How to Study for the CFP

CFP Board spreads the CFP exam across eight principal knowledge domains, and none is more than 18%. Retirement savings and income planning leads at 18%, then investment planning at 17% and general principles of financial planning at 15%.

Start with the CFP Board outline
- CFP Board Principal Knowledge Topics (2021 practice analysis) ↗
- CFP Board exam details ↗
About the CFP exam
- All CFP practice exam details
Work through each section
8%15%11%17%14%18%10%7%
1. Professional Conduct and Regulation8%
2. General Principles of Financial Planning15%
3. Risk Management and Insurance Planning11%
4. Investment Planning17%
5. Tax Planning14%
6. Retirement Savings and Income Planning18%
7. Estate Planning10%
8. Psychology of Financial Planning7%
- Professional Conduct and Regulation8%
  - CFP Board Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct
  - CFP Board Procedural Rules
  - Financial Industry Structure and Regulation
- General Principles of Financial Planning15%
  - Financial Planning Process and Cash Flow Management
  - Debt and Financing Strategies
  - Economic Concepts and Time Value of Money
  - Education Planning
  - Gift and Income Tax Basics
- Risk Management and Insurance Planning11%
  - Risk Identification and Exposure Analysis
  - Health, Disability, and Long-Term Care Insurance
  - Life Insurance and Annuities
  - Business Owner Insurance Solutions
  - Insurance Needs Analysis and Carrier Selection
- Investment Planning17%
  - Investment Vehicles and Taxation
  - Investment Risk and Market Cycles
  - Asset Allocation and Diversification
  - Bond and Stock Valuation
  - Alternative Investments and Digital Assets
- Tax Planning14%
  - Income Tax Fundamentals and Calculations
  - Business Entity Taxation
  - Trust and Estate Taxation
  - Tax Reduction Techniques and Property Transactions
  - Charitable Giving Strategies
- Retirement Savings and Income Planning18%
  - Retirement Needs, Social Security, and Medicare
  - Retirement Plan Types and Qualification Rules
  - Distribution Strategies and Business Succession
- Estate Planning10%
  - Property Titling and Beneficiary Designations
  - Estate Documents and Transfer Tax Compliance
  - Trusts and Business Transfer Techniques
- Psychology of Financial Planning7%
  - Client Attitudes and Behavioral Finance
  - Communication and Crisis Counseling Foundations
Practice by topic
Mix topics in one practice set
- CFP practice questions with answers
Compare the CFP with other exams
- CFP vs CFA Level I
- CFP vs ChFC