[Ne’O]

Hi PonyUp,

I'm approaching 50 and just passed the last of the 4 exams. I too did it for professional reasons.
As someone who tried to do this 20 years ago before the govt took over, it has gotten much much much harder. You are in for a long haul.

Let me bulletpoint reply to you.
(#1) It might help to share your state. Be absolutely sure you have the education requirements. If an NASBA state, undergo an education review. My wife did. Even with her double Ivy League degrees, MBA from another Ivy, and having worked for two of the big NYC investment banks, they still wanted her to take 3.5 courses more. Yep, I'm serious about the .5 as they discounted half a course or otherwise managed to come up with that odd number.
Even with my Masters of Science in Accountancy and two other Certs in Accounting (former UPenn Wharton Program), they still had to review it twice to make sure I met all the education requirements. Though very American, one of my universities in New England followed a more traditionally English system. There was a sticking point about one course from that university meeting the state's requirements, due to the somewhat stuffy name the university had used for the course at that time- and not modernized on transcripts.

BE 100% SURE YOU MEET THE EDUCATION requirement per your state boards

. I think I had close to 220+ hours and they still felt I didn't quite make the 150hrs until they processed the one transcript they were missing. Even then, it was about 177? They'd shaved over 40 hours of various courses off my hours count.

(#2) You said, “I am finding that industry application so widely different then CPA principals tested. Any advice how to unlearn on the job principals?”
–Uhm…No. You will run into it a fair bit. I recently ran into it again on one of the exams. I knew what CPA / AICPA textbooks say, and I also knew the way it is really done >95% of the time on the Street. I was in such a rush, I did it the professional way. ON the way to the car after the exam, I cursed myself as I mentally remembered how they teach it and that it had been the answer under the one I chose- but was too cute and also violated their own rule of conservancy in accounting.
You are just going to have to have a switch in your brain for the way the CPA exams say do certain things. Their way vs the practical way differ now and then and can hurt you a little bit.

(#3) Budget more like 750 to 1000 study hours for the exams. Ignore whatever guidelines below that which you hear.
You will need a CPA exam course. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. I personally used Wiley. I found it too much information, too poorly organized, but it had huge test banks of questions. Part of why I needed so many study hours was because of the sheer quantity of information to chew through. <

strong>I highly advise cross training

. Have a primary, but mix it up with secondaries. I used Becker books and Ninja Testbanks as my secondaries. The Ninja testbanks differ a good bit from the Wiley ones, so a very good mix between the two.
For the FAR section of GOVT and NPOs, definitely don't use Wiley. Use Becker or something else, and the NINJA FAR testbank. I hated the Ninja FAR testbank because I believed it disproportionately weighs the weight of GOVT and NPO questions, but it was a perfect Wing-chun cross training for someone more accustomed to juijitsu.

You cannot PM on this board, but I will try and stay with this thread since I am very sympathetic to those of us who started this in midlife.

Ne'O

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

I too am applying in FL, as a transfer of Examination Grades from another state.

My primary issue is the state we intended to move did not require a CPA related work signoff. I am older, Co-CEO of one company and senior Options Trading PM of another.
I've been the boss for nearly 2 decades now. All the CPAs I know work for us on an outsourced basis. Half of our old ones have retired within the last 2 years.
Our auditor just changed the other year, and I don't particularly know them well.

I'm not sure whom to ask to sign off the FL CPA part.

[[ When beginning to sit for the exams, it looked like our house was just about to sell and that we would be moving to the northeastern state to be near wife's family and a half day drive of my grandparents. The house buyer's financing fell through, grandfather passed July 4th, and the family we were moving to be near got a promotion job offer requiring they move international. They've since found it suits them very well with a much higher quality of life [for them] than their former state of residence. They _ain't_ coming back!

We are staying in FL, especially after this tax bill has passed. Moving up north now would be financial self-mutilation. ]]

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Hey Matylo24, you partially got me there too.
You stuck to it like the T1000 and I had to respect that.

It was one of the things tha got me to get out the door and to the library (or online doing practice exams) the last 225 hours of studying.
Your bloody resilience was motivation for a lot of nights I came home and ate my 8pm diner reheated from the microwave, then sat down and put in another hour or two before calling it a night.

Ne'O

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Missy wrote, “It was a bit harder for me than typical candidates

because I'm OLD

, I have no public accounting experience, and while I have 20+ years excellent accounting experience it is all for very small companies”

It is good to know I am not the only

OLD

one here with only private accounting experience mostly with very small companies.
I've got jackets in the closet and fruitcake under the Christmas tree that is older than most of the candidates here.
Well, jackets at least. I should regift that fruitcake to the Aunt I don't like very much. She's a mean one.

_________________________________
emo215- My first job, I had a good degree from one of the best universities in the world and already experience by taking a year off from school and interning.
It still took over 500 resume/CV and talking to people as much as possible to get that first real job paying a whopping $30k in NJ/NYC.

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Same as Lucy15, I took a screenshot.

ReckedRacing: not anticlimatic at all.
–Not at all–.
It is sinking in slowly.

I owe some librarians some gifts this evening.
Then pick up some Hardy XO and a decent petite cigar. I wish I could get some Hibiki 17.
Have nice dinner with wife and then a little of the XO and the cigar on the dock. Stare at the stars and be so glad I don't hafta hit the library tomorrow.

Ne'O

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Advice for FAR:

Cross-train. Cross-train.

I had to take it a second time and was gearing up for a 3rd.
My primary was Wiley, and it is phonebook thick. The testbank is 1500+ and good for much of the main body of FIN.
Criticism: Too much info and poorly written. Sometimes a minor sentence buried in 3 paragraphs would be key to the understanding.
The GOVT and NPO sections kinda sucked.

Using Becker for GOVT and using NINJA MCQ doing every GOVT and NPO question helped.
Tacking it on to 2 solid passes through WILEY, I think that added +10-15 pts to my score after nearly three months and about +200-225hours.

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

FAR

Avg: 80
Trending: 80
Actual: 80

I disliked NINJA in that it was placing nearly 40% weight of score on GOVT and NON PROFIT vs the actual % on the exam.
GOVT & NOnPRofit are alien to me and I was getting 65-70, while averaging into the mid 80s on everything else.

The irony is that it forced me to focus on GOVT, which I crushed on the exam.
Meanwhile, I choked on a SIM that would have been easy for me with NINJA.

I felt the NINJA software was flawed, but it proved a good alternative to the way WILEY Testbank worked.
For FAR, Wiley is disorganized and not the best. Becker was better, though most that ace it seem to swear by Roger's.

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

HA…
HaHa…
HAHAhoHa….

HAHHHHHHAAHHHAHAHHHHHHH….

I'm extremely thankful to anything and everything that helped me get over the line in FAR.
Those exams were quite the mountain to climb.

As people say here:

(1) I get my life back.
(2) Wife gets hubby back.
(3) Things get repaired.
(4) Dogs get walked.
(5) Yard gets gardened.
(6) Librarians get gifts.

I gave up cigars long ago, but think I will track down one Opus X and take the dog for a very long walk.
I'll carry him back, if I hafta. I am having a Gallus and a wee Swally as soon as possible.

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Not going to look. Not going to look.
They'll email it to me later.

https://media.giphy.com/media/l2JHS7po8pGz94TgQ/giphy.gif

I looked.

Wow. At midday, I've got to go buy some librarians presents.
This is the best Christmas in a loooooong time.

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Rightbrained Accountant,

The dog gets the walk either way, though he is old enough I think he'd prefer an extended car ride with the windows cracked open.
Last night I was out procuring for our guests, and started thinking on what the librarians might all like if I pass. Obviously, not alcohol. Can't have a bunch of drunk librarians. If so, it should be on their own eggnog.
Either way I should get them a gift, but I really don't want to see them before Christmas if I failed. Too much Debbie Downer.

A firm believer in Zen whenever I can, this one is subconsciously sideswiping me.
I'm a little more wonked by it than is consciously in my control.

Good luck to all of you.

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Bluetoothray,

You wrote, “There was a DRS question where I swear the support amount differed from the amount I was supposed to select in the memo. I'm pretty sure I got it right. … I'm pretty sure it was a mistake. Can the AICPA make mistakes on exams?

If you read my first post on this thread, that was my exact experience that stunned me.
I like DRS a good bit, as they are close to my after hours accounting work at the main partnership entity of decent size that I CEO.
I was rocking through one, loving it…
Then got to one where the second half [part b] of the answer was erroneous in regards to the supporting documents. They were primarily looking for [part a] correction, which was easy… but all the later [part b] values were off. It was rather cut n dried from the supporting documents, but I spend a good 7 minutes or so trying to figure out what I missed.

I eventually gave up and chose the correct [part a]. Since most of the [part b] were the same, and the one or two that weren't had the wrong value for [part a]…. my answer was clear to me. Still, I was rather sure it was a wrong question. I've seen some questions that look or sound like they went through Google translate into English, and some where AICPA vs common practice differ, but never one where I was pretty sure they'd Homer Simpsoned it.

I'd be unhappy if that one was a pretest, as I'm sure I did at least >75% on that one.

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Celestial wrote, “Also I think I may have to contact the AICPA about one of my sims. I felt like I was missing information”.

Similar experience on my exam. The instructions were lacking and the information given was slapdash.
The info given was enough, if I inferred the super spartan “Here are numbers, go plug” instructions correctly. I would be happiest if that SIM was thrown out, as it would leave me only with one other that I gutterballed by being in a rush and not thinking it through. That gutterballed one should have been easy, and is on heavily tested material. There is no way they throw that one out. If they did, I think I could do one handed backhands or keep on trying (them) until not able to move anymore.

I'm dreading tomorrow. It is either going to be:

A) rounding out Top 5 Happiest Days of my Life
B) depressing funk day that I have to shake off as fast as possible before guests to stay for holidays
C) !Squirrel!
D) Take our very old dog for a very long walk day. He has almost given up saying hello when I come home from the library at 8pm. I owe him.

Best answer?
Dance like Jagger, or Bah Humbug?

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Broag wrote, “Your way with words is something to marvel (i.e. Napoleon Dipstick). That made me laugh.”

Verklempt!
[Look it up. Use it on your father and others.
Watch them pretend they know what it means, kinda like my dog listening to me.]

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Broag- “Did your Godbrothers express any frustration or angst toward their dad over the years?”

Yes, significantly. And I had my own frustrations with him, as he was one of my clients. We lost him as a client because he was quietly giving it to his sons. Not that they knew, and not that I could tell them without breaking confidence with my ex-client godfather.

I'm old enough now that I can say godfather is a bit of a Napoleon Dipstick- so I understand his sons. But his boys owe him and their wives a lot more than they were able to accept for a number of years. It was hard, them feeling Under the Wheel. Yet in many ways I was envious- their father cared and at least had a clue.

Don't think people see you as “The Bosses Son” with a silver spoon in your piehole. Most 21st century people know from tv, film, news, etc, what it is to work under a dominant father figure. You probably get a lot more quiet empathy than you know. How you comport yourself will matter.

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Ne’O]

Broag,

My godfather co-owns the large regional accounting firm now about 100 strong across 2 cities, about to hit their 50th year.
I watched my godbrothers grow up their father's career and expansion.
From their experience, I'm agreeing with “Memento Mori”.

-Yes it's Ne'O.

AUD:  72, 89

FAR:  71, 80

BEC:  83

REG: 82

Newbie CPA Candidate

[Author]

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