With pass rates between 40 and 50%, the CFA® exam is one of the most difficult exams in the world.
That’s why choosing a top CFA® prep course is such a big deal. After all, your review course may be the difference between passing and failing—between success and having to try again.
One prep provider that’s been skyrocketing in popularity lately is AnalystPrep CFA® Review.
Today, I’ll dig deep into AnalystPrep’s programs, covering study materials, practice questions, video lessons, mock exams, and more. I’ll lay out the pros and cons, pricing, and give you everything you need to know to decide whether or not AnalystPrep CFA® Review is right for you.
Key Takeaways
- Unbeatable Pricing: AnalystPrep offers one of the most affordable CFA® prep courses, with lifetime access to all three levels for under $1,000.
- Engaging Video Lessons: Professor James Forjan’s lectures stand out for being entertaining, clear, and effective—ideal for visual learners.
- Unlimited Tutor Support: The Complete Course package provides unlimited access to CFA® charterholder tutors, ensuring personalized help when you need it.
- High-Quality Materials: AnalystPrep combines an extensive question bank, mock exams, and detailed study notes for comprehensive exam preparation.
- Student-Approved Reputation: AnalystPrep boasts glowing reviews across platforms like Trustpilot and Google, with an average rating of 4.8 stars.
AnalystPrep CFA® Overview
AnalystPrep has served over 50,000 professional exam preppers since its inception. Though they offer prep packages for actuarial exams and graduate admissions, they’re primarily known for their stand-out CFA® and FRM courses.
One of the biggest selling points the company has is its outstanding reviews on platforms where they can’t alter the results, such as Facebook, Google, and Trustpilot. All of these platforms feature at least a 4.6-star rating on average from satisfied and successful students.
One Trustpilot reviewer had this to say, which does a great job of summing it all up:
“Insightful, concise, and extremely easy to understand. I would highly recommend this channel as a CFA resource.”
AnalystPrep CFA® Package Comparisons
AnalystPrep offers packages for individual CFA® levels, but by far, you’ll get the best bang for your buck with their Complete Course, which bundles all three levels and all of the materials in one package.
| Features | Practice Package | Learn + Practice Package | Complete 3-Level Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $349 | $499 | $799 |
| Levels Included | Level I, Level II, or Level III | Level I, Level II, or Level III | All 3 Levels |
| Access Length | 12 Months | 12 Months | Lifetime Access |
| Practice Questions | 4,000 | 4,000 | 6,000+ |
| Digital and Printable Mock Exams | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Performance Tracking Tools |  | | |
| Study Notes |  | 2,000 Pages | 3,000+ Pages |
| Video Lessons | | 60+ Hours | 120+ Hours |
| Ask-A-Tutor Questions | 5 | 5 | Unlimited |
Note: Some of the features vary slightly by the specific package’s level. The numbers used were for the Level I packages.
Pros
- Top-Notch Video Lessons: Professor James Forjan was extremely helpful for breaking down complex topics in a way that visual learners can understand.
- Affordable for All: Some AnalystPrep competitors charge nearly double the price of AP’s complete 3-level course for a single-level course.
- Try Before You Buy: Some of AnalystPrep’s CFA® video lessons are available for free on YouTube, so you can take the course for a “test drive” before finalizing your choice.
- Tutoring With Experts: Your tutors are CFA® charterholders themselves, and with the complete course, you get unlimited Ask-a-Tutor questions.
- Transparent, Glowing Reviews: With an average rating of 4.8 stars across Facebook, Trustpilot, and Google, AnalystPrep is a fan favorite for CFA® candidates.
Cons
- No Review-Specific Content: Unlike competitors like Kaplan-Schweser, AnalystPrep doesn’t offer review content designed for “home stretch” refreshers.
- No Live Classes: If you prefer live instruction over on-demand course content, you may want to consider a different provider. AnalystPrep’s courses are all on-demand only.
AnalystPrep CFA® Review Course
How Does the AnalystPrep CFA® Review Course Stand Out?
Here are the areas where AnalystPrep really shines:
- Premier Video Instruction
- Low Prices
- Tutoring Questions
Premier Video Instruction
One of the single biggest selling points of AnalystPrep’s courses is their lead instructor, Professor James Forjan.
As an actual professor who taught at the York College of Pennsylvania, I was able to check out his “Rate My Professor” profile, and I wasn’t surprised at all to discover how much his students love his classes after experiencing the instruction myself.
One student had this to say:
“Easily one of the best instructors I have ever had. He is clear, concise, and extremely knowledgeable. Learned a lot. And to make it better, he made it interesting and entertaining. You will laugh, and if you pay attention in his classes, you will pass and take away a lot.”
And this expertise translates beautifully into 120+ hours of video lessons, which I really enjoyed working through. These videos are engaging, entertaining, and easy to understand. He is truly gifted at what he does, and CFA® candidates who benefit from video instruction will probably enjoy AnalystPrep’s courses as much as I did.
Low Prices
AnalystPrep’s top competitors can charge $1,500+ for single-level prep courses, so you may have to pay nearly $5,000 to cover all three. Meanwhile, AnalystPrep’s complete course—with lifetime access—costs under $1,000, making AP a standout choice for students on a tight budget.
It’s truly that simple. You may be missing out on additional features, like gamified dashboards and live classes. However, for the price, practice questions, and video library, AnalystPrep stands out for self-study students.
Tutoring Questions
Imagine having unlimited access to an expert every time you’re struggling with a concept. Simply shoot a message, and within anywhere from a few hours to a day or so, your tutor will be able to give you an in-depth explanation that you can actually understand.
I used the tutoring feature myself, receiving a thoughtful, in-depth response from tutor Mathieu. It felt promising to be treated like more than just a number and have someone patiently guide me through every question until I totally understood. Because it’s messaging-based, it’s a little different than the personalized coaching you’d receive from a live class like Kaplan’s; however, if you don’t need that level of attention, this is a really nice alternative (and a little more accessible for the introverts out there).
CFA® Exam Prep Course Comparisons
AnalystPrep vs. Kaplan-Schweser
We’ve already discussed the fact that AnalystPrep’s courses are significantly gentler on your wallet than Kaplan-Schweser. And, in a lot of ways, the courses are pretty evenly matched.
The main difference to note is that AnalystPrep has much better video lessons. Obviously, this is subjective, to a point. However, while Kaplan-Schweser’s videos do the job, I feel that AnalystPrep’s go above and beyond. Finding an entertaining instructor in a field known for being—let’s face it—pretty dry is like finding a diamond on the bottom of the ocean. It feels impossible. But with AnalystPrep, that’s exactly what you’re getting.
However, Kaplan-Schweser has features that AnalystPrep doesn’t, like live instruction, their final review content, and flashcards. Another boon on their side is their SchweserNotes™, which are a set of exceptional study notes that are fantastic for quickly understanding exam topics and mastering the learning outcome statements.
🏆 Winner: Kaplan-Schweser has its perks, but ultimately, AnalystPrep’s stellar video lectures and outstanding price point help it come out on top.
AnalystPrep vs. Mark Meldrum
Mark Meldrum is similar to AnalystPrep in that Mr. Meldrum himself is an excellent instructor, and many students also love his video lessons. Meldrum’s courses also offer live instruction. However, this is reflected in the price tag.
Though you can grab Meldrum’s courses for a low single-level price, you might have to pay $1,500 or more for the Instructor-Led Online + Applied package (again, just for one exam level).
There are times when I advocate for the highest-priced offer, because it truly is worth the investment. Becker’s CPA packages come to mind. However, when AnalystPrep is so high quality, it doesn’t make sense to pay more when you can pocket that money for a rainy day.
🏆 Winner: Both providers offer top-notch instruction. While Mark Meldrum offers live review courses, the price reflects that. AnalystPrep wins due to their comparable quality and ridiculously low prices.
AnalystPrep vs. Princeton Review
Though Princeton Review tends to be recommended a lot by other companies, they’re very rarely recommended by students. Why? One student describes their mistake in purchasing Princeton Review’s CFA® prep course:
“I initially bought Princeton Review material, thinking it would be solid since I had a good experience with it for ACT prep back in high school. Spoiler: It was not worth the price at all. The quality was far below what I expected, and it really didn’t align with what’s needed for the CFA exams.”
Ultimately, I try my best to be objective when I make recommendations, and when there are so many excellent alternatives, Princeton Review just isn’t worth that hefty price tag.
🏆 Winner: AnalystPrep edged out over competitors like Kaplan-Schweser and Mark Meldrum, but I believe they’re head and shoulders above Princeton Review due to their video lessons, question bank full of high-quality CFA® practice questions, and their attention to the whole syllabus of the CFA® exams.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, AnalystPrep is a top choice when it comes to CFA® prep courses due to their low prices, high quality, top-tier video instruction, and lifetime access to all three levels in the complete course.
They aren’t perfect, but they’ve carved a niche for themselves because their prices are low enough that it’s easy to mistake them for a lesser, lower-quality, budget-friendly choice. However, this is simply not the case. AnalystPrep is a standout in so many ways, and I excitedly recommend it to all students.
Regardless of what you choose, know that you’ve got this. It’s a long journey, but you’re being proactive and putting in the effort to reach the finish line. Good luck!
FAQs
The best CFA® provider depends on your learning style and budget. AnalystPrep is an excellent choice for affordability, high-quality video lessons, and extensive materials, while Kaplan-Schweser stands out for live classes and review-specific resources.
Yes! AnalystPrep’s Level 1 package offers over 4,000 practice questions, 60+ hours of video instruction, and comprehensive study notes, making it a great option for beginners. Their premium package, which includes all three levels, is a great, affordable choice.
AnalystPrep excels in affordability and engaging video content, while Schweser offers live instruction and more robust review tools. Your preference will depend on your study needs and budget.
Most candidates find Level II of the CFA® exam the hardest due to the depth of material and complexity of the vignettes. However, Level III is also challenging with its focus on essay-style questions.
Yes! AnalystPrep’s question bank includes thousands of high-quality, examinable questions extracted from the learning outcome statements offered by the CFA Program from the CFA Institute. They’re designed to help students master key concepts, even with a busy schedule.
