5 Habits of Successful Examinees
CFP® Certificants in the News
Successful people are simply those with successful habits
-Brian Tracy
Habits are either your friend or foe. Take eating habits for example. According to WebMD the Mediterranean Diet is notable for:
- “Reducing the risk for cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke
- Supporting a healthy weight,
- Supporting healthy blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels,
- Reducing cancer risk,
- Supporting healthy brain function and thinking with age, and
- Increasing lifespan and longevity.”
While good study habits may not make you a centarian, they can drastically increase your odds of passing the CFP Board exam. Text in quotation markets below is taken from CFP Board’s Successful Candidates Adopt These Habits article.
Develop a Study Plan
“Think about how you learn best and develop an approach to studying that will play to your strengths. Before purchasing your study materials or enrolling in a review course, research your options to find a program that will support your learning style and fit your timeline. As you create your study strategy, consider the Major Principal Topic areas that will be covered on the CFP® exam. Make sure you know which topics will be challenging for you so you can spend extra time on those areas.”
The author encourages you to discover or confirm your learning style here and consider a review course that provides a diagnostic exam to discover your strengths and weaknesses in the major principal topic areas.
Dedicate Time to Studying Every Week
“Almost 80% of exam passers say they spent 11 hours or more studying for the CFP® exam every week, often making study time a regular part of their evening routine and dedicating several hours for exam preparation every weekend.” Career changers may need more than 11 hours weekly. In the author’s experience, even experienced financial advisors and planners may need to invest this kind of time to pass.
Ask for Help When You Need It
“You’re not alone on this journey — reach out when you need help. As part of developing your study strategy, reach out to your family and employer and let them know of your plans. If you need time to focus on study and preparation, talk to your family, friends and employer to see where you can cut back on other commitments and responsibilities.” Here’s an example from the article, “I came into work an hour early every morning and my boss allowed me to start an hour late, so I was able to get 2 hours of studying in each morning.” Here’s a pro tip from your happily married author — it’s a great idea to enlist your spouse as a study partner if at all possible. That idea helped the author pass and kept the home fires burning!
Use Exam Prep Tools
“Those who passed the CFP® exam say that the 2 best ways to prepare were taking a review course and focusing on practice questions. 69% of those who passed the CFP® exam took the CFP Board Practice Exam during their preparation. Taking a practice exam helps you check your knowledge and experience in an exam environment before your testing day.”
Self-Care
The author, a baby boomer, confesses that “self-care” evokes thoughts of new age philosophies, but recognizes that an exhausted examinee is less likely to pass. Here’s CFP Board’s take, “Exam passers are more likely to exercise, maintain a healthy diet and get enough sleep in the weeks leading up to the CFP® exam. Make sure you take care of yourself throughout the study process so you’re able to approach your exam day with energy and focus and without unnecessary distractions.”
Summary
Planning is vital to preparation. We close with the timeless wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Financial advisors and planners need a sound understanding of the competitive edge of joining the ranks of highly-trusted financial professional. Get that sound understanding through our CFP® Curriculum when you consider CFP® certification. You’ll discover a select few of the reasons our student pass rates are much higher than the national averages.
