FP I FAQ — Common Questions (Planning Process, Tax, Retirement, Insurance)

What is the official FP I exam format and structure?

CSI publishes FP I exam structure on the official Exam & Credits page:

• Exam format: Proctored (remote or in-person at a test centre)
• Exam duration: 3 hours
• Question format: Multiple-choice
• Questions per exam: 80
• Passing grade: 60%
• Attempts allowed: 3
• Assignments: None

Source: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/fp1/exam-credits

What are the official topic weightings?

From CSI’s official weighting table:

• Managing the Financial Planning Process — 20%
• Budgeting, Consumer Lending and Mortgages — 15%
• Taxation — 15%
• Investments — 15%
• Retirement — 10%
• Wills and Power of Attorney — 15%
• Risk Management and Life Insurance — 10%

Source: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/fp1/exam-credits

What should I focus on first?

Start with:

• the planning workflow (facts → constraints → recommendation → documentation)
• budgeting + credit + mortgages vocabulary and ratios (concept)
• the deductions vs credits distinction (tax language)
• retirement “needs vs resources” framing (concept)

Then refine wills/POA and insurance, which often show up as scenario-style “best next step” questions.

Do I need the official CSI materials?

Yes. Use this hub as a study map + practice layer, but rely on CSI’s official materials for the canonical reading.

Where do I find official policies (fees, timing, retakes)?

Use the official CSI links in Resources. Policies can change, so we avoid hard-coding beyond official exam structure and weightings.