CFA Exam Strategy and Support
Not a cram course. Not motivational hype. Just clear, deliberate strategy.
Most CFA candidates are overwhelmed by tactics: videos, memory tricks, summary sheets, and shortcut apps. These tools may feel productive—but often leave candidates exhausted and uncertain when it matters most.
I work differently. I guide CFA candidates through a disciplined, active learning process that builds true understanding—because that’s what earns results on exam day and sustains performance in buy-side careers.
Tactics vs Strategy
Most CFA candidates get this backward. Tactics are about doing more. Strategy is about doing what matters—at the right time, in the right way.
Tactical learners binge videos and race through question banks. Strategic learners stop and ask:
What’s this really testing?
Where is the value in this material for my future career?
How can I learn this in a way that sticks?
My clients study like analysts. They work smarter, not faster. They cut noise and go deep. This shift builds confidence—real confidence—because it’s based on understanding, not hope.
The Tools Are Already in Your Hands
CFA Institute gives you everything you need to succeed—whether you’re using the online Learning Ecosystem (LES) or the printed curriculum, which I recommend.
You don’t need a CFA prep circus. You need to learn how to use the tools you already have.
The vast CFA curriculum is not the problem. The problem is the noise surrounding it: seductive shortcuts, pre-chewed summaries, and mass-market prep pipelines that sell speed instead of depth.
Ask yourself this: If you were sitting in a doctor’s office with a serious health concern—or your child was—would you want a physician who crammed their way through med school? Or one who studied deeply, understood the material, and took it seriously?
The CFA charter is our profession’s equivalent. Your future clients deserve more.
Active Learning, Not Passive Review
I teach CFA candidates how to learn actively—because shallow passive review doesn’t hold up under pressure.
We use the Feynman Technique to test understanding. I ask you to explain key concepts out loud, in your own words, using curriculum language. If you can't explain it, you don’t know it yet—and we fix that.
We replace pre-made flashcards with your own Zettelkasten-based system. You’ll create small, linked cards—each representing a single idea or concept—using your own phrasing. These build a durable mental map of the curriculum, not just temporary recall.
We engage with the official curriculum—not just summaries—so you internalize how CFA Institute presents and frames key material.
This approach takes more effort. But it creates learning that lasts, adapts, and applies. It also shifts your identity from test-taker to investment thinker.
Who I Work With
I support candidates who are:
Preparing for CFA Level I, II, or III and want a structured, high-yield plan
Retaking an exam and ready to rebuild with new methods
Juggling intense work and limited time
Overwhelmed by the breadth of material and unsure where to focus
Serious about the investment management career, not just the credential after their name
This is not a group course. It’s a quiet, one-on-one strategic partnership.
What I Offer
Every engagement is custom. Areas of focus often include:
Study Strategy: A clear, personalized roadmap based on how you actually learn
Forensic Reviews: A deep dive into past attempts—what broke down, and why
Level III Essay Support: Training to think like an examiner and write what graders reward
Curriculum Engagement: Turning official materials into a career-long learning resource
Decision Support: When to defer, when to push, and how to stay grounded
Everything is built on conversation, observation, and strategic adjustment. No gimmicks. No overpromising. Just clear, structured thinking applied to your exam journey.
Why This Matters
Passing the CFA exams is important. But how you pass—and what you build in the process—matters more.
These exams aren’t designed to reward superficial learning. They test judgment, clarity, and stamina. And so does the investment profession itself.
If you’re willing to take a serious approach to serious goals, I’ll meet you there—with strategy, structure, and support that respects your time and your ambition.