How I Passed the CFP® Exam on My First Try: 4 Keys to Success
- Keturah Orji
- 20 minutes ago
- 3 min read
1) Mindset
“It takes what it takes” was my mantra throughout studying for the exam. I was never shooting for a specific number of hours to study. I was focused on completing what material I had scheduled for that day, BUT you can feel when it is time to stop studying even if you haven't finished everything you want to. Listen to your body.
Studying is the priority but it's not EVERYTHING. I continued to exercise and do things for fun during these months; they just weren’t the priority. I had to complete my studying goal for the day to do the non-essential fun things.
2) Consistent Study Habits
Consistency. Consistency. Consistency. > Cramming & Procrastination
I think this exam is about how many times you have seen this material and how well you can answer the question they are asking. The first time I read Danko’s books I was confused. The second time could be considered when I was typing notes and that was just a skim of my highlights. The third time was when I went through all of Danko's books again and took handwritten notes. The fourth time was in Philly with Danko. The fifth time was completing the live review book on my own during the last few weeks before the exam... I don't think I would have been able to grasp the information well without all these consistent reinforcements.
Use the mirrors around your house to start writing down things you need to memorize (MACRS schedule, ethics numbers, COBRA months, formulas, etc.)
Form a study group of people as dedicated to passing as you are who also are studying with the same exam prep provider. Meet weekly to discuss each others weaknesses - do not solely use this time for question banks together, review concepts. (A study group is an additional reinforcement of all the information you're learning)
3) Use AI and Apps
Use ChatGPT to explain confusing topics. Keep these chats organized in the same thread/folder because towards the end you can start to have conversations with it using all the information discussed and create practice questions. You will have to correct it at times. For example, I told it the 2025 estate tax lifetime exemption was $13.99M and to not forget, and it never used the old number in our study thread again.
I also heard Grok was great specifically for this exam, but I only used it a few times since I was more comfortable and familiar with ChatGPT.
In the car I was listening to podcasts. Here are two I found really helpful:
BIF Bites (especially question palooza episodes)
4) Plan Ahead
Choose your exam day early in the process. The longer you wait, the further you may have to drive to a testing center and the less flexibility for the exam day and time you desire.
Create study schedules to keep you on track with finishing what you need to by a certain day.
Choose an earlier in-person review if you want more time to study before the exam (this means you will have LESS time to complete phase 1 of pre-study). Comparatively, if you want the in-person review to be fresh, be ready to squeeze a lot of studying in between the in-person review and your exam date.
When studying, reserve mornings for the deep study that takes the most brain power. Your brain is fresh and you’re more efficient. The times I studied at night I was much slower and made more mistakes. Save flashcard review for the evenings because it’s a quick refresher
Search for scholarships through the CFP Board, XYPN, etc. -- I found quite a few and was able to receive one for my exam.
If possible, take the week before the exam completely off from work so you can maximize study time.
If you would like a more detailed review of how I studied and passed on my first attempt with Danko's program, below is a link to my detailed study process over several months.
