r/CFPExam

I own a growing RIA and am considering hiring a CFP professional as an Associate Financial Advisor. I’m evaluating the following compensation structure:
$100,000 base salary
Once the advisor generates $200,000 in annual new recurring revenue, they receive a 50% payout on the revenue generated above that threshold
The firm would provide the platform, operational support, compliance, technology, and brand
Does this seem competitive and fair for both the advisor and the firm?
I’m also curious how other RIA owners structure this:
Should the 50% payout apply only to revenue above $200,000, or become retroactive once the threshold is reached?

I want the opportunity to be attractive to a strong CFP while still protecting the economics of the firm. I’d appreciate feedback from RIA owners and advisors who have used similar compensation plans.

I passed the CFP exam in July and have completed every requirement except for the experience verification. Unfortunately, that piece has turned into a complete nightmare.

For context, I have roughly 3,000 hours already approved through my current employer, which is an RIA. I have another 3,000+ hours from my previous employer that are still pending. My old firm is affiliated with a broker-dealer, and they have essentially refused to verify my experience.

I initially listed their current HR/Operations Manager as the verifier. It took quite a while for her to respond to the CFP Board, and when she finally did, she said she could not verify my experience because she was not the Operations Manager for the entire time I worked there.

I then had the request sent to the Managing Partner. This was a very small firm with only three advisors, including me, so he was obviously familiar with my role and responsibilities. He still has not completed the verification. I strongly suspect the refusal is related to how unhappy they were when I resigned and moved to another firm.

I have also tried going around the employer verification process by providing the CFP Board with my Wealth Advisor employment agreement, FINRA BrokerCheck history, and paystubs showing my dates of employment. The Board denied those documents because they did not specifically demonstrate that I was actively involved in the financial planning process.

At this point, I have even had an attorney send my former employer a letter asking them to complete the verification, but there has still been no response or progress.

Has anyone else dealt with a situation where a former employer simply refused to verify legitimate CFP experience? If so, were you eventually able to get the CFP Board to accept alternative documentation, escalate the verification, or find another solution?

Any guidance from someone who has been through something similar would be greatly appreciated.

hi everyone!

I’m looking for some insights from people that have relatively recently started or are in the middle of the FP Canada curriculum preparing for the CFP.

For anyone that has taken the fundamentals courses, how did you find the course tests? I see that they are timed and require a passing grade of 75% but what is the format and difficulty like in comparison to the practice scenarios? Is it a time crunch? Is it all multiple choice? Long multiple choice? A mix?

I just don’t want to waste an attempt if I can avoid it and spend too much or not enough time before hitting start quiz preparing.

Hi all!! Thanks to this group I purchased Danko Signature PLUS for the November 2026 exam! I did get a late start as I just graduated college and needed to do all my licensing this summer so I officially started my studying on Aug. 12 (the day after I passed my series 66) and am trying to catch up/make sure I'm properly studying. I am not worried about getting through the material in time for my live review however I am worried about actually retaining the stuff I'm studying for the next few weeks. Looking for study tips from those who also used danko! I am lucky enough to have time at the office to study around 4.5/5 hrs a day + night and weekends since I'm only 22 I don't have much going on outside of this 😂

Looking for any and all advice thank you!!!

Anyone in here have experience with the CHFC course? If so, how bad was it? Thanks.

If I had approximately $200 to spend on supplementary materials (which my company will reimburse me for), what would be the most impactful purchase? I’m starting Dalton’s GTP review in two months, after completing the educational portion.

I passed in July. My experience is still pending (been in the business over 5 years), was confirmed by my manager well before I took the exam and it shows as “provisionally accepted” and I’m told it’ll take a few business days to be approved. Anyone else have this?

I’m trying to plan my path to the CFP and want to make sure my experience will count.

I currently work as a Registered Client Associate with an advisor who isn’t a CFP, but our manager is a CFP. I have my Series 7 and 66, and my planned progression is Client Associate to Associate Advisor to Advisor.

In my current role, I onboard clients, assist with financial plans, and would like to take on more planning-related projects. My goal is to complete the CFP exam by November 2027 before/while moving into the Associate Advisor role and use the 4,000-hour Apprenticeship Pathway.

A few questions:

• Can my CFP manager serve as my supervising CFP® even though my direct advisor/boss isn't a CFP?
• Can work like client onboarding and assisting with financial plans count toward the 4,000 hours?
• I estimate I may already have 1,000–1,500 hours of potentially qualifying experience from the past two years. Can I document those hours retroactively?
• What should I be doing now to make sure my future Associate Advisor responsibilities qualify for the Apprenticeship Pathway?

I’d love to hear from anyone who has completed the 4,000-hour pathway or worked in a similar advisor/client associate structure. I want to make sure I’m setting this up correctly now rather than finding out later that my experience doesn’t count.

I'm already in small group tutoring in prep for the November exam but I am really struggling with calculations, especially multi-step problems. I'm also learning the HPbii+ calculator as I go so maybe that's part of it.

I have taken myself through multiple tutorials breaking it down but it's just not sticking....when there are 7-10 variables in the question I can't seem to identify where I need to start, which parts I can ignore, etc.

I consider my reading comprehension normally to be great, but it all goes out the window when I'm presented with the fundamental calculations questions.

I haven't even attacked the other calculations on the formula worksheet in a way that actually has me retaining anything.

Is there a one on one tutor you would recommend for a few sessions? Or other resources I could use? I "get" the math and putting it into the calculator once it's broken down, I just can't seem to do the breaking down!

Context: I'm in my first year as an investment analyst at an RIA/institutional investment consulting firm with my goal being to transition to an advisor. I completed my CFP education requirements through a online program with my university offered with my degree a little over a year ago, but I moved through it quickly and honestly haven't retained as much as I'd like — it's been over a year since I touched most of the material. My only professional exam under my belt so far is the SIE, so I know the jump to the CFP exam is significant.

From reading this sub, it sounds like the Danko Review is the consensus pick. I have the option of getting early access to materials now, targeting the March 2027 exam window (about 6–6.5 months of study time).

My question: Is Signature Plus + and all of the extra videos you get with it, and 6–6.5 months of study realistic for someone who feels like they're starting close to scratch? Should I look into if my firm would pay for going through an education program first even though I have the requirements fulfilled?

Appreciate any input from people who've been through Danko or dealt with a similar gap.

I am only a consumer of financial services and have no intention of getting into the field but am curious about the CFP vs the FINRA exams (7, 63, 65, 66, etc.). I may not have all the correct terminology, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

If someone has passed all FINRA and other exams that allow him to be licensed to provide financial advice, how much more difficult would the CFP be? And would the CFP really be needed if the rep has many years of experience? I see a lot of FAs advertise that they are a CFP but I have yet to see anyone put "FINRA licensed" or anything like that on their profile/business cards.

My understanding is that the CFP is not required by any gov regulation. I know that the CPA is required to sign off on certain financial reports and to represent clients to the IRS (along with EAs and tax attorneys).

Purely from a knowledge standpoint, if someone has all the relevant FINRA qualifications and has been a successful FA for 10 years, is he really going to learn anything significant by getting the CFP? This would assume that the FA has been taking continuing education courses and is up to date on tax strategies, etc. I understand that there is a marketing aspect to the CFP, but that's not what I'm asking about.

I am new to working with a HP 10bII+ financial calculator. I am slowly coming along. Does anyone have any good resources or recommendations for tips on how to become more efficient and where to find good practice/study problems? Anything that helped you if you struggled while learning the calculator?

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

hi all!

i am using a TI BAII Plus and was wondering if anyone had any helpful video tutorials for amortization! I am struggling to remember how to do it properly and was hoping someone may have a tutorial or helpful youtube link!

thank you and happy studying:)

I started studying two months ago in june, the exam is on october 30th and i feel like i cant get through the danko cfp prep final exams without using the book, and even then i feel like im not remembering what i need to. I am working on the income tax final right now and feeling frustrated.

Anyone else in this position where they feel like the material is just not sticking, or just me?