Do you want an honest Corporate Finance Institute Review?
Here is why you should read along. I have completed 3 courses from CFI myself, but why would you trust me?
Is Corporate Finance Institute Legit?
For those who are wondering if CFI is a trusted platform, I can assure you that Corporate Finance Institute is a legitimate and respected online education platform. Not only does it host finance courses, but it has also received authorization from several reputable organizations, including the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the Certified Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) program.
This proves that their courses are well-structured and their certificates are respected in the industry. If you sign up for any membership plan and take premium classes on CFI, you are also eligible for 400+ CPE/CDE credit points.
Pros and Cons of CFI
Before I explain what CFI offers and whether it is worth it, here is a quick glance at its pros and cons.
| Pros | Cons |
| CFI offers courses covering various aspects of finance, from basic financial to advanced financial modeling and valuation. The courses are well-structured and taught by industry experts. | Unlike traditional classroom settings, CFI’s courses are entirely online, which may be an issue if you are looking for classroom experience, but if you sign up for a Full Immersion plan, you do have the opportunity to have one-on-one guidance calls with your instructors. |
| Recognized Certifications are one of the best things about CFI. | While CFI certifications are valuable, they may not replace the need for a formal degree in finance. They can boost your resume but won’t be better than a full degree. |
| Courses build practical skills through quizzes, assignments, and case studies, making you ready for the workplace. | Some of the more advanced courses may be difficult for beginners without a strong foundation in finance. So I suggest starting with free introductory courses first. |
| Compared to other online platforms, CFI offers affordable membership pricing for its courses and certifications. They have one annual membership that will give you one year of unlimited access to all courses on their platform. | All cfi courses are pre recorded, there would be no live classes so you have to stay more self disciplined to complete the course. |
CFI Courses and Offerings
Before you sign up for a CFI membership plan, it is essential that you know what courses are available on CFI. The courses on CFI are from the following categories:
- Commercial Banking
- Capital Markets
- Private Equity
- Investment Banking
- Wealth Management
- Asset Management
- Corporate Finance (FP&A)
- Business Intelligence & Analytics
Within these categories, you can choose from over 270 courses with over 5,000 individual lessons. Each interactive course combines video lessons, practical exercises, and quizzes to make learning fun.
Apart from that, CFI also has authorized certification programs that you can sign up for and get industry-recognized certificates. These are:
- Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA®)
- Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA®)
- Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA®)
- Business Intelligence & Data Analyst (BIDA®)
- Financial Planning & Wealth Management Professional (FPWMP™)
- FinTech Industry Professional (FTIP™)
CFI Specializations
If you are looking for a learning path and specialization over a topic, you will find that too in CFI. There are 11 specialization programs on CFI including:
- Accounting for Financial Analysts
- FP&A
- Leadership Effectiveness
- ESG
- Data Analysis in Excel
- Business Intelligence
- Data Science
- Macabacus
- Real Estate Finance
- Crypto and Digital Assets
- Business Essentials
CFI FREE Courses
However, a complete Corporate Finance Institute Review could not be completed if I didn’t mention that you can also sign up for CFI for FREE, start learning online for free, and get certificates of completion. There are 29 free courses on the platform that you can sign up for without any cost. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Accounting Fundamentals
- Excel Fundamentals – Formulas for Finance
- Reading Financial Statements
- Corporate Finance Fundamentals
- Capital IQ Fundamentals
- Introduction to Business Intelligence
- Introduction to ESG
- Fundamentals of Credit
- Introduction to Banking
- Fundamentals of Data Analysis in Excel
Let’s get start your CFI free courses tutorial in our detailed article.
CFI Pricing and Plans
If you are considering signing up for CFI, here is how much it will cost. CFI has an annual membership program, meaning you save more and have access to all courses for a year with one plan.
They currently have two types of membership plans:
- Individual Membership Plan
- Teams Membership Plans
Here is a quick review of the CFI membership plans that you have included in these plans.
Individual Memberships Plans
CFI currently has two Individual Membership plans with a 40% official discount in September 2024. These are:
| Feature | CFI Self-Study | CFI Full-Immersion |
| Original Price | $497 | $847 |
| Price With Discount | $298.2** | $508.2** |
| Courses Offerings | Access to 270+ courses, six certifications, and eleven specializations. | Everything on the platform. |
| Blockchain-Verified Certificates | Included | Included |
| 400+ CPE/CPD Credits | Included | Included |
| Access to Member-Only Community | Inlcuded | Inlcuded |
| Templates and Guides | Standard | Premium |
| AI-Powered Chatbot | Not included | Included |
| Resume/CV Reviews | Not included | Included |
| Personalized Financial Model Feedback | Not included | Included |
| One-on-One Calls | Not included | Included |
| Certification Exams and Fees | Not included | Not included |
Use the CFI coupon code SEP30 to get the exclusive 40% discount on Cfi courses and certificate.
Team Memberships
If you are a group of 2 or more you would prefer a Teams plan. I want to however also mention that there no current offers on the Team Membership Plans in September 2024.
| Feature | Basic Plan | Premium Plan | Custom Plan |
| Annual Cost | $399.00 USD | $497.00 USD | Contact Sales Team |
| All CFI courses | Included | Included | Included |
| Access to 6 Accredited Certifications | Not Included | Included | Included |
| Certification Exam Fees Included | Not Included | Included | Included |
| Role-Based Learning Paths | Included | Included | Included |
| Custom Learning Paths | Not Included | Included | Included |
| Management Dashboard & Reporting | Included | Included | Included |
| Premium Email Support | Not Included | Included | Included |
| Final Certification Exams | Not Included | Included | Included |
| Quizzes, Assessments, and Case Studies | Included | Included | Included |
| Intern Training and New Analyst Programs | Not Included | Not Included | Included |
| SSO and LMS integrations | Not Included | Not Included | Included |
Is CFI Certification worth it?
If you are still wondering is CFI certification worth it or whether cfi worth it, here is what I have to say, CFI certifications whether authorized or not, are worth it, they can be a valuable addition to resume.
FMVA worth it? I have noticed that the FMVA certification, in particular, is highly regarded in the industry. If you do, however, get an authorized certificate, you will also get credit points as a student. So, if you are looking to upskill, switch careers, or simply learn, CFI certificates are worth it.
About Corporate Finance Institute
The Corporate Finance Institute (CFI), is a globally recognized online education platform specializing in financial analysis, financial modeling, and valuation courses.
It is important to note that the platform does not offer courses on other topics and specialties. If you are looking for those, this is not your platform. But if finance is your calling then CFI will be your new best friend.
The institute offers courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels, clearly divided by Levels. This makes it even easier for beginners to start with an introductory course and move their way up, and that is exactly what I have done.
Conclusion on CFI Reviews
Summing up this CFI Review, I can say that the platform specializes in the finance and banking niche, and if you are looking for courses on this platform, your investment will be worth it.
Some courses are beginner-friendly and advanced, I suggest you take them slowly. If the pricing is holding you back, the ongoing active 40% OFF CFI discount code on the Individual Plans is the perfect way to start your journey on CFI at a discount of signing up for FREE.
FAQs About Corporate Finance Institute Reviews:
Is the Corporate Finance Institute recognized?
Yes, CFI is recognized worldwide, and its certification programs are highly regarded in the industry. To get a CFI certificate, you can sign up for an annual CFI membership program at a 40% discount.
Is Corporate Finance Institute legit?
The Corporate Finance Institute is an online education platform that offers courses and certifications in finance, financial modeling, valuation, and related fields. It is recognized in the industry by various institutes and organizations worldwide.
How to sign up for Corporate Finance Institute free courses?
To sign up for CFI’s free courses, visit the website, press the Start Free button at the top of the page, and create an account. Once you have an account, you can sign up for any free course available on the platform.
How much does CFI certification cost?
CFI works on a membership model. This means you do not pay for an individual certification program instead, you pay for unlimited access to all certificates on the platform for the duration of your membership. Currently, CFI memberships start at $298.20/year.