Study guides & exam tips
Free, in-depth guides for the hardest finance exams — written by the team behind Certus.
CFA Exam Registration Deadlines: 2026–2027 Dates
Every CFA exam registration deadline for Feb, May, and Aug 2027 — early and standard fees, scheduling cutoffs, and the 2027 deferral rule change.
Read the guide →CFA Access Scholarship: Cut Your Exam Fee to $400
The CFA Access Scholarship drops your exam registration fee to USD 400. Here are the 2027 application windows, eligibility rules, and the traps to avoid.
Read the guide →CFA Level 3 Pathways: Which One Should You Choose?
Portfolio Management, Private Wealth, or Private Markets? A practical guide to choosing your CFA Level 3 pathway, what each covers, and what actually changes.
Read the guide →How Many Hours to Study for CFA Level 2?
CFA Institute says successful candidates study over 300 hours per level. Here's how many hours CFA Level 2 really takes, and how to budget them across six months.
Read the guide →What Is a CFA Charterholder? Full Requirements
A CFA charterholder has passed all three CFA exams, logged 4,000 hours of qualifying work experience, and joined CFA Institute. Here's the full checklist.
Read the guide →What Jobs Can You Get With a Series 7 License?
The Series 7 license qualifies you to sell nearly every securities product. Here are the real jobs it opens, what it doesn't cover, and what they pay.
Read the guide →What Order Should You Take the FINRA Exams?
The best order to take the FINRA exams: SIE first, then your firm's rep exam (Series 7, 6, 79), then the state exam. Fees, shelf lives and the traps.
Read the guide →CFP Exam Pass Rate: What the Numbers Really Say
The CFP exam pass rate was 67% in March 2026. But first-timers passed at 69% and repeaters at 60% — here's what that gap tells you about how to study.
Read the guide →How Long to Study for the Series 7 Exam
Most candidates need 80–150 hours to study for the Series 7, spread over 5–8 weeks. Here's how to budget your hours by background and topic weight.
Read the guide →What Order Should You Take the CPA Exam Sections?
The best CPA exam order for most candidates: FAR first, then a Core section, then your Discipline last. Here's why, with the real scheduling rules.
Read the guide →Can You Self-Study for the CFA? Yes — Here's How
Can you self-study for the CFA? Yes — CFA Institute designed it that way. What registration already includes, what a prep course actually adds, and a real plan.
Read the guide →CFP vs CFA: Which Should You Get First?
CFP vs CFA: if you might want both, take the CFA first — it waives most CFP coursework. Full breakdown of cost, difficulty, pass rates and career fit.
Read the guide →CFA Level 1 Mock Exam Strategy: How Many and When
A practical CFA Level 1 mock exam strategy: how many mocks to take, when to schedule them, and how to review them so your score actually moves.
Read the guide →BA II Plus Tips for the CFA Exam: Settings & Keystrokes
BA II Plus calculator tips for the CFA exam: the three settings to change out of the box, the keystrokes worth drilling, and the mistakes that cost points.
Read the guide →Series 66 vs Series 65: Which One Do You Need?
Series 66 vs Series 65: the 66 is shorter but requires the SIE and Series 7. The 65 stands alone with no sponsor. Full breakdown of cost, format, and who takes which.
Read the guide →SIE vs Series 7: What's the Difference?
SIE vs Series 7: the SIE is open to anyone 18+, costs $100, and is 75 questions. The Series 7 needs a sponsoring firm, costs $395, and is 125 questions. Full breakdown.
Read the guide →CFA Level 1 Cost in 2026: Every Fee, Broken Down
CFA Level 1 costs $1,140–$1,490 in registration fees for 2026. Here's the full cost breakdown, what changed this year, and how to keep prep costs near zero.
Read the guide →Series 7 Pass Rate and Difficulty: What to Expect
The Series 7 pass rate is roughly 65–70%. Here's what FINRA's data shows, why people fail, and how hard the exam really is.
Read the guide →Best Free CFA Study Resources (2026 Guide)
The best free CFA study resources in 2026: what CFA Institute includes with registration, free mock exams, and free tools worth your time.
Read the guide →Is the CFA Worth It? An Honest Cost-Benefit Look (2026)
Is the CFA worth it? A candid breakdown of the real costs — $3,520+ in fees, 900+ hours, 3–4 years — against the career payoff, so you can decide.
Read the guide →CFA vs CPA: Which Is Better for Your Career?
CFA vs CPA compared honestly: cost, difficulty, pass rates, study hours, and salary — so you can pick the right credential for your career in 2026.
Read the guide →CFA Level 1 Topic Weights Explained (2026 & 2027)
CFA Level 1 topic weights from CFA Institute, converted into actual question counts — plus which topics decide your result and how to budget study hours.
Read the guide →CFA Level 2 vs Level 1: How Much Harder Is It?
CFA Level 2 vs Level 1 difficulty, answered with real data: pass rates, the vignette format, time per question, and what actually changes about how you study.
Read the guide →CFA Level 1 Formula Sheet: What to Actually Memorize
A CFA Level 1 formula sheet built around what's really tested — the formulas you must memorize, the ones your calculator handles for you, and how to drill them.
Read the guide →How Hard Is the SIE Exam? Pass Rate, Format & How to Study (2026)
How hard is the SIE exam? The honest answer with real numbers: the ~74% pass rate, the 70% passing score, the 4 sections and their weights, why people fail, and how to study for it fast.
Read the guide →CFA Level 1 Ethics Tips: How to Score High (2026)
CFA Level 1 ethics tips that actually work: why Ethics is the highest-weighted topic, how the ethics adjustment works, and the trap answers to stop falling for.
Read the guide →CFA Exam Day: What to Expect (2026 Walkthrough)
What to expect on CFA exam day: check-in rules, what to bring, the exact session timing, break rules, and what happens after you finish.
Read the guide →CFA Level 1 Exam Format Explained (2026 Guide)
The CFA Level 1 exam format: 180 multiple-choice questions, two 135-minute sessions, 2026 topic weights, scoring, and what exam day actually looks like.
Read the guide →How to Study for CFA Level 1 in 3 Months (Realistic Plan)
A realistic 3-month CFA Level 1 study plan: how to split ~300 hours, which topics to front-load, when to start mocks, and the weekly schedule that actually gets people to exam day ready.
Read the guide →How Many Hours to Study for CFA Level 1? (2026 Data)
How many hours to study for CFA Level 1? Plan on 300+ hours — most passers report 300–400. Here's how to budget them by topic, timeline, and background.
Read the guide →How Hard Is CFA Level 1, Really? (2026 Pass Rates & Honest Answer)
How hard is CFA Level 1? The honest answer, backed by real pass-rate data: ~39–45% pass, why most failures come from too much reading and too little practice, and how to prep smart on a budget.
Read the guide →How I Studied for the CFA While Working Full Time (Without Losing My Mind)
A real, honest account of passing CFA Level 1 with a 9-to-5 — the schedule that worked, what I wasted time on, and how to stay consistent when you have almost none.
Read the guide →The Complete CFA Level I Study Guide (2026): How to Pass on Your First Try
An in-depth CFA Level I study guide — how the exam works, a week-by-week study plan, every topic area explained, the concepts that actually get tested, common mistakes, and the free resources to use.
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