Future financial planners should spend at least 200-250 hours studying for the CFP®. That’s a looooong time, so you’d better choose an education program and prep course that A) you like, and B) gets the job done.
One popular pick is the Boston Institute of Finance CFP® Review and education programs.
So, I went down the BIF rabbit hole. I studied their practice questions, video lessons, live classes, and even went undercover in the student community to give you the need-to-know dirt on their courses. Here’s what I found, all to answer the question of whether or not BIF is your match made in education heaven.
Is Boston Institute of Finance Right for You?
- If you’re someone who learns best with visuals, then BIF’s short videos and graph-heavy lessons will make complex stuff way easier to digest.
- If having a clear weekly plan keeps you motivated, then BIF’s 8-week structure with regular live classes is a total win.
- If you like having real people to learn with, then the active student forum and live Q&As will make you feel way less alone.
- If you need more time to study at your own pace, then the 21-month access period is a sweet bonus most other courses don’t offer.
- If you’re set on attending in-person classes, then BIF might not be the best fit—it’s all online, live, or self-paced.
What is the Boston Institute of Finance All About?
The Boston Institute of Finance is known for being one of the most affordable CFP® education and prep providers out there, with package prices thousands of dollars lower than top competitors (think: Kaplan, Dalton, and Danko). And that’s great, but it means nothing if their study materials don’t actually get the job done. As a professional course reviewer, I went down the rabbit hole—but more on that later.
For now, here’s what you need to know. BIF has a longer access period than competitors, with 21 months to use your tools, while most picks give a measly 12 months. Further, BIF’s courses are jam-packed with live instruction, from standard “cover the material” sessions to specialized classes for topic-specific test tips and breaking down how to correctly answer exam questions. All in all, I really enjoyed my time reviewing BIF’s offerings, and I’m excited to share more with you to help you decide whether it’s worth your investment.
Let’s dig deeper, starting with pros and cons.
“I completely agree, stay with BIF. They are absolutely fantastic. 4 of my colleagues used them and passed, and I used them as well.”
Background-Badger-39, Reddit Review
Pros
- Live classes multiple times each week
- Instructor-led cohort to meet your education requirements
- Longer access period (21 months) than the standard (12 months)
- Student community to stay connected while studying
- Testable topics/tips and question walkthroughs have their own weekly classes
Cons
- No in-person classes; live online and on-demand only
Boston Institute of Finance CFP® Review
Pick Your Package: BIF’s CFP® Course Options
Choosing your package is a little like putting a hot dog together, assuming your hot dog has exactly two toppings… Look, it’s twofold:
- Choose between instructor-led or self-paced education programs
- Choose between the BIF Premium or Core Review courses
Let’s take a look at how that pans out and what it means for you.
Instructor-Led Education + Premium Review
This is the most expensive package, because it includes the most valuable resources. This package is the best pick for students who thrive with 1-on-1 support and hyper-focused study hours.
Instructor-Led Education + Core Review
This package features the virtual classroom-driven education program paired with the lighter-on-features review course. If building a strong foundation is your #1 priority, this may be a good fit.
Self-Paced Education + Premium Review
This choice pairs the self-paced education program with the premium exam review course. If you’re trying to breeze through the education requirements and get into the nitty gritty of test prep, you’ve met your match here.
Self-Paced Education + Core Review
Finally, this package delivers self-study education resources and the Core Review. If you’re after the most affordable option, look no further.
| Features | Instructor-Led + Premium Review | Instructor-Led + Core Review | Self-Paced Ed + Premium Review | Self-Paced Ed + Core Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 CFP® Courses |  | | | |
| 3 Digital Reference Books | | | | |
| 8-Week Live Class Schedule | | | | |
| 3 Question Banks | | | | |
| Instructor-Driven Cohort | | |  | |
| Premium BIF Review Retake | | | | |
| Live “Testable Topic” Tuesday Classes | | | | |
| Live “Question Breakdown” Thursday Classes | | | | |
| Formula and Case Study Tips | | | | |
| Community Forum Access | | | | |
| 21-Month Access Period | | | | |
| Price | $5,790 | $4,990 | $4,790 | $3,990 |
| Grab Your Copy | START NOW | START NOW | START NOW | START NOW |
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Here’s The Scoop: Inside BIF’s CFP® Programs
You know the basics, the pros and cons, and which package to grab if the Boston Institute of Finance is right for you. Now, I want to share a little bit about my firsthand experience with the courses—and what those findings mean for you.
The Overall Experience
Let’s start with the basics: structure and vibes. How do the courses work, and how do they feel to use from a student perspective?
First and foremost, the navigation is extremely simple, so I never got lost looking for a specific resource. Plus, I loved that ability to visually track your progress with graphs, charts, and numbers. Watching those stats climb was really satisfying for me as a reviewer, and I can see it being a motivator for students. And, regardless of the way you learn, there are options.
In the instructor-led, Premium Review package, you can expect to make some serious use out of the class calendar, which shows you when those live classes are happening and how to join them. Chose the self-paced, Core Review option? You’ll be spending more time with bite-sized on-demand video lessons and the digital reference guides, all of which I highly recommend checking out.
On to the practice materials and bonuses. You can expect 1,500+ practice questions (exam-quality, I compared them to the real thing), a 170-question mock exam, and plenty of “end of section” quizzes to test whether the financial planning facts stuck in the old noggin. And yes, there are a few bonus tools, but you’ll find most of them in packages including the Core Review: formula sheet and case study techniques, the weekly deep dive and question walkthrough classes, and the BIF student community.
Videos and the Virtual Classroom
Regardless of the package you choose, you’re going to end up doing a lot of “watching,” and both review choices include live classes. However, the Premium Review includes more live classes, where you’ll be more reliant on the video lessons.
BIF’s video lessons are outstanding. They’re integrated directly into your reading, and they typically cover the content in your reading—but before you scream and run away, don’t worry. They aren’t just reading your textbooks to you in the “Bueller” voice. Instead, the lessons in the review course help you frame the reading in the context of the exam.
For example, in the section on modified endowment contracts, instructor Mike Long outlines a tip to remember for the exam (the death benefit treatment doesn’t change under an MEC) and that, in reference to the 7-pay test, you’ll probably only need to know the definition and be able to identify MECs. Maybe it’s just me, but I wouldn’t have guessed any of those insights unless I’d been specifically told, and that’s an edge BIF’s videos can bring.
As for the live classes, they’re great. I found the instructors to be attentive and interactive, and they seemed to really care about student success, sticking around at the end until every question had been answered. The education program is pretty straightforward, but, like with the video lessons, the review course classes heavily emphasize testing tips and tricks and how they relate to the current topic at hand. So, if passing the exam on your first try is a priority for you, I have no doubt that BIF’s materials could help you achieve that goal, so long as you’re a visual learner.
“I too, used the BIF premium and passed on 11/11. I went to every live session, including the Thursday night “jam” sessions. […] The instructors did a great job of keeping the sessions engaging. I’d recommend BIF to anyone.”
Jayseph812, Reddit Review
Value, Investment, and Whether BIF is Worth It
Regardless of the CFP® education program you purchase, you can assume it will be at least $1,000 or higher. In my research, I personally haven’t seen a cheaper, CFP Board-approved option. Bad knockoffs without approval? Sure. Good courses with the green checkmark? Nope.
So yes, the Boston Institute of Finance is expensive. But if you compare them to competing education programs and prep packages, your opinion may change; BIF’s offers cost thousands of dollars less than similar products from Kaplan, Dalton, and Danko. This is probably due, in part, to their lack of in-person, onsite exam review courses, usually to the tune of a 4-day study marathon. And, because many of them have fewer than six locations, you can probably expect to have to buy a plane ticket and a hotel room to participate, bumping up that price $500 or more.
However, live reviews can be helpful for a lot of candidates. If you feel that’s you, the Boston Institute’s courses shouldn’t be your first choice. However, if you’re looking to meet your education requirements and pass the CFP® exam for a comparatively affordable price, BIF is likely worth the investment.
Support, Access, and Guarantees
One of the Boston Institute of Finance’s selling points is that their joint education and prep bundles all have a 21-month access period, nearly double the length of the 12-month industry standard. As for guarantees, the two packages featuring the Premium Review course let you retake the course for free if you fail your exam.
And now, support. Most of your support will come naturally from the Q&A sessions in the live classes; however, there’s a lot to be said about the value of BIF’s student community. I visited the community myself and was thrilled to see how active the forums were, with new posts and replies every single day. Students were getting responses to their questions, creating study groups, and overall, just fighting that looming loneliness of being locked in a sunless room, surrounded by empty water bottles and half-eaten Cheetos bags for months. Not that I relate. Moving on…
As you can see, the Boston Institute of Finance has a lot to offer in all of these categories, even with the negative aspects of having fewer bonus tools and a lack of onsite classes. Now, let’s find BIF’s true value by comparing it to its top competitors: Kaplan and Dalton.
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“I have no experience with other vendors, but I couldn’t have been happier with BIF. The guys started to feel like members of my family, it’ll take a bit to get used to not hearing their voices every day. For the review, I did the pricier one, and felt that the extra supplements to be worth it. Especially the JAM sessions.”
GentlemenGetCapital, Reddit Review
CFP® Course Comparison: BIF vs Kaplan vs Dalton
| Feature | BIF | Kaplan | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study Style | Structured 8-week plan | Flexible, choose-your-own format | Traditional classroom style |
| Live Classes | 2–3 per week | Yes, optional | Yes, lots of options |
| Practice Questions | 1,500+ | 2,500+ | 2,800+ |
| Best For | Students who want a clear, efficient path | Learners who like options and tools | People who want more live help |
| Price Range | $3,990 – $5,790 | $5,350 to $8,049 | $5,995 to $8,495 |
Boston Institute of Finance vs. Kaplan
If you’re the kind of person who loves having tons of study tools, quizzes, and bonus materials at your fingertips, Kaplan CFP® is probably more your speed. It’s got a huge question bank, flexible class formats, and all the bells and whistles. But it can also feel a bit overwhelming if you don’t thrive with that much freedom.
Boston Institute of Finance, on the other hand, gives you a clear path and sticks to it. The classes are short and focused, the materials are clean and easy to understand, and everything follows a consistent 8-week plan. If you like knowing exactly what to do next, and you want live sessions baked into your schedule, BIF makes it simple to stay on track.
- Pick Boston Institute of Finance if you want structure, clear deadlines, and a study plan that feels manageable without cutting corners.
- Go with Kaplan if you prefer to customize your prep and want access to a wide variety of study tools.
Boston Institute of Finance vs. Dalton
Dalton is perfect for folks who want a more traditional classroom vibe. You get live instruction, lots of student support, and a pretty serious amount of hand-holding, which can be a good thing if that’s how you learn best. But it’s also one of the pricier options, and it’s a bigger time commitment.
Boston Institute of Finance is more like a guided sprint. You still get live sessions and plenty of instructor access, but everything’s designed to move fast and stay efficient. The lessons are short, the reading is digestible, and the community keeps you motivated without adding pressure.
- Choose Boston Institute of Finance if you’re looking for a fast, focused prep plan that doesn’t sacrifice quality.
- Stick with Dalton if you want a slower pace and a support-heavy experience that feels more like school.
Check out all of the best CFP® courses here and find out who ranks at the top.
Bottom Line
The Boston Institute of Finance isn’t perfect, but for visual learners on a budget, there’s a lot to love about their education and prep packages. It depends on the package you choose, but you’re likely getting almost double the standard access length, a free course retake if you don’t pass the exam, a supportive student community, expert live instruction from real CFPs, and an exam review course jam-packed with exam tips, not instructors reading slides to you.
If the Boston Institute of Finance sounds like the perfect fit, you can learn more about them below.
Best of luck, future financial planner! You got this.
FAQs
Prep will tackle concepts on the exam like tax planning, risk management, insurance planning, and investment planning (so basically, key financial planning topics).
You get 21 months of access—way longer than most other providers that usually cap it at 12.
Yep! You can catch replays if you can’t make it live, which is super helpful for busy schedules.
Nope—your BIF package includes reference books, question banks, and review tools. Everything’s built in.
Totally. The short videos, live sessions, and visual-heavy content are great for visual learners.
