--- title: Finance & Accounting Exam News and Strategy | Mark Skoskiewicz description: "Mark Skoskiewicz holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a Major in Finance from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, (he received additional minors in Philosophy and History). At IU, Mark was an undergraduate economics instructor teaching supplemental small group sessions for the department’s introductory economics course. During his junior and senior years, he was a private economics, finance, and accounting tutor. After Indiana, Mark spent 8 years working for Marakon Associates before creating MyGuru in 2009 while earning his MBA at Northwestern Kellogg to make it easier for parents and students to find high quality yet affordable tutors. While Mark wants MyGuru to always be known as a source for excellent tutors, we also aim to be a thought leader on how to improve academic performance through shifts in mindset, well-defined study plans, improved study habits, and even stress reduction strategies. Mark believes these ideas are a powerful, critical complement to working with an expert private tutor. Mark currently shares insights, advice, and information about how to improve academic performance in MyGuru’s improving academic performance blog and in an eBook Plan, Prepare, Perform: A Personalized Approach to Test Preparation." --- # Professional CertificAtion NEws and Exam Strategy Stay current with the latest FINRA and other professional certification news and proven test prep strategies. Browse by All CFA CFA study skills CFA tutoring CFA tutors defined benefit plans CAIA exam CFA vs. CAIA FINRA SIE become a realtor cfa prep cfa study materials real estate real estate exam real estate exam prep real estate exam tutor securities This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ## Posts by Mark Skoskiewicz: [FINRA](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/finra) [SIE](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/sie) [securities](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/securities) This article provides an overview of some of the most important, yet often overlooked, study strategies and habits that make all the difference in passing or failing the [Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam](https://www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/securities-industry-essentials-exam). Different content providers have pros and cons like anything else, but regardless of which SIE study resource you choose, it is paramount that you rely upon a proven a curriculum instead of attempting to utilize the internet (or a friend’s outdated SIE book) as your primary study guide. The best SIE self-study resources out there come from [Kaplan Financial Education,](https://www.kaplanfinancial.com/securities/securities-industry-essentials-sie/study-materials) providing a bank of exam practice questions and a physical or online textbook along with other additional materials.  [real estate](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/real-estate) [become a realtor](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/become-a-realtor) [real estate exam prep](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/real-estate-exam-prep) [real estate exam](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/real-estate-exam) [real estate exam tutor](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/real-estate-exam-tutor) ![real-estate-exam](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gmat-and-covid.jpeg?width=300&name=gmat-and-covid.jpeg)If you want to become a realtor, you need to pass your real estate exam. It might seem a bit daunting, but with good preparation, you’ll have a great chance of passing. [CFA](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/cfa) [CFA study skills](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/cfa-study-skills) [CFA tutoring](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/cfa-tutoring) [CAIA exam](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/caia-exam) [CFA vs. CAIA](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/cfa-vs-caia) [CFA tutors](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/cfa-tutors) We provide both CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) tutoring and CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analysis) tutoring. In most cases, students come to us having already decided which exam is for them and why they want to earn one designation or the other. On the other hand, many of our CFA tutors also hold the CAIA.   [CFA](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/cfa) [defined benefit plans](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/defined-benefit-plans) [CFA study skills](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/cfa-study-skills) [CFA tutoring](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/cfa-tutoring) One of the most frustrating situations for a CFA tutor is to be connected ![images-1.jpg](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images-1.jpg?width=205&name=images-1.jpg)with a nice, capable, seemingly committed CFA student who simply started studying for the exam too late. The rule of thumb for level 1 of the CFA is that it should take you about 300 hours of preparation. I believe that the pure amount of material covered on the CFA is why most CFA prep solutions are classroom and video based. There is just so much material, it’s far easier to help people work through it as efficiently as possible by explaining the key concepts clearly and providing extra practice. In that sense, the most valuable tool in your toolkit when it comes to CFA preparation is time. Just begin the process far enough in advance and, generally speaking, you’ll be OK. --- [CFA](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/cfa) [defined benefit plans](https://www.myguruedge.com/cfa-exam-blog/topic/defined-benefit-plans) --- ![gre-verbal-score.png](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-42863629-png/images/gre-verbal-score.png?width=200&name=gre-verbal-score.png)The financial reporting and analysis section is one of the more heavily weighted topics on levels 1 and 2, making up 20% and 15-20% of each exam, respectively. ### Therefore, it is very important to spend a considerable amount of time on this entire section in order to have success on exam day. The employee compensation reading falls within the scope of financial reporting and analysis and is one of the more challenging sub-topics for many students. The reading is separated into two further sub-topics: pensions and other post-employment benefits, and share-based compensation. The former topic is much more difficult for students and will be the focus of this blog post. Blog article coming soon! ### Follow this blog