The Best 6 CFA Exam Prep Courses and Books

Passing the CFA exam is no joke. I’ve watched colleagues burn through 900+ hours of study time across all three levels—that’s basically a part-time job for a year. If you’re going to invest that kind of time, you’d better pick the right study materials or you’re just wasting precious hours.

3 Best CFA Exam Prep Courses

Kaplan Schweser

Kaplan dominates the CFA prep market, and honestly, it’s for good reason. Their three-tiered approach lets you choose how much hand-holding you need. The Premium package hits the sweet spot with on-demand classes and workshops, while PremiumPlus adds live instruction for those who need the accountability. Their “Secret Sauce” tips are actually pretty useful, though the name makes me cringe a bit. If you’re disciplined enough for self-study, the Essential package saves you money but won’t leave you stranded.

Wiley

Wiley’s offerings mirror Kaplan’s structure but with some unique perks. Their Platinum package includes professional mentoring—something I wish I’d had when struggling through derivatives concepts. The Gold package drops a few premium features but keeps the core content intact. Their practice question bank is massive, which matters when you’re trying to drill concepts into your brain through repetition. The self-study option is bare-bones but functional for those on a budget.

The Princeton Review

Princeton Review’s money-back guarantee for Levels I and II shows confidence in their materials. Their Essential Course packs 3,150+ practice questions and 50+ hours of video lectures, covering all ten exam areas. The Ultimate Course adds live instruction and one-on-one professor access, which might justify the price jump if you’re the type who needs to ask questions. Their mock exams are particularly challenging, which better prepares you for the real thing.

3 Best CFA Exam Prep Books

CFA Program Curriculum Level I Box Set – CFA Institute

Straight from the source, this six-book set covers everything you’ll face on exam day. The organization is logical, building concepts systematically. However, these books can be dense and technical—sometimes feeling like they’re written by academics rather than educators. The practice questions are authentic since they come from the same people writing the actual exam. Just be warned: you can’t buy individual volumes.

CFA Level I Study Guide – Wiley

Wiley’s five-book set uses color-coding and visual elements that make complex concepts more digestible. Their explanatory graphs saved me countless hours of confusion when tackling portfolio management concepts. Available in print or e-book format, these guides strike a good balance between comprehensive coverage and accessibility. Though not as authoritative as the CFA Institute materials, they’re often more learner-friendly.

Level 1 SchweserNotes & Quicksheet – Schweser

SchweserNotes break down the mountain of CFA content into manageable chunks, which is a godsend when you’re studying after long workdays. Their modular approach lets you fit study sessions into busy schedules. The accompanying examples and quizzes reinforce learning better than simply reading text. Available in multiple formats, these notes focus on what’s most likely to appear on the exam rather than exhaustive coverage of every concept.

Choosing the Right CFA Exam Prep Materials

Your learning style should drive your choice—visual learners might prefer video courses while readers might do fine with books alone. Cost matters too, but cheapest isn’t always best when your career advancement is on the line.

Some budget options cut corners on coverage, leaving dangerous knowledge gaps. I’ve seen smart people fail because their discount materials skimped on derivatives or fixed income sections.

Most importantly, be realistic about your study schedule. If materials recommend 20 weekly study hours but you can only commit 10, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Better to stretch your timeline than to rush unprepared into an exam with a notoriously low pass rate.

The CFA designation can significantly boost your advisory career, but only if you actually pass. Choose wisely.