Just spent way too much time researching CFA exam prep options and figured I'd share what I found since so many people ask about this. So the deal is you're looking at like 900+ hours of studying across three exam levels, which is insane, so picking the right materials actually matters.

For courses, I kept seeing Kaplan Schweser pop up everywhere. They've got three packages ranging from Essential (basic self-study, cheapest) to PremiumPlus (includes live classes and workshops). The Premium middle option seems like what most people go with - solid cfa exam prep without breaking the bank. Wiley and Princeton Review are also legit options. Wiley's got mentoring if you're into that, and Princeton Review actually has a money-back guarantee on Levels I and II, which is kind of wild.

If you're more of a book person, the CFA Institute's Level 1 Box Set is comprehensive but you have to buy all six books together. Wiley's five-book set is apparently great if you like color-coded stuff and visual explanations. SchweserNotes are supposed to be good for people who want to do shorter study sessions instead of marathon cramming.

Honestly the main thing is figuring out how you actually learn - do you need live classes or are you cool with just videos and books? And obviously check if the study schedule fits your life. Like if a program wants 20 hours a week and you've only got 10, that's a problem. The cfa exam prep materials are all pretty solid these days, just depends on your style and budget. Anyone else going through this process right now?