations and specific retirement plan rules. 

    Working through question banks? I didn't use any question banks.  I only used the two practice exams and the course materials to prepare.  

    Other? Re-read chapters, and try to apply them to real world scenarios.  



    ------------------------------
    Mark Mallia
    Branch Manager, Financial Advisor, OSJ Principal
    Bankers Life
    Solon OH
    (989)400-2794
    ------------------------------



  • 32.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-14-2023 15:01
    • Where were you focusing your attention?
      • Flash cards and truly understanding the concepts as well as figuring out how the CFP Board wanted the questions answered.
    • Were you finishing a review course?
      • No, strictly reviewing content from a review course I had finished weeks prior
    • Hitting hard on difficult topics?
      • Yes, truly start sorting out what you know verses what you don't know and put more emphasis on those topics 
    • Working through question banks?
      • Yes
    • Other?
      • Roadmaps and Flashcards every night!!


    ------------------------------
    Annie Baker
    Financial Planning Analyst
    Salt City Financial Advisors
    Syracuse NY
    (315)657-1421
    ------------------------------


  • 33.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-15-2023 16:46

    Happy to share about my experience. When I was four weeks out I was studying about two-three hours per night mostly working through question banks. I also read through the entire booklet of slides I received from attending an in-person Dalton Review. I did a portion of a couple of practice exams, but never took the time to fully complete one because of time constraints. I saved the case studies until 2 weeks out and found that to be very helpful. I focused my energy on topics I was struggling with the most but made sure to keep doing broad reviews. By the end of my studying, I was getting 80% or more correct working through the "Hot Questions" section of the Dalton review.



    ------------------------------
    Samantha Masey
    Associate Wealth Advisor
    Bouchey Financial Group
    Queensbury NY
    (518)801-3482
    ------------------------------



  • 34.  RE: 4 weeks out from the exam, where were you in your study prep?

    Posted 02-22-2023 16:07

    For exam preparation, I'd used the American College of Financial Services to gain the needed education requirements. I did not use any additional exam prep. I spent most of my time after just doing questions and reviewing what I'd learned from the courses. I spent time making sure that I understood the published exam topic weightings and dedicated my time accordingly.

    I used the CFP Board's free mock exam to get an idea of my preparation and based on the score and my comfort with explaining and applying what I'd learned I felt good to test.

    No additional review courses, no outside question banks beyond the mock exam from CFP Board, no tutoring. I realize that every person is different however and everyone learns differently. 

    If I could give any advice to a future test-taker, I would say to do questions. Reading is fine and reviewing is fine, but it seems to be that active application of what you read and what you reviewed is best for solidifying that information and retaining understanding rather than just trying to memorize for test day. 



    ------------------------------
    Javaka Thompson
    Financial Advisor
    Northwestern Mutual
    Coralville IA
    (773)790-3086
    ------------------------------