CFP® — CFP Board CFP Companion Prep Study Plan
Practical 7-, 14-, 30-, and 60/90-day study plan for CFP Board CFP Companion Prep (CFP®) candidates.
How to use this Study Plan
This Study Plan is for candidates preparing for CFP Board CFP Companion Prep (CFP®) from CFP Board who need a practical schedule for turning available study time into exam-ready performance.
The CFP® preparation challenge is not just remembering financial planning facts. You need to apply rules, calculations, client facts, suitability logic, disclosure concepts, tax and estate reasoning, and professional judgment under time pressure.
Use this plan with your primary course materials, practice questions, formula notes, and any CFP Board instructions for your exam window. This page is independent study-planning guidance and is not affiliated with CFP Board.
Which plan should you use?
| Time until exam | Use this path | Best for | Minimum study rhythm | Main risk to manage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Final review plan | Candidates who already studied and need consolidation | 2-4 focused hours daily | Trying to learn too much new material |
| 14 days | Focused recovery plan | Candidates with partial preparation or uneven scores | 2-5 hours daily | Ignoring weak areas because familiar topics feel safer |
| 30 days | Balanced plan | Candidates who completed education/coursework and need structured exam prep | 1.5-3 hours weekdays, longer weekend block | Spending too long on passive review |
| 60 days | Full preparation path | Candidates with solid background but limited recent review | 8-12 hours weekly | Finishing content but not practicing enough |
| 90 days | Full preparation path | Candidates starting early, working full time, or rebuilding fundamentals | 6-10 hours weekly | Forgetting early topics without spaced review |
If you have not completed the core education or required underlying coursework, a short plan may not be enough. Use the shortest plan only if you are already familiar with the exam content and need final preparation.
Start with a diagnostic before building the calendar
Before choosing your daily priorities, take a timed diagnostic.
| Diagnostic step | What to do | Output you need |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Use a mixed set | Use a free practice exam, sample exam, or 40-75 mixed questions from your question bank | Baseline timing and weak-topic list |
| 2. Work without notes | Simulate exam behavior: no pausing, no looking up formulas, no explanation checking until finished | Honest performance data |
| 3. Mark confidence | For each question, label: sure, unsure, guessed, or calculation risk | Shows hidden weaknesses |
| 4. Review explanations | Study why each correct answer is right and why the wrong choices are wrong | Rule and reasoning corrections |
| 5. Build an error log | Sort misses by topic and error type | Your study schedule for the next week |
Do not use the diagnostic score as a verdict. Use it to decide where your next study hours go.
Core content rotation
Use this as a practical rotation map. It is not a statement of official CFP Board exam weighting.
| Content area | What to practice | Common prep mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Professional conduct and planning process | Client engagement, fiduciary reasoning, disclosures, conflicts, documentation, scope, recommendations | Memorizing terms without applying them to client scenarios |
| Client facts and suitability | Goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity, family situation, tax status, insurance needs | Answering from product knowledge instead of client facts |
| Insurance and risk management | Coverage purpose, policy structure, needs analysis, beneficiary issues, disability, long-term care, liability | Confusing similar product features |
| Investments | Asset allocation, risk/return, portfolio construction, taxation, account type fit, behavioral issues | Solving math but missing suitability |
| Tax planning | Marginal vs effective logic, deductions, credits, basis, capital gains, retirement account taxation, entity/client context | Using outdated limits or memorizing without planning context |
| Retirement and employee benefits | Qualified plans, IRAs, distributions, employer benefits, retirement income planning | Mixing contribution, distribution, and taxation rules |
| Estate planning | Titling, beneficiary designations, trusts, probate, estate liquidity, transfer strategies | Treating estate tools as interchangeable |
| Education and special goals | Funding options, account ownership, tax treatment, goal timing | Ignoring control, aid, tax, or beneficiary implications |
| Integrated cases | Multi-topic recommendations, prioritization, sequencing, ethics, client communication | Studying topics in isolation too long |
| Calculations | Time value of money, cash flow, insurance needs, investment return, tax and retirement estimates | Knowing formulas but making calculator or interpretation errors |
Daily practice rhythm
Choose the closest version based on your available time. Consistency matters more than long occasional sessions.
| Available time | Session structure | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 5 min error-log review, 15 min targeted drill, 10 min explanation review | Maintenance day or busy workday |
| 60 minutes | 10 min formula/rule warmup, 25 min topic drill, 20 min explanation review, 5 min error-log update | Weak-area repair |
| 90 minutes | 10 min missed-question review, 30 min content review, 30 min timed questions, 15 min explanation review, 5 min plan tomorrow | Standard weekday session |
| 2 hours | 15 min error log, 35 min topic review, 40 min timed mixed set, 25 min explanation review, 5 min summary | Best default rhythm |
| 3+ hours | 20 min warmup, 60 min topic block, 60-90 min timed questions or case set, 45-60 min review | Weekend or mock-review block |
The non-negotiable daily sequence
- Review yesterday’s misses first. Do not start new material while old errors are unexplained.
- Study one focused topic. Keep the target narrow enough to test immediately.
- Do timed questions. Untimed practice is useful early, but timing must become normal.
- Review explanations slowly. The explanation review is where improvement happens.
- Update the error log. Record the rule, not just the missed question.
- End with tomorrow’s target. Pick the next topic before you stop.
Missed-question review method
Every missed question should produce a reusable lesson.
| Error type | Signs | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Concept gap | You did not know the rule or planning concept | Re-read the source section, then write a one-sentence rule |
| Scenario error | You knew the topic but ignored a client fact | Highlight the facts that controlled the answer |
| Suitability error | You chose a technically correct product or strategy that did not fit the client | Write why the client profile changes the recommendation |
| Calculation error | Formula, keystroke, order-of-operations, or interpretation mistake | Rework the problem from scratch and record the exact setup |
| Tax/account confusion | You mixed account type, tax treatment, basis, distribution, or timing rules | Create a comparison table |
| Professional conduct error | You missed disclosure, conflict, documentation, or duty logic | Restate the required professional action |
| Reading error | You answered the question you expected, not the question asked | Underline the call of the question before looking at choices |
| Timing error | You spent too long and guessed later questions | Add a skip-and-return rule for similar items |
Error-log template
Use a spreadsheet, notebook, or digital note with these columns:
| Column | What to record |
|---|---|
| Date | When you missed it |
| Topic | Tax, retirement, estate, insurance, investments, ethics, case integration, etc. |
| Error type | Concept, scenario, calculation, reading, timing, confidence |
| Correct rule | The rule or reasoning you should use next time |
| Trigger phrase | The client fact or wording that should alert you |
| Retest date | When you will redo a similar question |
| Status | Open, retested, mastered |
Include questions you got right by guessing. A guessed correct answer is still an open risk.
Calculation and formula practice
For CFP® preparation, calculation practice should be short, frequent, and tied to interpretation.
| Calculation area | Practice action | Review question |
|---|---|---|
| Time value of money | Rework several problems with your permitted calculator until the setup is automatic | Did I identify present value, future value, payment, rate, and period correctly? |
| Retirement projections | Practice savings need, income need, distribution logic, and account taxation | Did I interpret the result in planning context? |
| Education funding | Practice goal funding and timing | Did ownership, tax treatment, or beneficiary control matter? |
| Insurance needs | Practice income replacement, capital needs, and coverage comparison logic | Did I match the coverage to the client’s risk? |
| Investment return and risk | Practice after-tax return, allocation, yield/return interpretation, and risk measures if covered in your materials | Did I choose the suitable planning action, not just the number? |
| Tax planning calculations | Practice basis, gain/loss, deduction/credit logic, and marginal-rate reasoning using your current materials | Did I use the correct tax treatment for the account, asset, or entity? |
| Estate liquidity and transfer planning | Practice ownership, beneficiary, and liquidity implications | Did I separate legal ownership from beneficiary intent? |
Do not save formula work for the last week. Five to ten calculation problems per study day is better than one large cram session.
7-day final review plan
Use this plan only if you have already completed most content review. The goal is consolidation, not a first pass through the curriculum.
| Day | Primary goal | Study actions | Stop doing |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-7 | Diagnose final gaps | Take a timed mixed set or free practice exam sample. Build a top-10 weak list. Review professional conduct and planning process errors. | Do not start a new textbook or course. |
| T-6 | Repair high-value weaknesses | Study your 2 weakest technical areas. Do 40-80 targeted questions. Rework calculation misses. | Do not reread entire chapters passively. |
| T-5 | Integrate client scenarios | Practice case-style or multi-topic questions. Focus on suitability, sequencing, and client facts. | Do not study products without client context. |
| T-4 | Formula and rule consolidation | Drill formulas, tax/account logic, retirement, insurance, and estate comparison points. Do a timed mixed block. | Do not add unfamiliar niche material unless it came from a miss. |
| T-3 | Timed mock or long mixed block | Complete one full timed mock or the longest realistic timed set available. Review same day if possible. | Do not take another mock before reviewing this one. |
| T-2 | Missed-question repair | Rework all high-priority misses. Create final one-page sheets: formulas, professional conduct triggers, account/tax contrasts, estate/insurance distinctions. | Do not chase every obscure detail. |
| T-1 | Light final review | Review error log, formulas, logistics, exam-day timing strategy, and confidence notes. Sleep. | No heavy mock, no all-night studying. |
7-day priority order
If you are short on time, protect these tasks:
- Missed-question review.
- Professional conduct and planning process scenarios.
- Client suitability and recommendation logic.
- Formula and calculator fluency.
- Tax, retirement, estate, insurance, and investment distinctions.
- Timed mixed practice.
14-day focused plan
This plan is for candidates who have some preparation but need structure and accountability.
| Days | Focus | Practice target | Review output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnostic and schedule | Timed mixed set or free practice exam sample | Weak-topic ranking and error log |
| 2-3 | Professional conduct, planning process, client facts | Topic drills plus short scenarios | Checklist of decision triggers |
| 4-5 | Insurance, risk, employee benefits | Targeted questions and comparison tables | Coverage and suitability notes |
| 6 | Investments and portfolio logic | Timed topic drill plus calculation work | Risk/return and account-fit corrections |
| 7 | Mixed review checkpoint | Mini mock or long mixed block | Updated weak-topic ranking |
| 8-9 | Tax planning and account taxation | Targeted questions using current study materials | Tax treatment comparison sheet |
| 10-11 | Retirement, education, and cash-flow planning | Formula drills and scenario sets | Retirement and funding rule sheet |
| 12 | Estate planning and integrated cases | Multi-topic questions | Titling, beneficiary, trust, and liquidity notes |
| 13 | Full timed mock or long simulated set | Exam-like timing | Mock review list, not just score |
| 14 | Final repair and taper | Rework misses, formulas, professional conduct, logistics | Final confidence checklist |
14-day rule
By the final 3 days, stop adding new sources. Use only:
- Your error log.
- Your primary notes.
- Practice explanations.
- Formula/calculator drills.
- Short mixed sets to stay sharp.
30-day balanced plan
This is the best path for many candidates who have completed the core learning and now need exam-focused preparation.
| Days | Focus | Daily work |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Baseline diagnostic | Timed mixed set, explanation review, error-log setup |
| 3-5 | Professional conduct and planning process | Client engagement, duty, disclosure, conflicts, documentation, planning steps |
| 6-8 | Insurance and risk management | Coverage distinctions, needs analysis, beneficiary and suitability issues |
| 9-11 | Investments | Portfolio construction, risk/return, asset allocation, taxation, account fit |
| 12 | Mixed review day | Timed mixed block, missed-question repair |
| 13-15 | Tax planning | Basis, gains/losses, deductions/credits, account taxation, planning logic |
| 16-18 | Retirement and employee benefits | Qualified plans, IRAs, employer benefits, distribution and income planning |
| 19-20 | Estate and education planning | Titling, beneficiary designations, trusts, liquidity, education funding |
| 21 | Timed mock #1 | Full timed mock or longest realistic timed set |
| 22-23 | Mock review | Rework misses, rebuild weak concepts, update formula sheet |
| 24-25 | Weak-area repair | Target the 3 lowest-performing topics |
| 26 | Timed mock #2 or long mixed set | Test improvements under timing |
| 27-28 | Final technical review | Tax/account contrasts, retirement, estate, insurance, investments, formulas |
| 29 | Final mixed practice | Short timed sets, professional conduct, planning process, error log |
| 30 | Taper and logistics | Light review, calculator/logistics check, sleep plan |
Sample 30-day weekly rhythm
| Day type | What to do |
|---|---|
| Monday | Review prior misses, study one technical topic, 25-40 timed questions |
| Tuesday | Formula/calculation practice, topic drill, explanation review |
| Wednesday | Professional conduct or case-style scenario set |
| Thursday | Second technical topic, comparison table, timed questions |
| Friday | Mixed set across all prior topics |
| Saturday | Longer study block: case set, weak-topic repair, formula review |
| Sunday | Light review, error-log cleanup, plan next week |
60/90-day full preparation path
Use this path if you are starting earlier or need to rebuild several content areas. The difference between 60 and 90 days is not the content; it is the amount of spacing, retesting, and mock review you can afford.
| Phase | 60-day timing | 90-day timing | Goal | Required output |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline and setup | Days 1-3 | Week 1 | Diagnose strengths and weaknesses | Error log, topic calendar, formula list |
| First content pass | Days 4-28 | Weeks 2-6 | Cover all major planning areas | Topic notes, comparison charts, targeted drill scores |
| Integration pass | Days 29-40 | Weeks 7-9 | Connect topics through client scenarios | Case notes and suitability rules |
| Mock cycle | Days 41-52 | Weeks 10-12 | Build timing and exam endurance | Mock reviews and weak-topic repairs |
| Final review | Days 53-60 | Last 7-10 days | Consolidate and taper | Final error log, formula sheet, exam-day plan |
60-day weekly outline
| Week | Focus | Practice requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnostic, planning process, professional conduct | Mixed diagnostic plus daily short drills |
| 2 | Insurance, risk management, employee benefits | Topic drills and comparison tables |
| 3 | Investments and portfolio planning | Timed questions plus calculation practice |
| 4 | Tax planning and account taxation | Tax logic drills using current materials |
| 5 | Retirement, education, estate planning | Formula work and scenario questions |
| 6 | Integrated cases and weak areas | Long mixed sets and case-style review |
| 7 | Mock exam cycle | One full timed mock or long simulated set, then deep review |
| 8 | Final repair and taper | Error log, formulas, professional conduct, short mixed sets |
90-day weekly outline
| Week | Focus | Practice requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnostic and study system | Baseline set, error-log setup, calendar |
| 2 | Professional conduct and planning process | Scenario questions and duty/disclosure review |
| 3 | Insurance and risk management | Coverage comparisons and needs-analysis drills |
| 4 | Investments | Portfolio, risk/return, account-fit questions |
| 5 | Tax planning | Tax logic, basis, gain/loss, account taxation |
| 6 | Retirement and employee benefits | Retirement income, plan rules, distribution logic |
| 7 | Estate and education planning | Titling, beneficiaries, trusts, liquidity, funding |
| 8 | First integration week | Case-style questions across all topics |
| 9 | Weak-area rebuild | Target the lowest 3 topics from practice data |
| 10 | Mock exam #1 | Timed mock and 1-2 days of review |
| 11 | Mock exam #2 or long mixed set | Repair timing and recurring errors |
| 12 | Final review | Error log, formulas, professional conduct, taper |
When to use timed mock exams
Timed mocks are most useful when you review them carefully. A mock without review is mostly endurance practice.
| Plan length | Recommended mock timing | How to review |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | One full mock or long mixed block around T-3 | Review every miss and every guessed correct answer |
| 14 days | Mini mock around day 7, full mock or long mixed set around day 13 | Separate concept gaps from timing errors |
| 30 days | Mock around day 21 and another around day 26 if review time allows | Spend at least as much time reviewing as testing |
| 60 days | One midpoint mock or long set, one mock in the final two weeks, one final readiness set if needed | Track whether weak topics improve |
| 90 days | Mock cycle in final month, spaced far enough apart to repair errors | Do not repeat mocks too closely without remediation |
Mock exam rules
- Simulate the current exam instructions and timing from CFP Board or your testing materials.
- Use only permitted tools and reference materials for your exam situation.
- Do not pause the timer to check notes.
- Mark questions you guessed or rushed.
- Review the mock in two passes:
- Pass 1: Why was my answer wrong?
- Pass 2: What rule or client fact should I recognize next time?
- Do not take a second mock until you have reviewed the first.
How to use topic drills, free practice exams, and mixed sets
| Practice type | Best timing | Purpose | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic drills | Early and middle prep | Build accuracy in one content area | Staying in topic mode too long |
| Free practice exams | Beginning diagnostic or light benchmark | Identify gaps and become familiar with question style | Treating a small free set as a full readiness measure |
| Mixed question sets | After each topic cycle | Train topic recognition and switching | Reviewing only the score |
| Case-style sets | Middle and late prep | Apply multiple planning areas to client facts | Missing the ethical or suitability issue |
| Full timed mocks | Midpoint and final prep | Test timing, endurance, integration | Taking too many without review |
| Missed-question retests | Every few days | Confirm learning | Memorizing the old answer instead of the rule |
Final-week rules
In the final week, your goal is to become calmer, faster, and more consistent.
Keep doing
- Review the error log daily.
- Rework calculation misses.
- Practice short timed mixed sets.
- Review professional conduct and planning process scenarios.
- Review comparison tables for similar products, accounts, strategies, and tax treatments.
- Sleep on a consistent schedule.
- Confirm exam logistics, identification, calculator, and timing rules.
Stop doing
- Starting new prep books, large courses, or unfamiliar question banks.
- Taking a full mock in the final 24-48 hours.
- Studying only your favorite topics.
- Reading explanations passively without writing the rule.
- Memorizing outdated tax or limit figures instead of using current materials for your exam window.
- Ignoring guessed-correct questions.
Exam-readiness checks
Use these checks before deciding how to spend the final days.
| Readiness signal | Good sign | If not true |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | You can complete timed sets without rushing the final questions | Practice smaller timed blocks and use a skip-and-return rule |
| Explanation quality | You can explain why wrong answers are wrong | Spend more time in review than in new questions |
| Error log | Repeated errors are shrinking | Rebuild the weakest 2-3 rules and retest |
| Calculations | You can set up common calculation types without notes | Do short daily formula drills |
| Scenario judgment | You consistently use client facts before choosing a recommendation | Slow down and underline the controlling facts |
| Professional conduct | You recognize disclosure, conflict, duty, documentation, and scope issues | Review conduct scenarios daily |
| Mixed-topic performance | You can switch among tax, retirement, insurance, estate, and investments | Add mixed sets every study day |
| Confidence accuracy | Your “sure” answers are usually correct | Review overconfidence errors and reading mistakes |
If you are behind schedule
Use triage. Do not try to cover everything equally in the last few days.
| Problem | Best response |
|---|---|
| Too many unread chapters | Stop broad reading. Use diagnostic data and practice explanations to target weak areas. |
| Weak calculations | Drill a small set daily and write setups, not just final answers. |
| Weak tax/retirement logic | Build account-treatment comparison tables and retest immediately. |
| Weak professional conduct | Do scenario questions and write the required action in plain language. |
| Running out of time | Practice timed blocks and decide in advance when to skip and return. |
| Scores vary widely | Use mixed sets and review guessed-correct questions; inconsistency often means recognition problems. |
| Anxiety from mock results | Convert each miss into an action item; do not retake a mock just to feel better. |
Practical next step
Choose your timeline, take a timed diagnostic or mixed practice set, and build your first error log today. Your next study session should start with the questions you missed, not with more passive reading.