I recommend that students studying for the online exams or for the actual CFP® Certification Examination exam learn not only the material (knowing rules or definitions), but also develop an ability to apply the principals and to recognize how each one can positively or negatively affect other areas relating to financial planning. A good analogy compares financial planning to a hanging mobile: touch one piece, and the rest will move, too (perhaps in an overall adverse way)!
If you can approach learning the material in this fashion, it may help you to comprehend it better and see the “bigger picture.” When taking the exam, look to the best answer based on the movement of the other parts as a whole.
Posted by Boston Institute of Finance
Bryant University Financial Planning Education Blog 