Do you tutor remotely?
Yes! We have tutored clients from Dallas to Paris through the phone. Please fax or e-mail us your questions before the lesson and, if possible, sit in front of a computer with high-speed Internet connection during the session. We frequently use Skype, Yahoo!, or MSN Instant Messengers to communicate in addition to the phone. We also recommend that you wear a headset so that you can use both hands to write and check the notes.

Do you travel to out-of-town clients?
Yes! We will have to work out arrangements for travel time compensation and out-of-pocket expenses reimbursement.

Do you also teach the Level II & III exams?
Yes, but only on a one-on-one basis for now. Please call us to discuss the specifics.

Do you teach subjects or tests other than the CFA^® exams?
Yes! We tutor a few undergraduate and graduate subjects related to finance and accounting. We also provide CIMA test preparation. The instructor has worked with students from Stern, Columbia, Insead, Fordham, HBS, and Duke, as well as professionals seeking to expand their knowledge of finance. Those professionals represent organizations such as JP Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer, Piper Jaffray, and Fitch Ratings.

Which calculator should I buy, the HP-12C or the TI-BAII Plus?
The instructor teaches with the HP-12C, and you will get more out of the sessions if you use the same.

Do you provide study notes?
Not at the moment. We are putting together a problem-solving guide, but it won’t be available soon.

Do you recommend study notes from a specific provider?
Every study notes from major prep course providers has pluses and minuses. It is inappropriate for us to criticize others openly. At our initial consultation meeting, however, we will gladly discuss the comparative merits of those notes.

Should I buy the textbooks from the CFA Institute?
Yes! Though heavy and expensive, the textbooks can be valuable as references, especially if you do not work with a tutor. The study notes from course providers are condensed and invariably contain topics that are poorly explained. It is useful, therefore, to read the original text sometimes to get a better understanding.

In addition, Proactive Testing believes that if you decide to undertake the CFA® program, you should do everything necessary to prepare for the exams. Otherwise, don’t waste your time. If you are going to spend 300+ hours studying, pay hundreds of dollars registering, spend another few hundred buying the study notes, then you should not fret about the money for the textbooks. Passing the exam will make that money well-spent. Failing, on the other hand, will be demoralizing and will require another six months to a year of expensive commitment. It is simply not worth taking on the additional risk of failing to save a few hundred bucks.

When should I start studying?
Everyone is different and needs varying amounts of time to prepare. For most people, we recommend to start no later than early January for the June exam and early July for the December exam. Unless you have a photographic memory, studying for fewer than five months means increased stress, increased frustration, and increased probability of failing.