Hello Future CPAs, my name is Jay and Ive been hand picked by Jeff Elliott to give you the blow by blow of my daily life managing a career, studying for the CPA exam and spending quality time with my family (not necessarily in that order).
I am a 33-year-old dad working on Wall Street as a financial controller for a $1Bn+ trading business at a large investment bank. The hours are not as bad as they were earlier in my career, but 10 hour days are the average and as with everything in life that varies from day to day.
My wife and two adorable little girls are the primary reason Im putting myself through this hell known as the CPA exam.
Personal accomplishment? No, not really.
For me, its all about staying relevant in a quickly changing financial environment, building my knowledge-base and in turn my resume, to hopefully give me an edge over all the other guys and gals trying to become CFOs and increase their earning potential. For those who didnt see it, there was a well-known bank analyst that recently released a report on Wall Street Investment Banks and shes forecasting 10% or 80,000 layoffs within the next year in the industry.
Thats what drives me to come home after a long days work, scarf down a quick dinner, kiss my girls goodnight and hit the Becker CPA Review DVD.
Now, some background on where I stand in my journey to becoming a CPA. I got my first set of Becker materials for FAR in April of this year (2010). I studied 300+ hours for FAR, including 2-4 hours each weeknight and 5 hours each on Saturday and Sundays. Unfortunately, I skimmed Not For Profit and Governmental Accounting and failed with a 68.
I have since re-reviewed FAR and retaken it in the last few weeks, but certainly didnt commit the 25 hours per week for this last effort. It was a combination of trying to target my studying and the summer distractions are really tough to overcome. My fingers are crossed and Ive moved onto Audit. Im currently on the first chapter of Becker Audit review and hoping to sit for the exam in early October.
So, heres my study plan for the week. I really need to focus this weekend and get through a good part of the material, as the last few weekends have been light on progress.
Problem #1: We have a birthday party over 50 miles away on Saturday for the children. Normally wed skip it, but its a milestone 1st Birthday for the child of very good friends, which we havent seen since New Years Eve. Its in the early afternoon, so my plan will be to hit Starbucks in the morning and try to get 3-4 hours logged before the party. Its less time than Id like, but I will try to add hours on Sunday, as well as during the week.
Problem #2: Sunday is the first day of swim classes at the YMCA with my 3-year-old daughter. After a brutal FAR study season, my wife and I thought this would be a good activity for just the two of us to bond, as she really did miss her daddy when I was battling FAR. I think its sometime in the late morning, so after the swim class, Ill be at the library or Starbucks for a good 5-6 hours.
So much for the first Sunday of NFL football (my favorite thing to do on a Sunday), not going to happen this weekend.
After that, I plan to do 2-3 hours each night Mon-Friday. Check in with me next week and Ill let you know how well I followed the plan.
For all of you out there with schedules as hectic or more hectic than mine, you can do it. Its just a matter of discipline….and coffee. Good Luck.
Jay-O
I was wondering, "How I might become a guest blogger?"
Jay, great to hear there are other crazy people in this world. I'm 33 with a 2 1/2 year old working at something similar to a start up company putting in 12-15 hour days with a 2 hour commute. Good times. I'm taking REG in Nov, passed FAR and AUD, waiting on BEC. My spouse is my savior. We have a WRITTEN DOWN POSTED ON THE FRIDGE COLOR CODED schedule so he knows when I'm studying and he handles the rest. He'll even look at the schedule and get on me when I'm not spending enough time studying. One other things that helps us a lot is sitting down Thursday nights and figuring out the weekend so that we get to events, I get my time to study and he gets his sanity time. That time includes one on one time with our daughter so that I continue to stay close with her. Good luck. I know it's not easy. (please ignore my grammer and my run ons...studying transactions in property!)
Jay O, How's the studying going? More blogs!!