[raymondsfamily]

And buy Becker 2012? I bought Becker 2010 and I have my materials but I dicked around and didn’t really start studying until 2 months ago (I have, although, watched all the dvds four all 4 sections) …I wrapped up my MBA in June 2010 and moved/started a new job (and a new job in Finance after that in April 2011). Needless to say, I had a number of excuses not to study hardcore and now I am wanting to do this and pass the CPA. Should I use Jeff’s Ninja notes and buy test banks to really firm up my knowledge of the concepts and theories, etc? Or should I just get Becker again? I am weighing the $3k again versus trying to patch together various CPA study tools/sources to try and pass the exam.

Anyone ever been in the same boat?

AUD - 89
BEC - 83
FAR - 81
REG - 86

Finally done - many thanks to Jeff and A71!

F - 5/8/13 81
R - 74, 2/7/14 86
B - 74, 12/6/13 82
A - 70, 11/4/14 89!!!

I'm done 🙂 Many thanks to Jeff, A71 and Roger CPA!!!

MBA and CPA

[Minimorty]

You'll get a mix of opinions on this one. Only you will know for sure what feels right. If you liked (tolerated) the Becker 2010 materials, then I would spring for the 2012 Becker materials. If you go through the entire course (ie. not just read a .pdf of the book – LOL) and listen to the lectures, do the homework, etc., I believe that Becker is great preparation for the exam. Along with the Becker materials, I would buy the Wiley test banks and the NINJA notes (whats a couple extra hundred on top of $3k?). If you are smart and willing to put in the time, I'm sure some of the other review programs would work just as well. I felt Becker was very clear and concise and given my schedule (work, wife, two kids, etc.) I needed something that wasnt going to waste my time. Good luck!

[raymondsfamily]

Ya, I should've gotten my ass in gear 😉 I am now conditioning myself to wake up at 5 AM to study for an hour (I have my two kiddos to manage in the morn as a single moma) 😉 Then I study during my lunch hour and then 1-2 hours in the evenings and then additonal hours on the weekends. Never did I do this for my Econ degree or MBA degree…the CPA has handed me my dignity in pieces 🙂 But I am a fighter and will nail this!!

What are your thoughts on the final review for Becker? Should I opt for that instead? I know it is 1/3 the lecture time (30 hrs) and 1/10 of the question banks (600 questions) but it is only $750 and then I'd for sure supplement with Jeff's notes and the Wiley test banks…

AUD - 89
BEC - 83
FAR - 81
REG - 86

Finally done - many thanks to Jeff and A71!

F - 5/8/13 81
R - 74, 2/7/14 86
B - 74, 12/6/13 82
A - 70, 11/4/14 89!!!

I'm done 🙂 Many thanks to Jeff, A71 and Roger CPA!!!

MBA and CPA

[Minimorty]

Ouch, morning study sessions are brutal, but I totally get time is limited. I would study at lunch for an hour or so and then in the evenings for a couple hours after my kids went down. It was definitely a grind, but thats why you want to make sure you pass the first time around (pretend you are starting over).

I wish I could help you on the Becker final review. I didnt get any of them because I felt pretty prepared going in to all four of my exams. You'll be kicking yourself if you buy the final review and it isnt enough so then you need to purchase a new review course anyway. You should probably look into the other courses (Roger, Yaeger, CPAExcel, etc.) to see if they would be a good fit for you.

btw – What do you do in your line of work?

[raymondsfamily]

I am so thankful you are here to offer advice and insight…it is nice to have a sounding board with various perspectives and all. Man, hindsight is a cruel 20/20 but that is very true about potentially needing the entire Becker package rather than just the Becker review…another $3k to chalk up – the only way it is reasonable this time around is the installment payment on it which helps a helluva lot.

I am a Finance Administrator for a multi-billion dollar Agribusiness company – I support the portfolio area and also handle the operating leasing, too (think FASB 13 and the capital leases accounted for as operating leases). It is a great job but the CFO, VP of Treasury, CEO, VP/Controller, etc are all on my floor and EVERYONE around me has the CPA done and accounted for…I need to get this done ;-/

How about you?

AUD - 89
BEC - 83
FAR - 81
REG - 86

Finally done - many thanks to Jeff and A71!

F - 5/8/13 81
R - 74, 2/7/14 86
B - 74, 12/6/13 82
A - 70, 11/4/14 89!!!

I'm done 🙂 Many thanks to Jeff, A71 and Roger CPA!!!

MBA and CPA

[kandisjoy]

Becker is great from what I hear… but if you want a cheaper option, CPAexcel + NINJA notes were enough for me to pass the exam (when I actually put the time in and made it through the entire course). I used the most basic self-study version of CPAexcel, which for all 4 parts is $795 (it's on special right now – buy 3 get 1 free). NINJA notes are pretty cheap too, and the great thing about this program is that it would never expire. CPAexcel never expires, and it updates automatically for you every year! And Jeff will update your notes if you email him and ask.

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Minimorty]

@ray – Sounds like you enjoy what you do, that is good.

I am a business valuation expert for a national valuation firm. Most of my work is for transaction purposes and gift and estate tax purposes. I work for a great company and they treat me well.

Good luck with this process. You will definitely get there, just takes hard work and little bit of time. It will be worth it though. Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything.

[Anonymous]

@raymondsfamily – I prepared using Becker and for REG and BEC added the Wiley testbank. I did purchase the final review material through Becker as well, however I went to the live final review in Dallas, TX. The teacher there is awesome!! I know everyone may not have this option and IMO if you can't go to the live final review, the final review material isn't really worth it. I would say go with Wiley instead. Good luck!!

[RedRage00]

I've passed my first 3 exams with the Wiley online test bank and book at a fraction of the cost of Becker. I can't speak for Becker fans but I wasn't going to shell out 3k lol

I don't think it really matters what program you use. They are all good. It just matters if you put in the study time.

I like the Wiley online test bank because I can study at work during my lunch hour.

Texas CPA
Licensed, March 2012

[smrichard]

I couldn't afford Becker so I used Gleim for my first few attempts and switched to Wiley and NINJA notes for REG and BEC. I think Gleim had too many questions so it was hard to focus on what was really important. Wiley had just the right amount of questions and the NINJA notes were great for studying in small spurts when I didn't have a computer (i.e. on the bus or waiting at the doctor's office). I think it's a matter of spending the appropriate time, not who can spend the most money.

FAR 82
AUD 81 (2007), 73, 80
REG 68 (2010), 76
BEC 58 (2007), 75 DONE!!!!

[raymondsfamily]

Hi All ~ well, after talking to my boyfriend and assessing what the impact will be if I can't nail the exams over the next few months (as I refuse to let this trail into my summer with my kiddos), I think I'll just treat this as my first attempt at the exam and reorder Becker for 2012 knowing full well that I better pass the friggin' sections the second time around since the price tag is falling short of buying a car 😉

AUD - 89
BEC - 83
FAR - 81
REG - 86

Finally done - many thanks to Jeff and A71!

F - 5/8/13 81
R - 74, 2/7/14 86
B - 74, 12/6/13 82
A - 70, 11/4/14 89!!!

I'm done 🙂 Many thanks to Jeff, A71 and Roger CPA!!!

MBA and CPA

[raymondsfamily]

@Minimorty – how long did you study for the exam? I see when you took the sections but what was your plan of attack (as it seems we have a similar setup in life)?

AUD - 89
BEC - 83
FAR - 81
REG - 86

Finally done - many thanks to Jeff and A71!

F - 5/8/13 81
R - 74, 2/7/14 86
B - 74, 12/6/13 82
A - 70, 11/4/14 89!!!

I'm done 🙂 Many thanks to Jeff, A71 and Roger CPA!!!

MBA and CPA

[See Pee A]

@raymondsfamily: I found Becker to be a great study tool. Below are my scores using only Becker self-study. I studied hard, and found the course to go into significant detail yet not so much that it would be inefficient. It is a great course in my experience. I have a strong education background (I go to a school that lists 70% first-time pass rate) so no doubt that played some role, but the course was highly sufficient. I have not taken financial accounting since Spring 2010 and took Audit in school in Fall 2010 and none since and passed just fine in Fall 2011 (see below).

As a financier, I am sure you understand fully risk and reward. You can take another course and risk not passing (in which case you may have to shell out more $$ anyway and you will also lose time–having a family makes time very valuable). Or, you can go the other route and just buy Becker, which you feel has a good layout from your previous experience, and have a better chance of getting through the first time. It's up to you. Are you a gambler? Good luck!

BEC 86 (08/30/11)
FAR 84 (10/13/11)
REG 88 (11/08/11)
AUD 86 (11/29/11)

Exam prep - Becker self-study

[MFCPA]

@raymondsfamily, call Becker and tell them you already purchased prior materials that have expired. They will give you a huge discount, close to 50% I believe.

DONE!

[Minimorty]

@ray – I started off with Becker and took a solid three months of studying for FAR. I basically did one chapter per week in Becker and then reviewed everything for 2-3 weeks at the end. In hindsight, I probably took a bit too long to study FAR. I should have shortened the time frame and studied a little harder. That was my best score though, so I guess I shouldn't complain.

Let me back up one sec. Before FAR, I had just gotten done taking 24 units of accounting just to sit for the exam. I majored in Econ and graduated in 2005 and went straight into the work force. I had no accounting classes through college and CA requires 24 units of accounting just to sit for the exam. After getting my 24 units of the way (night classes and online classes) I started with FAR and did the 3 months mentioned above.

Once I was done with FAR I was starting to get burned out. I realized I needed to shorten my time frame for studying. On AUD, REG, BEC, my goal was to do like 1.5 chapters per week and supplement with a bunch of multiple choice questions. This seems to work pretty well. I think I only took two or three days off between tests, so you'll be able to see how many days I spent preparing. I rarely took a day off and generally studied for an hour at lunch and 1.5-2 hours in the evening. I never studied while my kids were awake, so I never felt like the exam was taking away from my children. It was a little bit challenging on my wife during my studies, but now she is taking the exam and I am picking up the slack around the house (payback is a witch with a capital B – lol). Last thing is that I saved what I thought would be my easiest test for last (BEC – and it was my easiest test – thank god).

There is no “right” way to go about it. You just need to get into a rhythm that you are comfortable with and just run with it.

[raymondsfamily]

@MFCPA – that would soooo make my day!!! I'll call and see what they say 🙂 Fingers crossed!

@See Pee A – I couldn't agree more that it is all about weighing the risks vs the benefits and I am very much the type of person to include the opportunity costs of everything outside of actually spending money on different programs and time with my family is a big one (that and we have a big finance conference in late May 2012 and any accomplishments in 2011 are recognized in front of all the attendees – incl the CEO/CFO/VPs, etc and my boss of course)…I want to be a CPA soooo bad that I can't give up…man, things have changed!

AUD - 89
BEC - 83
FAR - 81
REG - 86

Finally done - many thanks to Jeff and A71!

F - 5/8/13 81
R - 74, 2/7/14 86
B - 74, 12/6/13 82
A - 70, 11/4/14 89!!!

I'm done 🙂 Many thanks to Jeff, A71 and Roger CPA!!!

MBA and CPA

[Author]

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