Seek Advice From a Pro

Insights and Strategies for Aspiring Financial Planners

If you are considering a career as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, you know that the road to certification has its challenges. It takes planning and determination to prepare for and pass the CFP® exam and start a career as a CFP® professional. One of the best ways to navigate the road ahead is to seek advice from those who have already earned their certification and have experience in the field.

Those who have passed the CFP® exam can look back on the process and consider what they would have done differently to improve their experience. You can gain these valuable insights early on by identifying a mentor or enrolling in CFP Board’s mentor program. Mentors can help you stay motivated, assist with a study strategy, and help you focus on time management.

Janet Gerlings, CFP® said of the process, “My mentor was a supportive influence on my path to earning CFP® certification. It was especially helpful to have someone who could give advice about budgeting my time in order to maximize the effectiveness of my study plans. Her advice helped me stay the course. I passed the exam and am now a CFP® professional.”

Another way to avoid missteps on your path to certification is visit a candidate forum that details what it was like on to earn certification for others. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals share their study guides, testing journeys and their learnings, making it convenient to discern the best way to prepare.

Kleo Curry, CFP® shared, “My first attempt at taking the exam was over six years ago. Unfortunately, I did not adhere to the study guidelines set forth in the preparation course I’d enrolled in. The biggest mistake I made was not dedicating the necessary amount of study time CFP Board provided as a framework for successful test takers, 250 hours. I simply sat for the exam too soon. On my second attempt, I was determined to not repeat that same mistake. Taking into consideration the amount of time since my first attempt, I decided to add 50 hours to my preparation runway…”

If you would like to learn more about what it’s like to become a certified financial planner® professional, download our Guide to Financial Planning Career Paths.