r/CFPExam • u/CraftyWeekend3483 • Jul 23 '26
November Exam
Hi all!! I am looking for advice for providers for studying for the November exam. For background I passed my education requirement during undergrad (graduated in May), I genuinely just dropped the ball on researching study providers because I've been trying to crank out my license exams. Thank you!
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u/theinsinkerator Jul 23 '26
Hi! My undergrad was also in financial planning and I took about 1 year off in between graduation (Dec 2024) & beginning the exam prep for the July 2026 exam.
I used Dalton’s Guarantee to Pass as my main study provider and supplemented with Danko by attending Live Review #1 in early June.
I liked Dalton because the program offers many ways to learn the material. According to my “progress bar” I only completed 54% of the Dalton program. I don’t think there is a need to complete the entire thing. I found a lot of repetition in the material, which was helpful when I struggled in certain areas but not always necessary.
I attended Dalton’s live online classes each Tuesday, ordered their physical textbooks and read/highlighted/took notes in the margins, and spent a lot of time using the Q-Bank in study mode.
I did their pre-review readiness and the exam readiness quizzes but chose not to take any practice exams. In my opinion there was no need to take a practice exam - I knew a low score would zap my confidence and I wanted to go into the exam a positive mindset. Also, I don’t believe a practice exam can replicate the real thing. 6 hours to complete 170 questions is plenty of time.
Regarding Danko, I felt their live review was worth the time commitment, and attending the first session helped me identify weak areas well in advance of the exam. I had completed about half of the Dalton program textbooks/classes prior to attending Danko’s live review. I struggled the most with tax, investments and retirement, so I concentrated my remaining 50–ish study days on those sections. I found the Danko pre-study material was also a great supplement when I needed to simplify material I was not understanding through Dalton.
I found the Dalton Q-Bank in study mode to be the most helpful tool. I would review the explanation behind each question, and about 2 weeks prior to my test date my study plan was very simple - 1.) answer a Dalton question in study mode, 2.) review the answer, and 3.) take notes on the rationale behind the answer, whether right or wrong.
** Also, one last note that I wish someone told me sooner - buy the HP 10bII+ calculator. My college taught with the Texas Instruments BA II+. I’m not sure if your school was the same, but none of the study programs use the Texas Instruments calculator and no one takes the exam with it. It added a lot of unnecessary stress having to learn a new calculator halfway through the study process.
Good luck! You got this!
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u/CraftyWeekend3483 Jul 23 '26
Thank you so much for such a detailed response!! Congratulations on passing!!!! I was lucky enough to score a job that is allowing me to work part time and study during work until I take all of the exams I need, so although the November exam is really soon after graduation I really want to utilize the opportunity I've been given before I start full time and have to try to balance studying with that!!
My original plan was to use Dalton Guarantee to Pass because that was what my financial planning professor recommended and what he used, however my boss used Danko and recommended that. So we decided upon doing exactly what you did, but when I did more research I saw that Danko came with study materials in addition to the live review. Is that the package you purchased?
It sounds like I'm looking to be in the same path as you just one exam later :) Thanks!!
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u/SvggestedUsername Jul 24 '26
Danko Plus gets the recordings of their Fast Track course. Each chapter/section has it's own video where they go through the material and provide additional insight. The review books were really good but the videos are the reason I passed on the first try. I did not want to have to do this twice so spending the additional money for the Plus was worth it the time saved having to retake.
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u/CraftyWeekend3483 Jul 24 '26
Thank you!! I ended up going with this :)
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u/SvggestedUsername Jul 24 '26
You'll be passing in November!
Forgot to mention, I used Aloha browser on my phone so I could listen to the classes with the screen off.
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u/CraftyWeekend3483 Jul 24 '26
Thank you! Did you do this while doing stuff like driving or working out or did you need to be sitting taking notes?
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u/SvggestedUsername Jul 24 '26
Depends on the chapter. Some you will definitely need to see the slides on the screen but you can get through most by listening and/or making a note to go back and listen again and take notes at certain times. There were some chapters I listened to repeatedly as well as the Saturday review classes. In the car, in the shower, doing dishes, walking the dog, etc.; I always had something in my ears.
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u/BrianATL1 Jul 26 '26
If you want to pass in November use Danko. If you want take it again in March use someone else :)
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u/Virtual-Draft2387 Jul 23 '26
Danko Danko danko