Are you interested in CFI courses but don’t know if they are worth it?
Don’t worry, I have been there.
I came across the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) a year ago and have now completed 3 courses. Here is my honest CFI review.
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ToggleIs CFI Worth It?
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:
The Top CFI Courses Are:
- Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA®)
This course has been rated 4.9/5 by learners around the world. This comprehensive program teaches financial modeling, valuation, Excel, and presentation skills and covers topics such as discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, merger models, and financial analysis. CFi FMVA is one of the most popular courses on CFI and also gives you a recognized certificate upon completion.
- Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA®)
This course focuses on understanding capital markets, securities trading, and investment banking, equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, and commodities trading. It is also a highly rated certificate course (4.9/5) that you can sign up for an upskill now.
- Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA®)
This CBCA-certified course, with a 4.9 rating, provides an in-depth understanding of credit analysis, risk assessment, and commercial lending. If you are looking for a career in commercial banking, credit analysis, or financial analysis, this course is the best for you.
- Business Intelligence & Data Analyst (BIDA™)
This CFI certification course teaches data analytics, business intelligence tools, and financial analysis using data. It is best for those looking to advise clients or manage their own finances effectively.
These courses are designed by industry experts and provide practical skills directly applicable to finance roles.
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 October 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 | Included | Included |
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 Oct30 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 Team plan. However, I want to mention that there were no current offers on the Team Membership Plans in October 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 in the resume.
FMVA worth it? I have noticed that the FMVA certification, in particular is highly regarded in the industry. If you do 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 Corporate Finance Institute Reviews
Although the pricing of Cfi may be high but still one of my favorite platforms for financial and banking courses. The reason being that the courses are not only certified but also Recognized and gives CPE/CDE credits.
But, will you get a job with a CFI certificate is something I have asked a lot. I can definitely say that you will have a competitive advantage over your competitors when you are at an interview with a certificate and knowledge in finance.
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.
FAQs About CFI Reviews:
Is CFI trustworthy?
CFI online learning platform that provides recognized certificate courses as well as free courses taught by professionals and with legitimate course material. It is one of the premium, recognized platforms for financial and banking courses 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.
How much does CFI FMVA certification cost?
The CFI FMA certification program comes in a membership model. This means you do not pay for an individual certification program on CFI. Instead, you pay for unlimited access to all certificate programs, including the CFI FMA course, for a year.