ChrisNotes: How I Passed the CFP Exam

I passed the Beast on July 18-19, 2009. I didn't find this out until September 12th. Cruel the way they make you wait.

Here is how I passed. If you are looking for a shortcut, read no further, there is none. If you want the short answer, take the Ken Zahn prep course.

Step one is to get through the required course work (unless you are challenging the exam). I did mine with American College. The way I passed those classes I detail here, it is the same method as for the CLU, the coursework overlaps almost entirely. This home study method worked for me, better would be to take the coursework from a test prep company like Ken Zahn. Having to go to class on a schedule sucks but they tell you from the start what you need to know.

Then the real test prep begins. There is no way any mere mortal could study all the material in the six 600 page books from the coursework. You need a prep course. Everyone says Zahn is the best, I don't know about best but I can testify that his method works.

Zahn's course is three parts: Pre-Study, Live Review, and Practice Exams.

You get pre-study material of about 800 pages, including pre-tests and case studies. The secret of passing the exam is in doing the pre-study. If you master this material, the live review will highlight what you really need to study. I guess I spent about 50 hours on pre-study. I should have spent more, 100 hours is probably more like it.

Live review advice: simple. Highlight everything Ken says might be on the test. I never used Highlighters studying for anything before but Ken goes way too fast to write it all down.

When you get home from the 4 x 10 hour days of live review, you have 3 - 4 weeks to study. This whole time, I recommend doing practice exams. Ken includes you all you need to pass in the review course fee but if you are on the bubble, I would buy the rest of the however many hundred supplemental questions he sells. I estimate that I spent 200 hours studying and practice testing between the live review and the exam. I am a pretty good test taker and I don't feel like I over did it.

Also, you need to get the flashcards. The way to pass the test is to get the easy questions right and the flashcards help here.

I don't have any of my own tips; these are from Ken. I recommend you follow all of his very detailed instructions for prep and test taking. The most important:

Be very careful
If you can't get the answer in 2 or 3 minutes, pick your lucky letter and move on.
You must get the easy ones right.
Get in the mindset of the CFP Board. Don't argue answers, they will win.
Just pass, baby. You need around 70% to pass. Perfectionists fail.
Chew cinnamon gum while studying and during the test.

I am so happy I passed. I can't imagine having to prepare to take it again. Pass rate was only 50.4% - I was pretty sure I did because as I was filling in the bubbles with my pencil, I would say to myself, "This is how you pass the exam, you get the easy ones right."

Comments

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Chris, was Zahn a live class or self-study? I didn't fare well in July; need to work more on taxes and investments.

Posted by: Terry | September 30, 2009 at 07:13 PM

Terry - Ken Zahn is live and well worth it from everything I've heard. You absolutely need to do the Pre-Study - and get it done - before the live class though, or you are not going to get the full benefit. Good Luck.

Chris - I really love this short description of a long process, and I will be passing this link on to the students in California Lutheran's CFP(r) Pre-Prep class. You have wonderful advice here.

Posted by: Sharon French, MBA | October 05, 2009 at 03:47 PM

Yes!! DITTO to what you wrote!!!!
Leave your professional and emotional baggage at the door!! I have my life back! I passed Nov 09 CFP exam! now onto the rest of the reqs to use the mark!

Posted by: Eric | January 25, 2010 at 11:44 AM