CFA® Exam Blog
Updated:Nov. 28, 2021
Bryce Welker
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So how do we actually make money? It’s simple, our partners compensate us. While this may influence which products we review and write about, and where they show up on the site, it absolutely does not influence our recommendations or guidance, which are formed by hundreds of hours of research and analysis. Check out our partners here.
What’s the bottom line? We’re on your team and are passionate about helping you achieve your career goals, even if it means we don’t make a dime.
100% of the time.
We believe everybody should be able to make online purchases with confidence. And while our website doesn’t feature every test prep company or review course in the universe, we’re proud that the advice we offer and the information we provide is accurate, truthful, objective - and entirely free.
So how do we actually make money? It’s simple, our partners compensate us. While this may influence which products we review and write about, and where they show up on the site, it absolutely does not influence our recommendations or guidance, which are formed by hundreds of hours of research and analysis. Check out our partners here.
What’s the bottom line? We’re on your team and are passionate about helping you achieve your career goals, even if it means we don’t make a dime.
CFA Institute does not endorse, promote or warrant the accuracy or quality of CrushTheFinancialAnalystExam.com. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.
Let’s Examine the CFA® Scoring System
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerYou finished taking your first level of the CFA® exam, now what? You’re probably have tons of questions about how the exam is scored and when you’ll know your results. These are all valid questions and frustratingly complicated to find direct answers. Your CFA® exam result will either be a pass or did not pass. Seems simple enough, but what determines a not passing score and who’s calling the shots? Let’s check out what goes…
Most Commonly Asked CFA® Exam Questions with Mike Carmody
/in CFA Exam Tips /by Bryce WelkerWe get a lot of great CFA® exam questions and want to provide you all with the best possible answers. To do so, we spoke to a true CFA® expert, one of the brilliant minds from AdaptPrep, a leader in the CFA® exam review space. Mike Carmody is a CFA® charterholder and Fellow in the Society of Actuaries. Over the past two decades, Mike has helped prepare thousands of candidates for actuarial and CFA® exams…
How to Recover From CFA® Exam Failure
/in CFA Exam Tips /by Bryce Welker“Get back on the horse” is an oft-used expression, usually expressed by those who don’t experience the failure themselves. While it’s nice that other people express their condolences and support when we fail, overcoming this failure and getting back on the proverbial horse is a process that must start within. Failing the Certified Financial Analyst exam is common—in 2016, the CFA® Institute said that the passing rates were 43%, 46%, and 53% for levels I,…
Best Songs on Spotify for Studying
/in CFA Exam Tips /by Bryce WelkerFor some people, music is a hindrance to studying. For the rest of us, however, it’s the only thing that can make slogging through study guides bearable. The science on whether you should be listening to active noise while studying is far from settled, but if you want to make your sessions a little more enjoyable, here are some song ideas. You’ll be amazed at the difference a good playlist makes in your study productivity and your…
Apptuto CFA® Reviews
/in CFA Courses /by Bryce Welker2021 FRM Exam Dates
/in FRM /by Bryce WelkerIf your work involves risk management in financial markets, the FRM certification can give your career a boost. Financial Risk Managers are in demand across the world. Banks, financial institutions, and other organizations highly value their skills and knowledge of intricate risk models. What makes a certified FRM so special? To gain the certification, you need to pass two rigorous exams: FRM Exam Part I: This is offered twice a year. The exam dates are in…
Best CFA® Study Materials – Top 8 Courses
/in CFA Courses /by Bryce WelkerChoosing the right CFA® exam prep course is an important first step towards earning a Chartered Financial Analyst certification. That’s because you need to choose a course that suits your learning style and reinforces your weaknesses. When you consider that typical CFA® pass rates are between 40%-50%, you can see that it’s important to take advantage of any available resources to pass this notoriously difficult exam. Here are the best CFA® prep courses currently on…
Best CIMA Study Materials
/in CIMA /by Bryce WelkerAre you interested in becoming a Management Accountant? The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) provides training and certification in management accountancy. The U.K. based body confers individuals who pass their exams with the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation. If this sounds like what you’re trying to accomplish in your professional accounting career, keep reading! There are three levels of exams to be passed to become a CGMA. Alternatively, if you don’t have an…
AnalystPrep FRM & CFA Review
/in CFA Courses, FRM /by Bryce WelkerAnalystPrep: It seems that there’s always some additional task or certification for Financial professionals. Whether you have to pass a certification exam or pursue courses to continue your professional education, finding a place to prepare you for these career milestones can be just as much work as the job you’re trying to pursue. But where do you start your search? How do you know that you’ve found the best options available to you? Don’t worry,…
Best FRM Exam Prep Courses
/in FRM /by Bryce WelkerThe first step to becoming a Financial Risk Manager is finding a high-quality FRM course. You will be spending dozens of hours studying with it, so it’s critical to find one that matches your personal learning style. We have reviewed all the major FRM exam prep courses on the market so you don’t have to! The comparison chart below will help you find the FRM study materials that best fit your needs. FRM Prep Course Comparison Chart Wiley…
Top 3 Reasons To Become a CFA®
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerIf you’re interested in a career in finance, you have a lot of options for financial certifications that can boost your career path. However, many of these certifications are expensive and may be specific to the United States. If you’re looking for a cost-effective certification that will give you global recognition and a deep understanding of finance, you may consider becoming a CFA®. We have outlined the top 3 reasons you should consider the certified…
Wiley vs Kaplan Schweser CFA® Review
/in CFA Courses /by Bryce WelkerWhich CFA® prep course is better, Wiley or Kaplan Schweser CFA Review? To help you decide, I’ll evaluate the software, practice tests, cost, and other important features of each course to help you decide which is a better fit for you. I have used both of these courses and through my experience found there are some stark differences between the two. (You can also read my full, individual breakdown of both Wiley CFA® & Kaplan…
CFA® Mock Exams and Practice Exams
/in CFA Exam Tips /by Bryce Welker75% of CFA® Exam candidates use mock exams as their primary way to prepare for the CFA exam, and for good reason. A good CFA® mock exam will help you become familiar with the structure and content of the exam, allow you to figure out what you still need to study, and give you an idea of how much time you will have for each question. The more CFA® practice exams you take under similar conditions to…
Wiley CFA® Review
/in CFA Courses /by Bryce WelkerCRUSH RATING: Wiley CFA Review is among the most popular CFA® study materials out there— but is it a good resource to help you pass this difficult test? Read my full review below to find out! About Wiley Efficient Learning For more than 200 years, Wiley has been helping students and young professionals prepare for accounting and finance exams. Over 500,000 business, finance, and accounting professionals have used the Wiley Test Prep platform, and the number keeps growing…
AdaptPrep CFA® Review
/in CFA Courses /by Bryce WelkerCRUSH RATING: AdaptPrep CFA Review is quickly gaining popularity as a time efficient and tech-savvy way to study for the CFA® exam. The company has completely redesigned its prep materials and platform to focus on speed and efficiency. You can choose from “Complete,” “Practice,” or “Learn” for Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. Their adaptive learning technology and Progress Tracker keeps you focused on the essentials, and the new platform was designed to load quickly, especially…
Wiley CFA® Review vs Fitch Learning
/in CFA Courses /by Bryce WelkerWhich CFA exam prep course is better, Wiley CFA Review or Fitch Learning CFA Review? In this head-to-head comparison, I rate its software, practice tests, cost, and other important features to help you decide which review course is a better fit for you. I have used both of these courses and found some very significant differences that every CFA® candidate should know about when considering both of these options. (You can also read our full,…
What Are the Differences Between the CFA® Exam Levels?
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerTo become a CFA®, you must pass Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the Chartered Financial Analyst Exam®. You will be tested on a range of topics that are relevant to the coveted position. But what exactly are the differences in terms of structure and material between the different exam levels? CFA® Level 1 The first CFA® exam you must take is 6 hours long and is broken up into two three hours sessions–one in…
How Much Does it Cost to Get a CFA®
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerSure, you know the many benefits that come from being a CFA®, but do you know the exact cost associated with getting to that point? Well, we may not be able to pin down an exact cost, but we can come pretty close. There are a lot of intangibles that could affect the overall price of the CFA journey, but we can outline the basics for you. Before we dive into the rudimentary numbers, you…
Best CFA® Level 1 Books
/in CFA Books /by Bryce WelkerCFA® Level 1 books offer a more affordable way to study for your CFA® exam compared to buying a full review course. The comparison chart below lists the best CFA® prep books in an easy to read side-by-side format to help you prepare for your upcoming exam.
Bloomberg CFA® Exam Prep Review
/in CFA Courses /by Bryce WelkerCRUSH RATING: Bloomberg CFA Exam Prep has delved deep into its bank of financial and technical resources to produce one of the top CFA® review courses on the market. Their coursecomes with one-on-one tutoring and targeted micro-lessons. This course is so optimized for potential CFA exam passage that Bloomberg offers an unmatched pass insurance. This is a decent course for you if you want to save time, guarantee success, and use the best available test-prep technology and tools…
Fitch Learning CFA® Review
/in CFA Courses /by Bryce WelkerCRUSH RATING: Fitch Learning CFA Exam Review offers a comprehensive prep course for all 3 levels of the CFA® exam. Choose from multiple learning packages to customize your learning experience and study more effectively. Various options include classroom learning, e-learning, and video courses, in addition to stellar user support and 24-7 help desk access. Fitch Learning’s most attractive feature is the promise of up to 400 hours of student support. You can contact customer support by…
Kaplan CFA® Review
/in CFA Courses /by Bryce WelkerCRUSH RATING: Kaplan CFA® offers a comprehensive suite of prep courses for the CFA® exam. You can choose from various online or in-person options, or combine an online review course with a 3-day or 5-day live classroom review session (where available). Kaplan’s longstanding success and reputation in test preparation will not disappoint those attempting to pass this challenging series of exams. A full complement of study guides, workbooks, online materials, practice questions, explanations, study plans, a…
CFA® vs CPA
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerCFA® vs CPA, which one is better? The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designations are two of the most sought-after credentials in the financial field. Many finance professionals choose to pursue these qualifications because they want to improve their career options, get promoted, or make more money. Each career path has distinct differences in educational requirements, responsibilities, and opportunities. The best way to choose which certification to pursue is to understand how they…
FRM vs CFA®
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerThere are many opportunities if you are interested in building a career in the world of finance. The FRM® and and the CFA® are two top certifications in the financial industry that are internationally recognized. Attaining these rigorous certifications can improve your chances of rising to the top of your field, but which qualification is best for you? To help you decide, we have summarized the differences between these two certifications and the main reasons for…
How to Pass CFA® Level 3 Exam
/in CFA Exam Tips /by Bryce WelkerYou’re more than halfway there! And you’ve just beat the the beastly Level II. It should be easy from here…right? While Level II has the most amount of material, Level III still presents its own challenges. I’m here to help you get past these so you can finally complete your CFA® exam process. Don’t Lose Focus Now After years of self-motivated studying, your mental strength to keep going is not as strong as it used…
Your 2021 CFA® Exam Schedule (and Infographic)
/in CFA Exam Tips /by Bryce WelkerThere are a lot of dates to keep track of when you are preparing to take the CFA® Exam. I’ve made an infographic below that details the timeline for registering and paying for your exam. The CFA® Exam includes three levels spread out into three exams. There are only two exam days a year–one in December and the other in June. The June exam date includes all three levels while the December exam date includes…
Bionic Turtle FRM Review
/in FRM /by Bryce WelkerRATING: ★★★★★ Bionic Turtle was one of the first FRM preparation providers to instruct with videos and e-learning tools. Founded by David Harper in 2004, the owner continues to write practice exam questions and tests them out on the world’s most active FRM forum that Bionic Turtle has developed. The company’s goal is to provide high quality materials at a reasonable price. The study planner, study notes, instructional videos, practice questions and student forum deliver a well-rounded package…
How to Pass CFA® Level 1 Exam
/in CFA Exam Tips, CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerYou’ve decided you are ready to take on the challenge of the CFA® exam and become a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®). Make sure you have thought this through because it’s going to be a tough couple years. Even though only 20% of the people who take Level I make it all the way to the end and earn their CFA® license, there is no secret to passing the exam. You will need an organized and…
How Long Does It Take to Pass All Three Levels of CFA® Exam?
/in CFA Exam Tips /by Bryce WelkerBefore deciding whether or not to become a licensed CFA®, you must be willing to put in the hundreds of hours of work. Many of the benefits associated with becoming a CFA® charterholder are financial. But, remember: people in the field know that passing the three levels of the CFA® exam is an unparalleled achievement, so your dedicated efforts do not go unnoticed. But, how long will it take you? CFA® Exam Structure Affects Timing…
Which Jobs are Open to CFA® Candidates?
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerIt’s easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel if we understand exactly from where that illumination comes. In other words, knowing what jobs are open to CFA® charterholders makes studying for the levels of the exam a little easier. I passed each section of the CFA®, but I knew WHY I was taking the test in the first place. I had a role at my company for which I wanted to…
CFA® Salary Breakdown
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerIn considering whether to pursue a professional degree or qualification, two key factors often influence the decision: bettering your career prospects and earning a greater income. There is some consensus that, after a certain point in your life, the position and the job profile matter more than the salary. This is true to a certain extent, but salary remains an important consideration in any career field. The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) program is one of…
CFA® Exam FAQs
/in CFA Exam Tips /by Bryce WelkerThe CFA® exam includes a series of three exams: Levels I, II, and III. Given that there are various different exams and registration dates, you must make sure to register for the correct exam on time. To help you keep track of all the important information and dates, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the CFA exam. To become a CFA® Charterholder, you must pass all three levels of the CFA exam in order. Earning…
CFA® Requirements
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerThose looking for an edge in the competitive world of finance should consider the benefits of obtaining the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) credential. Earning the globally-recognized CFA® charter demonstrates a high degree of specialized knowledge and skills used in investment analysis and decision making. See the Top 4 CFA® Review Courses AnalystPrep CFA® Review ◄◄ #1 CFA® Review Course Save 20% Illumeo CFA® Review ◄◄ Most Affordable CFA® Course The Princeton CFA® Review ◄◄ Most Versatile CFA® Review Course Bloomberg CFA® Review ◄◄ Top…
CFA® Exam Pass Rates
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerThe Chartered Financial Analyst® Exam is notoriously challenging. Candidates all over the world take the exam on the same day, in either June or December, depending on the level. (Only Level I is offered in both months, Level II and Level III are only offered once a year in June). Due to the large amount of material covered on the exams, the CFA® Institute suggests that candidates begin to prepare for each level of the…
CFA® vs MBA
/in CFA Information /by Bryce WelkerCFA® or MBA, which is better? This is a question many business professionals ask themselves when they are mapping out their career paths. The answer to this question depends on many factors, including your professional goals, background, and resources. It’s important to know the difference between a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) because both require a significant investment of your time and money. Differences between the CFA® and MBA CFA®…
How to Pass the CFA® Level 2 Exam
/in CFA Exam Tips /by Bryce WelkerYou’ve passed Level I of the CFA® exam. Congratulations! Now it’s time to get ready for the notorious Level II. The reputation of Level II can be quite intimidating since many candidates consider this to be the most challenging level of the CFA® exam. A big mistake you can make is to study for Level II like you did for Level I. This next level covers much more material and you need to be more…
Best CFA® Level 2 Prep Courses
/in CFA Courses /by Bryce WelkerThe CFA® exam consists of 3 sequential exams. Each one covers different concepts and asks you to display different skills. However, it’s commonly accepted that Level 2 is the most difficult of all the tests— only 55% of takers pass it on their first try. Because of that, you’ll want to make sure that you take a good prep course to prepare for it. There are many prep courses to choose from, but I’ve found…