Kaplan Financial Education: A Comprehensive Review

Kaplan Financial Education has been a prominent player in professional development and exam preparation for over 80 years. It offers licensing and designation exam prep, professional development, and continuing education to millions across various industries. Kaplan's offerings are designed to provide professionals with a competitive edge, leveraging innovative AI tools and comprehensive programs for both students and faculty.

Overview of Kaplan Financial Education

Kaplan Financial Education provides a range of resources, including:

Licensing Exam Prep: Courses designed to prepare individuals for licensing exams in various fields.
Designation Exam Prep: Programs aimed at helping professionals earn specific designations in their industry.
Professional Development: Courses and resources focused on enhancing skills and knowledge for career advancement.
Continuing Education: Opportunities for professionals to stay updated with the latest industry trends and requirements.

AI-Powered Tools

Kaplan integrates AI tools to personalize the learning experience. These tools adapt to individual needs, offering tailored support to help professionals serve clients more effectively, improve exam performance, and reinforce essential financial concepts.

Review Analysis

A general sentiment from reviews indicates customers have had a positive experience with Kaplan Financial Education. The platform's user experience, learning tools, and helpful staff are frequently praised. While opinions on the service are more varied, the user experience, product quality, and staff support receive consistently high marks.

Positive Feedback Highlights

User Experience: Reviewers often highlight the positive user experience, noting that the learning tools and platform are very helpful for their studies.
Staff Support: Many consumers appreciate the staff, finding them helpful and the instructors engaging.
Comprehensive Courses: The courses are described as in-depth and well-organized, providing a thorough understanding of the material.
Effective Learning Tools: The QBank (question bank) is frequently mentioned as a useful tool for exam preparation.
Flexibility: Many users appreciate the ability to study at their own pace, using the materials and videos to test their knowledge.

Constructive Criticism

Quality Concerns: Some users have pointed out issues with the quality of OnDemand videos, including errors by the presenter, technology glitches, and inaccuracies on slides.
Content Gaps: A few reviewers have noted that the textbook content doesn't always cover all the information needed to answer practice exam questions.
Answer Explanations: Some users feel that the answer explanations for practice questions could be more detailed.
Desire for More Features: Some users would like to see additional features, such as audio in certain courses or the ability to review missed questions on final exams.

Kaplan Financial Education Products and Services

Kaplan Financial Education offers a variety of packages and resources to cater to different needs and learning preferences. These include review packages, live classes, video lectures, and supplemental materials.

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Review Packages

Kaplan offers different review packages to accommodate various learning styles and budgets. These packages typically include:

Essentials Review Package: This package offers the basics, including a set of prep books and online tools like the practice question Qbank and performance trackers.
Premium Review Package: Considered Kaplan’s "standard" CFP prep course, this package includes live in-person courses, live online classes, and an on-demand format.

Live Classes and Video Lectures

Kaplan features roughly 30 hours of live online or on-demand video lessons. The live classes offer weekend and night options, typically lasting three hours, which many find an excellent length for absorbing information without becoming overwhelmed. Instructors use real-world examples to help concepts click and are patient with questions.

Key Features of the Premium Review Package

Live In-Person Course: A four-day intensive course with approximately 33 hours of live instruction.
Live Online Class: Virtual classroom sessions held across 11 three-hour sessions.
On-Demand Format: Prerecorded video lessons that can be watched anytime, anywhere.

All forms of the Premium Review Package include access to classes, books, video lessons, the practice question Qbank, a mock exam, and podcasts.

Core Materials and Resources

Classes: Interactive sessions led by experienced instructors, focusing on content review and testing strategies.
Review Books: Detailed and well-organized books covering a wide range of topics.
Practice Question Qbank: A tool for creating custom practice question sets by topic and number of questions.
Mock Exam: A full-length practice test designed to simulate the actual exam experience.
Supplemental Resources: Additional materials and tools to support learning, such as eLibrary videos and the High 5 video series.

Supplemental Resources

Kaplan provides a set of supplemental resources to further enhance the learning experience. These resources include:

eLibrary Videos: PowerPoint-style slideshow videos that cover strategies and approaches for tackling complex topics.
High 5 Video Series: Prerecorded webinar-like videos featuring instructors who offer tips and techniques for approaching challenging subjects.
Performance Tracker: A tool that identifies areas where students are weak and need additional practice.

Platform and User Experience

The Kaplan CFP student portal is generally considered above average, with a clean and simple layout. All study tools are easily accessible from the dashboard, and the platform is easy to navigate.

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Activity Feed

The Activity Feed guides students step-by-step through their studies, indicating what to study and when. It adapts to performance and adjusts the study schedule to focus on areas needing more work.

Practice Questions

Kaplan’s practice questions closely mirror real CFP exam questions in terms of content and style. These questions are thoughtfully written and test the material in a variety of ways.

Pass Guarantee and Support

Kaplan offers a "PassProtection" guarantee, allowing students to retake the course if they fail the exam. Additionally, Kaplan provides support through in-person classes and webinars, with quick response times to student inquiries.

Pass Rates and Success Stories

Kaplan students have a first-time pass rate of 71%, which is higher than the national average. Many students credit Kaplan for their success, noting that they felt well-prepared for the exam and that the use of multiple question banks ensured a thorough understanding of the material.

Value and Pricing

Kaplan’s Premium and Essential review packages are priced competitively compared to other providers in the industry. The combination of comprehensive resources and a pass guarantee makes Kaplan a solid choice for aspiring financial professionals.

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Kaplan vs. Competitors

When comparing Kaplan to competitors like Dalton Education, Kaplan is often seen as more affordable and flexible, while Dalton is considered more intensive and high-touch.

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