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You need to take a step back. The CFP is not that serious. Soon it might even be irrelevant. Yes, it is by far the best advertised designation. But in reality, it means nothing. People who have it are proud they got it. People that don’t, and are far enough in their career, don’t care about it. I’ve had talks over the years about getting it but I’ve never lost or not got a client because of it, and have many friends who have it and they say they never have got one because they have it. Granted, there is no real way to know. People just might not come see me to begin with because I don’t have one but have seen my friends and it never came up why.
My problem with it is that I’m over 15 years in the industry. I’ve taken all the courses and the knowledge would be very valuable if I was 2 years in the industry. Where I am now, it is either outdated, or just incorrect in today’s world. The time commitment to get it could be better spent studying on what I want to do. Not on subjects I’ll never deal with.
I say all this not to discourage you from finishing it, but to try and put it into prospective. Why are you looking to get it? Knowledge? If that’s true, passing it is only for you and studying for it has served its purpose. Letters? Maybe look at what you really want to do and get letters that are more focused on your goals as a career (I.e. a AIF if you want to be fed only). Is it a requirement for work? Find a new firm that values on the job training to book training.
Anyway, keep your head up! This career can be very rewarding, no matter the letters behind you name!
I failed the series 7 twice. Third time was the charm. Standardized tests are zero indication of how good you are as a advisor
Just try again and drink Casamigos while your wait for the next exam.
I agree with MP1. I teach exam prep courses and your score tells me that you have 1 or 2 concepts that are not solid AND your real challenge is reading.
I don't know much about how this exam works but can you take it a second time?
What review did you use?
Use Dalton Review, it’s very difficult but worth it.
When I prepared for the CFP board exam (back in 2005), I enrolled in Kenneth Zahn’s live review classes. Studied a “pre-class” book they gave me for 3 months prior to the “class”, which was 4 straight days. Then they gave me another book that I studied for 3 months after the class. Passed the CFP board the first time.
+1 for Ken Zahn program. If you do the studying like they instruct you'll pass
Only a failure if you quit trying
“If at first your don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. Don’t be a damn fool about it.” W.C. Fields
I learned a lot from the Dalton online classes which I think are also recorded. That helped me more than reading the textbooks.