The CFA® exam is “brutal”, and in order to overcome the exam, you need a solid understanding of the concepts being tested, a strategy to prepare for the exam, and the endurance to remain at the top of your game during the exam.  PASSMAX offered all of the above; a thorough review of the topics being tested, a strategy to ensure that the probability of passing is maximized, and an endurance training which ensures peak performance on exam day.
Allen Benjamin, CFA Candidate

We have developed a prep program which gives the candidate every piece of advantage there is for the CFA exam.  The following then are the foundations for our training program:

1. Our sessions are strictly disciplined in that only material which will be examinable is taught to the candidates. 

2. We use a ‘ground up’ approach in explaining a concept.  This reduces the amount of material that the candidate would have to memorize.  Furthermore, our approach equips the candidate to handle any type of question that may appear on the CFA exam.     

3. We strategically re-order coverage of the study sessions so that the candidate maximizes retention of the curriculum on exam day.  For example, Ethics requires the most amount of memorization and is thus covered last (i.e. closer to the exam date).  On the other hand, the concepts learned in Quantitative Methods are used throughout the curriculum and is thus covered first.  (Any prep program that follows the exact order of the CFA curriculum is void of any strategy).  

4. Each of our sessions mimics the CFA Exam.  For instance, our sessions are held on weekends, and run for 6 hours each (3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon). By the end of our training program, our candidates will have the physical and mental stamina needed in order to successfully attempt the CFA exam.  (Many candidates fail simply because they lack the stamina to sit through a 6-hour exam).

5.  Our prep and support program doesn’t end until you complete the CFA exam.  While most other prep programs end weeks in advance of the CFA exam, we actually increase our training and support during these last remaining weeks.  In the week leading up to the exam, our instructor will be available (in person) to address any last remaining concerns that a candidate might have.  Furthermore, each candidate will get some personalized tips on how to better their performance on the CFA exam.  Finally, on the day of the exam, we will be present at the exam site in order to provide whatever kind of support is necessary in order to enable you to just focus on passing the CFA exam. You passing the CFA exam is our number one priority!

As can be seen, our training program is not designed to make life easier for the candidate.  Instead, we take the prescribed number of prep hours (250-300 hours for the CFA exams) and structure it in such a way so that candidates can maximize their chance for passing the CFA exam.  Our program is not for everyone, especially for those candidates who cannot commit the minimum number of required prep hours or are expecting a convenient learning experience.  But for those who are willing to commit the time and hard work, no other CFA prep program in the Toronto area comes close to achieving the same rate of success as we have.  

The principal instructor at PASSMAX is Krikor Ghanaghounian, CFA.  Krikor was awarded the CFA charter in 1997.  Since 1998, he has taught business and finance at all the three university business schools located in Toronto.  He continues to be a finance instructor at one of the nation’s top ranked MBA Schools. His comprehensive knowledge of the CFA curriculum, combined with his teaching skills, makes him an ideal instructor for candidates preparing for the CFA exams.