In this episode of the CPA Exam Experience Podcast, you’ll hear how Merri went from failing BEC, to passing the exams 4 for 4 once she implemented the SuperfastCPA strategies. She started doing things the “normal” or traditional way of studying, and that led to her failing BEC score, contrasted with passing them all first try once she started using SuperfastCPA.
You’ll hear how she made her own giant posters of notes to help her remember information. She was also able to maintain the important things in her life, like exercising, visiting family, and watching her favorite shows. Merri didn’t even have to touch her review course textbooks. Merri has a great story and great tips, don’t miss this episode!
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Master your study process by attending one of our free study training workshops:
https://www.superfastcpa.com/study-secrets/
Episode Timestamps
- 00:00 Merri Interview
- 03:31 Why Merri Decided to Pursue the CPA
- 07:07 Managed to Get Her Employer Onboard on Her Pursuit for the CPA
- 08:45 Studied the Traditional Way for Six Months and Failed
- 11:23 Felt Defeated and Unmotivated After Failing BEC Because It Went Away
- 12:24 Followed SuperfastCPA Method After Failing and the Experience Studying That Way
- 14:56 Thought That Following the Review Course Blindly Will Get Her Ready for the Exam
- 15:58 The Time it Took to Adjust to the SuperfastCPA Approach
- 17:38 Only Practiced the TBS’s After More Than A Month of Reviewing
- 19:10 Utilizing the SuperfastCPA Audio Notes and Mini Quizzes
- 19:52 Made Note Cards Using Big Poster Boards
- 21:09 Made the Big Note Cards and also Flashcards
- 22:50 Gained Confidence Through SuperfastCPA
- 25:33 Some Tips for Test Day
- 29:00 How Merri Practiced for the Sims
- 31:17 The Feeling After Getting Her First Passing Score with FAR
- 33:30 Schedule Your Exams to Set Up a Deadline for Studying and CPA Study Timeline
- 37:06 Setting Boundaries and Keeping Your Loved Ones Involved
- 39:45 Still Don’t Know What to Do with Free Time After the Exams
- 43:02 Only Need to Work on Other Stuff to be Certified
- 45:08 The Benefits Merri Got from SuperfastCPA
- 48:22 Thoughts About Passing Four for Four First Try
- 49:19 You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Everything to Pursue the CPA
- 52:21 Listened to 40 Hertz Brain Music When Studying
- 53:52 Just Do Your Best to Make Sure You Are Prepared for the Exam
- 56:07 Some Tips for Studying
- 57:20 Top Tips for People Still Going Through the CPA Exams
Interview Transcript
Merri: [00:00:00] I honestly don’t know how I would’ve passed those exams without the method that you guys have created. It just absolutely gave a roadmap and just turns on the light bulbs. It’s like, oh, this is what we’re doing, you know, and it’s just a test. You can do this, right?
It minimized the stress of how to do it. How do I do this? And so.
Logan: Welcome to another episode of the CPA Exam Experience podcast from SuperfastCPA. I’m Logan, and in today’s episode, you’re going to hear me talking with Merri.
Now Merri has another great story. We only have great stories on this podcast. And she was someone who was at a point in her career where she had been working in accounting for a long time.
She was working at a software as a service company at the time, and she needed, or she was at the point where she wanted to get the CPA exam.
She was ready to pass the CPA [00:01:00] exams and she was ready for it. So she dove in and eventually found SuperfastCPA, and she mentions that without SuperfastCPA, she probably wouldn’t have passed the CPA exams, or at least it would’ve been much more difficult because she loved the structure and the instructions that SuperfastCPA gave.
Merri has some great tips and some really cool ideas and strategies. One of the things that she did was she had these giant note cards, basically poster boards that she would write her notes on. And so she had this wall of notes that she could look at, at any time in her house, and I thought that was pretty cool.
And something that I think a lot of people will be pleased to hear was that she was still able to have time for the things that she liked. She was still able to do pilates, which is something that she likes to do. She was still able to visit her family. She was still able to watch the shows that she likes.
She still was able to have a life even though she was so busy with the exams and with work. So I hope that that can give hope to anybody else who’s listening to this, that you can still have a [00:02:00] life if you’re doing the CPA exams.
It doesn’t have to be a miserable slog where you study for four or five hours every night and you don’t have any friends, and you don’t have any social life. There is a way, there’s a better way, and you’ll hear about that in this episode.
Now before we dive into the episode, I just wanna give one more reminder about our SuperfastCPA training webinar on superfastcpa.com. That is a free one hour webinar where we will teach you the key ingredients to passing the CPA exam so you don’t waste months or even years of your time failing exams.
It’s totally worth your time, again, it’s only one hour and it’s free, so make sure you check that out after you watch this episode, or maybe go check it out before you even finish this episode. So again, make sure to check out the webinar.
With all that said, let’s dive into the episode with Merri.
Logan: I’m glad to be on the call to today with you, Mary. I’m really excited to talk to you. I remember seeing your final post in the forum, so it’s gonna be awesome talking to you. How are you doing today?
Merri: Really good. It’s, it’s Friday. It’s a good day, you know. And my exams are done, so it’s always a good day.
Logan: I like that. Yep. It’s [00:03:00] always a good day when you’re done with the CPA exams. Um, and I thought I saw, are you, are you in Utah as well?
Merri: I am in Utah. Yes.
Logan: Oh, okay, cool. What, where are you calling in from? Like where, what part of Utah?
Merri: Uh, I’m in Draper right now, so Draper. Utah, south end of Salt Lake.
Logan: Nice. Yeah, I’m in, I’m down in Cedar City, so, but I was like, we’re on the same time zone, so I’m pretty sure she’s in Utah as well, um.
Merri: The Cedar City’s nice too. You get better weather than I do. It’s uh,
Logan: I like, I, I did love it here.
Why Merri Decided to Pursue the CPA
Logan: So let’s kind of just dive into your, your whole story. So where were you in your life, in your career when you decided that you wanted to go for the CPA?
Like what were you doing?
Merri: Um, I was an accounting manager at, um, uh, SaaS software as a service company. Um, and I had been there for several years and just, um, getting to where [00:04:00] I was kind of ready for more, uh, in my position and, um, ready to grow more. And I, uh, finally had the trifecta of, um, work experience education and having a CPA to, uh, sign off on my experience.
I, uh, prior in my career, I had, um, you know, been working in accounting, but I didn’t have the opportunity to have a CPA or working under a CPA that could actually, uh, sign off. And so I decided, um, that it was, it was my time to go after my CPA. Um, because also at the level where I was at, you know, accounting manager, assistant controller, controller, you’re getting into a lot of the arena and jobs.
They want you to have [00:05:00] your CPA license and so, um, you can’t, you can’t even consider those or be considered for those unless, unless you have the credential. And so, um, at that point I, uh, you know, talked with my boss and, and just said, Hey, I’d, I’d like to, I’d like to go for my CPA, would you, you know, be willing to sign off on my experience and, and go that route? And, um, ’cause I wanted my company to support me in that effort and so, um, you know, they said yes, and so I then, um, got my MAcc.
Uh, I, prior to that, I had had my bachelor’s in accounting and my MBA. Um, and I decided not to do the accounting emphasis. I was just tired of school and. Uh, you know, was working and, you know, making good [00:06:00] money, but then it, it’s, you know, it came back around.
So, um, you know, and I, I had, I had a decent amount of credits, but I was also, you know, in the timeframe of when, you know, to sit, you need 120 and to license, you need 150.
Obviously it’s, it’s changed now, which is a little bit, you know, sad for me, but, but I, I don’t regret having my MAcc, um, the actual degree either.
So, uh, it’s nice, it’s a nice credential to have. Um, but I just felt like the gaining my CPA would help me for the rest of my career, right. Better opportunities, better pay. And it’s the thing that says, Hey, I know, I know my stuff, right? So.
Logan: Right. Yep.
Merri: That, so.
Logan: Okay. So you had, so you’d been in accounting for years at that point, kind of at the higher level. [00:07:00] At the point where you’re like, I kind of need the CPA to really stay at this level or go any further, so
Merri: Yeah.
Managed to Get Her Employer Onboard on Her Pursuit for the CPA
Logan: What, uh, so did you get your master’s before you started sitting for the CPA exam, or did you do that at the same time, or what was the timing with all that?
Merri: I got my MAcc first and then, then I got, um, my review course, my study program. I, um, I went with Wiley and it got sold to uWorld, um, you know, but again, I had my employer kind of help with that and, uh, for education reimbursement, and then also got an agreement that they would. They would pay for my exams, but only once, right.
So, and I was like, dang it, why not? So, yeah, but it made it, so we had the goal of, of not having to pay for them myself, right.
Logan: Yes, and so, so you’re saying that they were willing to pay for [00:08:00] one, one exam, like one attempt at each exam? Is that what you’re saying?
Merri: Yes, yes, so, um, just had that agreement, you know, they, they paid for the review course and then they also, um, you know, just, I wanted a company to just fully support me with my license, right so renewals, CPE, um, going through the tests and the review program too. And so that’s, that’s what I got. Um, yeah, which is great, you know, if, if you can get your employer on board with all of that, it’s just, it’s helpful right.
Then you don’t have to worry so much about financing all of it too, so,
Logan: Yeah, because it, it can get expensive, uh, like it gets really expensive.
Studied the Traditional Way for Six Months and Failed
Logan: So you had UWorld and you had that agreement with your company, like they’ll pay for each exam, and I know that you passed them four for four, but I’m not sure if that was after some attempts or if it was [00:09:00] just first try.
Merri: So, um, my CPA journey actually studying for the exam started in like midyear 2023.
Um, and I, um, I had found the CPA their SuperfastCPA content and bought it, but I don’t know why, like, I didn’t listen and I just, you know, I was like, oh, I’ll just, oh, you know, I set up my, my study program on UWorld and, you know, hours of study and, um, I chose to go with BEC as my first exam and I studied for like six months, but I like went through all the videos and, you know, just kind of use the UWorld platform thinking that oh yeah, they’re gonna teach me everything I need to [00:10:00] know to be prepared, and as long as I go through this, then I’ll be prepared, right.
And, um, in December of 2023, I took the BEC exam and I did fail that exam, so, um,
Logan: Do you remember what the score was?
Merri: I, I do but it, it was low, it was like 58 or so, something like that. But like, even like the day I went into the testing center, I just, I just had that feeling like I definitely was not confident. Um, and, you know, it, it just didn’t teach me what I needed to know to be prepared to sit down for that exam, you know, because I just, yeah, it was, it was really, yeah, like the day after Christmas, I got my results and, um, I had a, a, [00:11:00] a puppy pass away the same day. And I, it was like my, yeah. I was like the universe, the, yeah. I’m like, the universe sucks and this just sucks and, you know, um, yeah. I was like, this is, yeah. I will remember the day after Christmas for a while.
Logan: Oh, I’m sure man.
Felt Defeated and Unmotivated After Failing BEC Because It Went Away
Merri: But they also retired the BEC exam at that. point. And then, you know, that content kind of got spread over the, the rest of the exams, right.
Um, and then they created the emphasis, um, so I mean, in hindsight I was like, oh, I should have chose one that I could retake. But then, uh, you know, it, it just made me kind of go back to the drawing board and say, what, what do I need to do to, to, pass these [00:12:00] exams?
You know? And so I just, I used it as a, as a learning tool for myself to kind of, um, you know, but it just, man, it hurts your ego and you, you, work so hard for like six months at a time, you know, studying for six months and, and yeah, it just deflated my ego for sure. I was just like, wow. You know?
Followed SuperfastCPA Method After Failing and the Experience Studying That Way
Merri: Um, but then I remembered that I had purchased the SuperfastCPA stuff
Logan: Right. I wanted to ask about that, yeah.
Merri: I went back and looked at it and, um, I chose, I chose to do FAR next.
Um, and I, uh, yeah, used the SuperfastCPA method or maybe my adaption to it. Uh, but it was definitely, uh, you know, it changed to where, you [00:13:00] know, do what matters and it, it became clear to me over like the four exams, what, what we’re really doing right is conditioning ourselves to, to, see those sets of questions, see those testlets all the time, get so used to it that that’s like you, when you go in test day, you’re not like overwhelmed because it’s just like another day of study, right?
Logan: Exactly.
Merri: You know, and you’re conditioning yourself for two to three hours at a time. So you’re getting through, you know, your testlets and your timing and, and your TBS’s and things like that. But it’s, you’re just, you’re teaching yourself to do the exam right, over and over again.
Um, and the, the videos, videos from, you know, the, the UWorld teachers or the review course like, I think they could be helpful if [00:14:00] you’re, if you’re not getting what you need from like your, your self study when, when you’re going through the questions, like the active learning that you guys talk about. Um, but it, yeah, it just, it, the videos weren’t cutting it for sure, right. Like they, the, the videos aren’t gonna teach you how to be in that testing environment, right.
Um, and like I remember on BEC too that I just, the time for the TBS’s and just your pacing and things like that. Like things were off for me too, right, and that exam of just, you know, yeah. Just not being able to finish the, the exam because you didn’t time things.
Logan: Right.
Merri: So um, but.
Logan: Oh, sorry, I, I kind of wanna pick some of that apart.
Thought That Following the Review Course Blindly Will Get Her Ready for the Exam
Logan: So you studied for BEC for six [00:15:00] months, but you mentioned that you had already purchased su, you had already purchased SuperfastCPA. So what happened there? Like, did
Merri: I don’t know, like I think I got into the review pro, I think I got into, I got in there to the review program and like I said, I thought that like if I went through the review course program, that it would prepare me for the exam, right?
And so it was, it was very much like what you guys had talked about, like if you’re the type of person that you need to check the boxes and like do all of that and be okay with your module telling you you did a good job.
Like I, that was how I was, you know? And after I failed that exam, I, I totally ditched that method. I just totally, I got the, it, it wasn’t working and that wasn’t gonna get me there.
The Time it Took to Adjust to the SuperfastCPA Approach
Merri: And, you know, [00:16:00] and it took me a little bit to get used to the SuperfastCPA method.
Um, but, you know, then it started clicking, right?
Um,
Logan: About how long did it take for it to click, would you say?
Merri: Uh, probably a couple of months, you know, like I, I think the first, the first part of the studying was always a little bit slower for me, so I’ll explain what I did. I, I took the blueprints and I took the different subjects, you know, that they have, and I would put a different subject on the calendar for each weekday. And I would map that out, and then I would have TBS time on the weekend, right?
So each day, during the week, I, I would read the notes like the SuperfastCPA notes, I’d [00:17:00] print off the notes, I’d read the section that I had, you know, selected for the day, for the multiple choice. I’d read the notes, I’d go into my review course and go to the multiple choice questions and create a set of questions for that day, you know, 10 to 20.
Um, and I, I would go through it that way. Uh, so I’d, I’d read the blueprints, I’d read the SuperfastCPA notes section, um, and then I would do multiple choice questions. And then, as I was doing multiple choice questions, if I got something wrong, I made a note card on it.
Only Practiced the TBS’s After More Than A Month of Reviewing
Merri: And so, you know, um, yeah, so it, like a couple, it takes a couple of weeks to start getting enough content to do the TBS’s sometimes.
So sometimes on the weekend it wasn’t TBS’s at first because, you know, I just catch up and make sure [00:18:00] I had all my multiple choice questions done. And then sometimes start like a review set of multiple choice questions, right, like the first couple of weeks.
Um, but, you know, after about a month, month and a half, you’re, you’re getting through all the subjects, right? And, and then the weekday just becomes review of all the subjects, right? And a set of questions, and I would, I would start in increasing the question sets so that I got to the number in the testlets.
So I got used to seeing testlet one, you know, testlet two and
Logan: You’ve seen it all before, yep.
Merri: Yeah, yeah, yeah, so you’re teaching yourself how to be comfortable with that test that you’re gonna sit down in front of, right. So, and then on the weekend I would do, uh, four to six hours of, of [00:19:00] TBS’s and, you know, uh, print off little note packs and kind of go through those and teach myself the different things and the TBS’s.
Utilizing the SuperfastCPA Audio Notes and Mini Quizzes
Merri: Uh, I would listen to the audio notes when, you know, like you said, doing the dishes, getting ready. Um, if I, uh, ran errands, I’d, I’d listen to the audio notes. If by chance I had to travel and I, um, maybe didn’t get as long as a study session in the morning as I wanted. I listened to the notes on the way, so I didn’t feel like I was getting, you know, like not getting study in that day.
Um, if I was waiting for a doctor appointment, I’d pull up the app and start going through questions on the app, do the little mini quizzes.
Made Note Cards Using Big Poster Boards
Merri: Um, you know, and then once I got through like all the subjects on the blueprint, um, [00:20:00] as I started reviewing, I actually started making big poster boards.
Logan: Oh, okay.
Merri: I had, yeah, I, I know there’s another person on your podcast that she said she used to do like big poster boards and yeah, like, yeah, I, my whole wall in my apartment was just covered with, you know, little mini note cards, right, but they were poster board sized. And I, as I was reviewing the things, but, but it was helpful too because then when I was studying, I would like, oh, I’d look at the wall. Oh, I have that. You know?
Um, so I, it’s just like you said, it’s like you see it, you write it, you say it, you hear it. Like the more times you can get it into your mind in different capacities, and I’m kind of a visual learner too. And so it was like, I could just remember [00:21:00] my note card, right, like.
Logan: Right.
Merri: Or like, I know that’s on my wall right over here, right.
Logan: You could remember it, could remember the spot on your wall. That’s a, that’s great.
Made the Big Note Cards and also Flashcards
Logan: So, so are you saying that, so did you have flashcards and then did you have those big cards as well? Or
Merri: I had both. I had both because like, like I said, there’s something for me about writing things too. So, um, you know, I, I would like to say that I reviewed my note cards more often or more diligently, but I didn’t, I just, you know, like if I got something wrong, even if I had a note card for it before, I’d make another note card, you know?
Um, but yeah, it’s, it’s all in what works for you, I think, right? Like, I think people take, uh, the method that you guys give them and you have your own individual little tweaks that you do, [00:22:00] right, so.
Logan: Yeah, I’ve, I’ve always looked at SuperfastCPA as like the framework for success, but then, you know, naturally people will kind of gravitate towards certain things that are e especially effective for them, like for me.
Merri: for them.
Logan: I, I really liked to have, I printed out the review notes physically when I was going through the exams, and I would write my notes on the review notes
Merri: Oh, I did that too. I that too.
Logan: That I had everything all together. And that was super effective for me, for me personally, that was probably more effective than flashcards, although I did make some flashcards. Um, so yeah, you, you figure out what works best for you, but you do have to apply the process to be able to figure that out, you know?
Merri: Yep. Yep.
Logan: And, and you, and I mean, you’ve mentioned a lot of different pieces of it, and it sounds like you pretty much took most of it, if not all of it, to heart.
Gained Confidence Through SuperfastCPA
Logan: So what, what was the big change or what were some of the big changes? You know, you studied for six months the first time for BEC and [00:23:00] go in and fail, and it’s like really diff, really awful. And then the next time you go for FAR, what did you change that made it different this time?
Merri: Um, I think just my whole study process, right? And even, even the cram at the end, right? Um, it just, it, I also made a dedicated time to do it and I made it a priority, right?
And so I was a morning studier. Um, so I get up at six, 6:00 AM and sign on to work at nine. Um, and it just, I had to make it a priority too, and doing it in the morning changed things for me too, so that I knew that it was done.
And, you know, it wasn’t, it, it just made it [00:24:00] more, I don’t know, interactive for me to where I was more engaged in what I was doing too, because it wasn’t me watching a stupid video for, uh, you know, right.
Like I had to be actively engaged and I started just seeing it come together, right. There’s a, there’s a part when you’re getting the score and your questions and you’re like, yes, yes, like, that’s it. You can do this, right?
Like there, there’s just that confidence builder that, that lets you know, you’re, you do it. But it’s also, I think sometimes we just have to tell ourselves too, that you can, and be willing to accept that you can, right. Like it’s like
Logan: Don’t hold yourself back.
Merri: This is just a test, right? Like it is, right.
[00:25:00] But it just, everything that I did and applying the method, the way that you guys ha, gave as a structure just changed my confidence and my ability to feel like I could do it, you know?
It was like, yeah, I, I’m learning this. I have this, I, I have this in me.
I can do this. right?
Like, you know, because when you fail an exam it tells you everything opposite of that, right.
Logan: Yeah, yeah.
Some Tips for Test Day
Merri: And it, you know, failing the exam taught me a lot too, you know, just, also just, um, having good intentions for the test day and considering if it’s the best testing center to go to cause they’re not all the same, you know, um, and,
Logan: Did you go to different testing centers throughout your process?
Merri: I, [00:26:00] I went to two different ones. The one that I went to first and failed BEC I chose not to go back to,
Logan: Okay.
Merri: Um, because the way that it was run and it was just distracting. Uh, I mean, I don’t know if people ever really talk about like, you know, just going in and being fingerprinted and your picture taken and wandered and you know, and also having to, having the additional distraction of 20 other people in the testing center.
That, and you know, but I also, when I was doing just my studies, I tried to make it just like how I would be in the testing center, right, piece of paper, calculator.
Logan: Right.
Merri: And, you know, and just work through it that way so that I, I, knew what was [00:27:00] going on and, and then also when I got into the testing center and um, I had the process like I would go to or start my test in multiple choice questions.
I write down the number, I’d write down the subject and I’d just recall everything that I could remember about that subject. And then attempt to question, right. And if I, if I didn’t, if I wasn’t sure about the answer, I’d mark it down and come back at the end, right. Um, but just keep, keep pacing too, right.
I just had to tell myself, move on with your life. Pick a, pick an answer. Move on with your life, you know, like, cause it’s really easy to get sucked into the time, like time is important too, right?
Logan: For sure that, I mean, I honestly, time management is one of the biggest reasons I think people fail is because they spend way too much time on the [00:28:00] MCQs and then don’t have enough time for the sims or something like that.
Merri: Yep.
Logan: Uh, so were, would you say that you was, was you, were you usually done around two hours with the MCQs or?
Merri: Yep. Yep. I, I did good. Uh, on FAR, I, um, I did like on the last TBS I ran outta time.
Um, you know, that on FAR there’s a lot of documents and different things to track through. Um, so, you know, so I made my best guess and, you know, um, but you know that, that was the thing too. It just, depending on, I would kind of plan like 15 minutes for each TBS, so I would kind of, I, I learned to start watching myself and like, give yourself 15 minutes and, and move on, right? Like, [00:29:00] you know.
How Merri Practiced for the Sims
Logan: And do you feel like, um, so when you were, you know, preparing for the exam, how did you, since we were just talking about tbss, how did you prepare for sims? You said you studied them on the weekends. What did that look like?
Merri: Um, I would just work through, work through, you know, the review course with those and I would, you know, try and answer them if I could, but I also just wouldn’t waste my time if I didn’t know what was going on. You know, like teach teaching yourself some of the tax stuff is just like, you know, so I just hit the button and then teach myself from the answer, right.
Um, but like I said, I would take snips of some of the questions and I’d like make little packets, uh, to review, um, just of different subjects like, you know, consolidations or [00:30:00] partnerships or different things like that, just examples. But, um, like I said, it would be, I would do, again, I would try and mimic kind of the number of testlets that I would see on the, on the exam.
So I got used to the volume and the different types of them, you know, whether it was updating a memo or answering questions or, um, you know, looking at various supporting documents and things like that. But I just got used to what that would look like on test day, know, and, and see as many of them as I can.
I would go until I was just like, okay, you’re cooked, you know?
Logan: Can’t do anymore. Yep.
Merri: Yeah. And, and, yeah, and sometimes you wonder if that’s enough. But like I said, like there is a point where it all starts coming together, and it just, and it’s like, [00:31:00] okay, the puzzle is coming together, right.
Like, yeah, so.
Logan: When you were, you know, we’ve talked about a lot of the different strategies that you did, but what happened when you went and took FAR? Did you pass it or what happened? Okay.
Merri: I did. Yep.
The Feeling After Getting Her First Passing Score with FAR
Logan: And how did that feel like, contrast that awful, worst, worst day ever for BEC compared to passing FAR, it felt amazing?
Merri: Yeah, the best tie I’ve ever felt in my life, and one that you just can’t take away, right?
Like, there’s nothing that compares and it just, it’s, it encourages you to go for the next one.
Just keep going like it worked right, you know, I didn’t get, I didn’t get super high scores on my exams or anything like that but I passed.
Logan: Yep, that’s all that matters. Yep, I have no shame in saying I never scored above an 80, but I passed all of [00:32:00] them, so I don’t care.
Merri: But yeah, I, there was definitely some screaming from my apartment that probably scared the neighbors and just like, so excited. And it’s also like, FAR is, is said to be one of the hardest, right. And, um, but I work in financial accounting and reporting and so I chose, I thought, you know, that’s probably gonna be the best one for me to go for, you know, um, because it’s what I do on a daily basis. Um, but it also just, it helped me to be better at my job,
Logan: Oh yeah. Mm-hmm.
Merri: You know? Uh, just in everything, right? Uh, just whether it was answering questions for, for my accounting clerks or, um, doing my own job, you know, it was like I was able to apply the knowledge, you know, ASC 842 or [00:33:00] created interest and, you know, things of that nature. It just, it made me better at my job too, so.
Logan: Yeah. And
Merri: So exciting you pass.
Logan: I, I, oh yeah. Oh yeah. I, and I felt similar when about like the knowledge that I gained from the exams. Like, I, I was taking it while I was doing my MAcc, and I actually did feel like it kind of worked together to where I was, it helped me learn things more easily in the MAcc, I felt like, anyway.
Schedule Your Exams to Set Up a Deadline for Studying and CPA Study Timeline
Logan: Um, and so you pass FAR. It’s, it’s awesome. And you were taking them in, you took that in 2024, which was like the worst year ever for
Merri: Because it was the first, it was the fir, and I had to wait like several months before I got my score, so.
Logan: Did you, when did you take it in? When did you take FAR?
Merri: Um, I took it in July of 24. So, so my worst [00:34:00] day ever at Christmas took me a little bit to get over. Um, but also I had like, I had year end and audit and things like that for the organization I was working for.
So, and I wanted to pass. So I think I took a little bit more time, uh, before I decided to sit, uh, for FAR, but I, um, I did what you guys suggested too, is get your notice to sit, get your, get a deadline for yourself or a goal so that you go, right, so, so that you go for it. Um, but yeah, I, I sat in July and I don’t think I got, uh, my score until like October around Halloween
Logan: Yeah, something like that. It was ridiculous.
Merri: Um, you know, but I got that score just before [00:35:00] I went and sat for REG, so I
Logan: That was a good boost before you go into REG.
Merri: Yeah, so it was like incredibly awesome to, to do that. But I, I did start studying for REG shortly after I took FAR, um, and so I took REG in November of 24. So, um, I imagine I just took a couple of weeks off and, and then started just studying just studying immediate, yeah, that’s how it, that’s how it all, always was, right?
Like you take, I always take a, like a week or so off, and then I’d start for the next exam. Um, but yeah, I did, I did REG after that. Um, and I’ve always, I always kind of liked tax, but whoa, overload on tax information.
Logan: Yeah, yeah, it’s definitely, it’s a lot for sure, like so many little numbers and rules, yeah.
Merri: And more multiple [00:36:00] choice questions than you see in FAR.
Logan: Yeah, FAR has the least now.
Merri: Yeah, yeah, like 25 for testlet or something. So, um, so yeah, I took, I took that, um, and I got, I think I got, let’s see, it was November. That one was the same too. I had to wait several months before I got my score on that one too.
So, but I, every year at the, at the first of the year, I created a vision board and I had the exams on there as a goal and taking the exams too and so, my goal was to get two in 2024 and two in 2025, and so.
Logan: And you did it.
Merri: And I did, yeah. So I took, um, I took TCP next, uh, and um, that one I took in June of 25, I, my organization went through an [00:37:00] acquisition, which took over my life the first couple of months of 2025.
Logan: I can imagine.
Setting Boundaries and Keeping Your Loved Ones Involved
Merri: I just kind of had to set some boundaries and tell them like, look like I can’t work 16 hours for you because I’ve gotta do my exams.
Logan: Oh man.
Merri: So, you know, I mean, part of the process too is just setting boundaries with yourself, with your family, um, and dedicating yourself and giving it the time because it does, it does take time, you know?
Logan: Yeah, it’s, I, I think that something that people either, a lot of people either don’t utilize or overlook is how important it is to get your people around you, your support system around you, to kind of be on the same page as what you need like, it’s important like, I think that very frequently if you don’t discuss how big the CPA is and how hard it is with people, they’ll just be like, well, why can’t you just.
Well, let’s just go do [00:38:00] this, like you can study later, or, you know, something like that. So having those conversations with your work, your family, your friends, and saying, I want to do stuff with you, or I, of course, you know, I’m going to work for you, but I need to get this done as well. And kind of figuring that out with people I think is a really good, like you said, a really good boundary to figure out and to set.
Merri: Yeah, and I, I had to tell my family, like, my family’s in Logan, which is like an hour and a half north of here, and you know, I spend a lot of time with my family and, and I just had to tell ’em like, look, I’m in my study bubble. I’m not gonna be coming up. And don’t, don’t worry. It’s not that I don’t wanna see you, but it’s that I need to get these done.
You know? And like if I come up here, I don’t get to study. It takes the whole day, right, and I, I need those days. And, you know, I mean, there, there were times where [00:39:00] I just had to say like, do you want me to achieve this? Because if you do, I need, I need you to be okay with not seeing me for a little bit, right, so, or as much.
Logan: It’s short term, you know.
Merri: It’s short term.
Logan: it’s done.
Merri: Yeah. The sooner we, you know, the sooner you do that for me, the sooner I can get things done, right. So, but it, it was a learning curve for my family for at the first, you know, but, and for me too, right?
Because it was just like, you know, we’ve gotta do, we’ve gotta do this instead, right.
Um, you, you’re gonna have plenty of play time when you get done.
Still Don’t Know What to Do with Free Time After the Exams
Logan: Yep, yep. It, it you, it’s amazing how much free time you, you, it’s amazing the amount of time you realize you have in a day once you start kind of having to structure it so much, and then once you don’t have that structure, you’re like, wow, [00:40:00] I have so much time.
Merri: Yeah.
Logan: Did you, did you feel like that?
Merri: Yeah. And I’m, I’m still kind of going through that. Um, you know, I still wake up at six o’clock in the morning and I’m just like. What am I supposed to be doing and trying to figure out what to do with my time. But I also, through each of my degrees, I always worked full-time and went to school full-time.
And so, you know, I mean, it’s also just learning what to cut out to give yourself more time, right. Like, um, when I started my MAcc, I got rid of social media. I don’t have Facebook, I don’t have Instagram.
I, it was just like, what am I doing that is just such a time kill, right, like, yeah. So, um, and I, still don’t have it now, right. Even after I finished, um, you know, but it’s, yeah, I, I don’t know what to do with all my [00:41:00] free time. I’m, I’m trying to rebalance my life and figure out, figure that out, right, um.
Logan: Maybe join like CrossFit or something like that.
Merri: Yeah, I well, I really like Pilates.
Logan: Okay. Okay.
Merri: And on, on the side there, uh, I’ve been a Pilates instructor for, uh, about seven years, but I let go of that part-time job, um, to, to do the exams, and that’s what I’ve been doing for the, the last two years.
I mean, I’ve done it. Um, I enjoy, uh, being a participant, uh, and a student of Pilates too. And that’s something that I’ve been able to do on my own, um, for myself. But, uh, but yeah, it’s, yeah, it’s so much time. Like I don’t know what to do with my time.
Just like, what do we do, you know?
Logan: And, and, and going back to that social media thing, like, um, you know, this is my 2 [00:42:00] cents, but I mean, I don’t have social media either, which is funny ’cause you know, I post a ton of videos on YouTube and stuff like that, but that’s just for work. But, um, I just, you know, I’m not gonna tell everybody, get rid of social media forever, even though I do kind of think that.
But when it comes to the CPA exams, like it is just a monumental waste of your time to be on social media. Um, again, I’m not saying you have to delete it, but just don’t have it on your phone. Use your phone as a study tool. It will make a huge difference in your life, in your whole
Merri: Pull up the app. And the funny thing was, is like I got done with the exams and I was like, so used to going to my phone and opening the app and doing questions when I had any free time, I was like. Oh, you can delete
Logan: You don’t have to do that anymore, yep.
Merri: So we’re, we’re going through the,
Logan: Still figuring it out.
Merri: The, yeah, we, we are going through just a little bit of a learning curve here of what to do with myself [00:43:00] post exams. Um, but I’m,
Only Need to Work on Other Stuff to be Certified
Logan: You passed not too long ago, right? It
Merri: Yeah. Um, I, I got the, so I took the, uh, my last exam auditing in, uh, October. I got the results, uh, November 6th, and I gave notice to my employer, uh, I was going through a job search and gave notice to my employer, and I got the results of my exam the day before my last day, so.
Logan: Oh, okay.
Merri: My last day there was the seventh, and then I started a new job on the 10th. Um, so It’s just,
Logan: Did you celebrate with people at your work or was it just like, uh, bye.
Merri: Well I definitely called my boss and just, was screaming, you know, but it was just such a great high note to, to have that success [00:44:00] and kind of close the door on, on the core exams and, and, the employment at the same time so that I could kind of transition to my new job and, and not have to worry about the big exams.
I, of course, still, um, need to take the ethics and the Utah,
Logan: Oh yeah.
Merri: Laws and rules, and I’m,
Logan: Those aren’t bad at all.
Merri: I’m starting to, I’m working on those and, um, you know, hoping to, uh, get those done in December so I can just start next year fresh, right.
Logan: Yeah, I remember taking those and after, after taking the full exams and going to those, you’re, it’s just completely different. It’s not even close to the same feeling.
Merri: Well, hey, open book and you know, it’s like the
Logan: And multiple attempts if you need to, like, without paying 300 or $400 every time, [00:45:00] um.
Merri: So.
Logan: Yeah. I mean, you’ve, you’ve talked about a lot of great tips and a lot of great advice, kind of just in different ways throughout this interview.
The Benefits Merri Got from SuperfastCPA
Logan: Um, as we’re kind of starting to wrap up, I, I did, there’s a question I like to ask at some point in the interview. What would be your, what would be the top things that you gained from SuperfastCPA? Like what were the benefits?
Merri: Oh, um, wow. So many like, like I said, um, it just taught me confidence in how to really prepare myself and to teach myself. But it also, like I said, it just enables you to do the work, right?
It’s not like you’re trying to teach everybody exactly how to do it. You’ve gotta figure that out on your own, right, because everybody’s different.
But overall, just the confidence and the method of, [00:46:00] of how to do it, right.
So, um, yeah, there’s, it’s also great, the thing I like too is the forum that you have and that you’ve got a group of like-minded people that are trying to do the same thing. And so, and you can talk to each other and, and just kind of see that, like you’re not the only one out there, right.
So, but it’s, there is a method to, to getting these exams done for sure, yeah.
Logan: Yeah. I, I, I mean, that’s why I wanted to work for SuperfastCPA was to continue being a part of this, of being able to help people find that confidence and find that way of passing these exams, and then have that community. Because I, I know for a fact that it can be a very lonely, uh, journey if you’re, if nobody else in your [00:47:00] life really understands, or if you don’t have that forum, that community, it can, and especially if you’re failing exams, it’s just crushing.
It can be really, uh, disheartening. So I’m, I’m glad that you found those, that you found those benefits.
Merri: Yeah, I always had my dad, you know, giving me crap in the background saying, you know, what if you fail? And I was like, what if I do, you know? I was like, then I’ll look at how to retake an exam and I’ll do it again. I was like, I’m not the only one, you know?
Logan: Yep.
Merri: But yeah, I don’t, I don’t know. It just, yeah, I just, I honestly don’t know how I would’ve passed those exams without the method that you guys have created. You know, it just absolutely gave a roadmap and, um, you know, just turns on the light bulbs. It’s like, oh, this is what we’re doing, you know, and it’s, it’s just a test. You can do [00:48:00] this, right? Yeah.
It, it is, it minimized the stress, you know, of, of how to do it, right, how do I do this? And so.
Logan: Yeah, I, and I absolutely agree like, it, it takes something that it, it will still be stressful, but it makes it significantly less stressful. Um, cause you just have a way to do it.
Thoughts About Passing Four for Four First Try
Logan: Um, and, you know, we’ve talked about, you know, you studied in the mornings, you went to the questions, you did review every day.
You made flashcards and notes. You took sims on the weekends, you did all the stuff. Uh, so I mean, you did, you did awesome. And you passed all of your exams and you passed them all after that BEC one, you passed them all first try, right?
Merri: Yes, yes sir. I did.
Logan: Awesome. I mean, that’s, what everybody hopes for.
Merri: Like I said, it’s surreal. It’s surreal to me, you know, but it’s like, yeah. You know, and it’s, it’s like I said too, sometimes it’s just, it’s [00:49:00] something you need to get to within yourself of just like, I can do this. I can achieve this. I deserve this. Let it happen, you know?
Logan: Right.
Merri: Yeah. And like, yes, you have to give up a few things along the way, right.
But yeah, you’ll get back to it, right?
You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Everything to Pursue the CPA
Logan: And, and actually just curious, I, I know you were pretty busy, especially when you had that acquisition, but was there, do you feel like SuperfastCPA allowed you to still have some things in your life that could still be for you? Like, uh, was there anything that you were like, I still have to have this, like, I’m not gonna sacrifice this.
Merri: Oh, I mean, yeah. I mean, going up to my family’s, pilates, um, being active, you know, but it was, those were all things that, you know, effectively helped me because you have to have, you can’t study for the exams eight hours a day and think you’re gonna [00:50:00] be effective.
Logan: And, and not, and not see any friends or family or anything.
Merri: Yeah, you know, I love road trips and going to the hot springs up north and, um, you know, seeing my family and, and things like that. And I did not give that up. I did not give up that completely. It, it just became a little bit less than it was before. Right.
I still Netflix and chilled and, and kept up on, you know, all the series that I, that I liked, but it was also that I had studied entirely through the day so I could have that.
Logan: You could relax. Mm-hmm.
Merri: And relax for myself, you know, um, so I also have a, a beautiful Camaro that I love to drive, and I did not give that up.
Logan: No.
Merri: You can still have a life [00:51:00] and enjoy your life, and study for the exams too, you know? Uh, yeah. It’s, it doesn’t have to be a, a, 12 hour, 8-12 hour study session, right? Like,
Logan: Yep.
Merri: Just get it in there and get it in there every day, right? Like, I, I did my very best to, to do that on a daily basis. Did I ever miss a day? Yes. Sometimes I did. You know, but it’s like you pick it up on the weekend or you, you know, add, add a day, but like losing one day is very different than not having a consistent practice, right?
Logan: Exactly, yep. I mean, and we’ve talked about that in a whole bunch of different podcasts and, and a whole bunch of different things. If you miss one day, every once in a while, that’s not the end of the world. But do not let that derail into two days or three days, like don’t [00:52:00] let it continue. You’ve gotta pick it up just like you said.
Merri: Yeah. And even if you’re not feeling your best, you know it, it’s still, yeah, show up and maybe you get through five questions that day, 10 questions, right. But you still got a little bit more that keeps adding to it, right.
Listened to 40 Hertz Brain Music When Studying
Merri: So, uh, another thing that I did when I would study, I would listen to brain music or memory music or study music, 40 hertz. So yeah, just every little thing I could.
Logan: Did you feel like that kind of, uh, helped you relax or helped you focus?
Merri: Yeah, it, it was, that’s what it’s meant for. It’s for memory and focus and relaxation. Um, so, uh, little, yeah, kind of weird, but yeah.
Logan: Yeah, I haven’t, I haven’t never really heard of that. But is that something that you could just get on like YouTube or Spotify?
Merri: It’s on YouTube. [00:53:00] There’s like, YouTube, there’s like, um, uh, it’s a channel called Good Vibes or whatever, and it just had, you know, activate your brain, you know, uh, in like 10 minutes. And it just had like brain activating music and, um, then it had like, study for exams and it just had music that was meant to help with, with, that.
It’s, I think it’s 40 hertz. So, um, but yeah, I did everything I could to just help myself, right.
Um. You know, but it, it’s also too, as you go along and you’re listening to the audio notes and you’re studying and things like that, I just find myself talking with them, right? Like, blah, blah, blah, and oh, blah, blah, blah.
Logan: Yep, yeah, you get to the point where you’re just like, I’ve heard this so many times.
Just Do Your Best to Make Sure You Are Prepared for the Exam
Merri: Yeah, and yeah, it’s just, you know, it’s also just getting over the nerves [00:54:00] on test day too, right? Like, uh, I think, I think the biggest thing is you’re like, oh, am I ready?
And, and, you know, and, and sometimes I just had to say like, go give it a shot and let’s see where we’re at, you know, uh, I’ll help you out if we’re not there, but let’s go see.
And I come home from exam day, and obviously I would take down my wall so that I didn’t look at things anymore, but I also got out of notebook and I wrote down everything that I remembered that was on the exam.
Logan: From the exam, oh, okay, okay.
Merri: So if I, if I did need to take a retake or, or things like that, then I would at least have a roadmap of the different subjects and the content because there’s so much of what you study that maybe isn’t on the exam.
Logan: Yep.
Merri: And, and that’s the thing. It’s like you’ve got such a huge volume of content, but not everything’s on the exam [00:55:00] either.
Logan: Mm-hmm. Yep, and that’s why you have to study all of it. That’s why you have to do the cumulative review cause otherwise you’re not gonna be prepared, you know, cause you have no idea what you’re gonna see.
Merri: But you know, it, I, one of, some of the best days that I’ve had is just, I actually had the books, uh, from UWorld, and I want you to know, I never even used the books, so.
Logan: Never even touched them.
Merri: No. And I got to the point where I just, I, I didn’t look at the videos, I didn’t look at anything. I didn’t even set up my study plan in my review course. Uh, you know, um, I, and oftentimes I didn’t even make it through all the multiple choice questions that they had.
So, um, tbss, normally there’s less TBS’s, so I typically make it through most of the TBS’s.
But like, um, some of the sections have like 2000 multiple [00:56:00] choice questions, and I did not make it through all of them.
Logan: Yeah. It can, it can definitely be, it can definitely be a lot for sure.
Some Tips for Studying
Logan: Um, and is there, so as we’re wrapping up, just two, two last questions. The first one before I ask the last question that I always ask is, was there anything else about your study process that, you know, before the call you were thinking, I wanna talk about this, that we haven’t gotten to talk about yet?
Is there anything like that?
Merri: No, I think I, I got it all in there.
Logan: Awesome. Yeah. And I always, I always wanna make sure that, you know, if somebody had like a cool tip or an idea that they didn’t get to share, that they can share it if they want
Merri: Hey, that was my 40 hertz, you know.
Logan: Yeah, the 40 hertz. Yeah, you got, you gotta share that. That’s perfect. Perfect.
Merri: And like the poster boards, that just helped me a lot. You know, I mean, those, those are probably my, my individual tweaks, you know? Um, yeah. So, [00:57:00] but I, I, did really run it pretty close to the method that you guys provided, and I just, I honestly don’t know how I would’ve done it and, you know, without it, so.
Logan: That’s awesome. I, I love hearing that and I’m so glad that I’ve been able to talk to you today, Merri, um, now we’ll wrap up.
Top Tips for People Still Going Through the CPA Exams
Logan: This is the last question I always ask everybody, even if it’s something we’ve already covered, already talked about, what would be your top two or three tips that you would give to people who are still going through the CPA exams?
Merri: Uh, make a dedicated time and if, if you, uh, if you can do it in the morning, you know, I do think that the morning is, is the best.
Uh, I got a lot more retention out of the things that I do in the morning. Um, also say, learn, uh, what type of study are you are?
Like, if, [00:58:00] if the audio’s gonna help you more, then listen to the audio more, right.
Um, but, and, uh, understand how to teach yourself,
Logan: Right.
Merri: Right? Understand that. Teach yourself. Uh, let’s see, what else? Get it done. One and done, you know.
Logan: Yeah. Every, everybody just do that.
Merri: Yeah. Um, no, just, it’s also just being patient with yourself and, and encouraging yourself too, right? Like, you’ve gotta be your own best friend and, and believe, believe, that you can do it, right.
Logan: I, I like that, you know, really just believe in yourself. I like that phrase the best, the best friend thing, you know? Cause you can get so down on yourself. I’ve, you know, I’ve felt like that at different times where you just think you’re the worst, but really, you know, you’re trying, you’re doing your best and be there with, for yourself, you know?
Merri: Yeah. And you know, I mean, you guys have a great community of [00:59:00] people that, that need to hear that too, right? Like, um, because I think you could study all you want, but if you don’t have that belief that in yourself and just care for yourself and saying, and encouraging yourself like, you can do this, right? Um, yeah, you, you gotta have that best friend relationship with yourself too.
Logan: That’s awesome. I love it. Well, it’s been awesome talking with you today, Merri. It, I mean, you had a lot of fantastic tips. Congrats on being done. Uh, hopefully you’ll be able to get licensed soon. Uh, just got finish up the la those last couple things, right. Um, but yeah, I hope you have a great rest of your day and have a great time with this upcoming Christmas too.
Merri: Thank you so much, Logan, and thank you, you and Nate, and you know everything.
Logan: Alright, that was the interview with Merri. And again, I thought it was a great one. I think every episode is pretty darn [01:00:00] good on this podcast. And I love the tips that she gave. I will always remember the giant note cards, that huge wall of note cards that she used.
And I also love that she was able to, again, keep contact with her family, able to do fun stuff with her family. She was able to do Pilates, able to watch the shows that she liked, all because she had the process figured out.
So if you’re struggling with the CPA exams, listen to what Merri said. Maybe re-listen to this episode and go especially to superfastcpa.com and sign up for our free one hour webinar training. Again, it’s free. It’s only one hour long, and we will teach you the key ingredients to passing the CPA exam so you don’t waste months or even years of your time failing exams.
And then after that you might want to learn more, so make sure you also check out becoming a SuperfastCPA PRO member. They get access to a lot of really useful stuff, especially the PRO Course. The PRO Course is where Nate explains really in depth how to pass the CPA exams. It is basically a much more in-depth version of the one hour webinar, so check out becoming a PRO member after you watch the webinar.
I hope that you found this episode [01:01:00] helpful. If you did, make sure to like it and leave a comment in the YouTube video or leave a rating in your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching or listening, and we will see you in the next episode.
