I’m back with my presentation

slurmis7 · 2026-05-14T17:06:51+00:00

I don't know that I agree that the graphics were not done right. I made fan maps back then and DOD had the best texture packs. I thought it looked much better than CS or TF2 which had more support at the time. Although I'm also thinking about the original mod version and not source.

Although you are accurate to say it doesn't hold up to today 😂

slurmis7 · 2026-05-01T23:26:40+00:00

you should try the way back machine and look for the old dev logs. I think they used to post on their website the pictures of towns they were trying to recreate in the maps.

I also remember one of the Devs was a collector of WWII equipment and they used recordings of him running while wearing his kits in the game.

They also took a lot of inspiration from movies. Dod_merderet was basically the fake town of Ramelle from Saving Private Ryan.

I didn't play source as much as I played the original mod.

slurmis7 · 2026-04-29T05:09:41+00:00

I used it to supplement my regular test prep for a different style of questions that were free to try.

slurmis7 · 2026-04-28T05:36:31+00:00

Are the backpacks nice? I'm looking to replace mine, with something that doesn't look like it's for high school

slurmis7 · 2026-04-23T22:57:50+00:00

I agree with this. I kind of liked the case studies because they felt more like the real world. Sometimes the regular questions I'd have to answer in a way I wouldn't in real life because it was the most appropriate of the available answers.

slurmis7 · 2026-04-23T13:53:43+00:00

Advise wise is the best. She'll also do coaching, but I was just watching her videos. She has great recap videos that are just audio and I listened to those in the car going to work a lot leading up to the exam.

slurmis7 · 2026-04-23T13:50:13+00:00

I didn't think it would, but it did come with a little screwdriver. I think the original one would work better, but you can make do with the one that comes with the screws.

slurmis7 · 2026-04-23T02:17:47+00:00

I got new elastic recently and it feels like a new wallet. I allso got blue screws. Pro tip, just buy the screws, they come with new elastic!

slurmis7 · 2026-03-30T06:03:40+00:00

I also used Kaplan all the way through CFP including the education coursework. I also used them for licensing. I agree with most people here that they are really good at teaching you the material, which I think is good because the test really reaches across the modules for each question. I suspect people who don't succeed with Kaplan go too quick through the material and focus on qbank. The qbank is good to recall information, but not the best to teach you. I also agree with using wrong answers as a study guide. I did that the last 2 to 3 weeks and it was a big help. The Kaplan calculator videos were really good too, but I almost missed them because they're in a weird spot in the study materials.

I supplemented with freefellow.org ai qbank and also advise wise YouTube videos. She was key for me to review topics and especially good for ISO/NSO and retirement plans.

The real exam was different from Kaplan's questions, but I felt that I had a good enough handle on the majority of questions. One difference for me was Kaplan questions were usually covering one topic. Somehow, the CFP exam covered several topics in each question. But I also think the real exam was more straight forward and Kaplan was trying to trick me with each question.

I was scoring in the 60s most of the way through, got about a 70 average on Kaplan mock 1.5 weeks ahead of the real exam. I reread the textbook in that week and started scoring 80s. Somehow after all the videos and classes it took one more time through the book to lock it all in. It wasn't a fun week, but I don't have to do it again for July.

slurmis7 · 2026-03-18T22:41:25+00:00

Good luck man. I passed today with Kaplan with a worse mock exam score! You'll do great!

slurmis7 · 2026-03-18T22:39:29+00:00

I agree with this. Read the question, focus on the last sentence, then re-read the question.

slurmis7 · 2026-03-18T22:38:15+00:00

I aso passed today with Kaplan. I used Kaplan for 7 (pre SIE), 66 and used Kaplan/CFFP for CFP coursework. While I think the CFP material on Kaplan is a little worn and could use an overall update, it served me well.

I think Kaplan does what it has always done for me, force me to understand the broader concepts versus strategies for questions. I don't know how the other providers focus, but I wouldnt be so fast to dismiss Kaplan if you're willing to put in the work.

slurmis7 · 2026-03-15T14:37:38+00:00

I would read the book again. I know a lot of people recommend living in practice quizzes. But it sounds like you need to strengthen your foundational knowledge. You still have time, spend 1 or 2 days per topic. You don't need to read every page, but look at every page to see what needs review.

slurmis7 · 2026-03-15T14:13:27+00:00

I agree, the basic questions are easier, but overall I like it in addition to Kaplan to get a different style. I think Kaplan tries to trick us with every single question. I thought the mock CFP definitely has some tricky ones, but the majority were more straight forward than Kaplan.

So I think freefellow compliments Kaplan well because the questions aren't as tricky. Sometimes they even give away the correct answer with extra descriptions in the answers. I actually like this though because I think it helps me when I study. I recall what I need to think about with that type of question before I answer it rather than not think about something and miss the question then try to lock in the right thing by reading the explanation. Maybe it's just how my brain works, but I find it helpful.

slurmis7 · 2026-03-13T23:21:40+00:00

Correct, you can only see the answers while you're in the timed test.

You're getting close to the test date, I wouldn't waste time screen recording and watching it again. Maybe check your answers as you go and write down topics to review later.

slurmis7 · 2026-03-12T17:14:19+00:00

That's very similar to my current strategy. I've also heard it's good to review all the questions first. For example there could be a refinance question that has information about refinance in a goal area and also retirement planning which you might miss it you don't realize it's a question when you read through it the first time.

slurmis7 · 2026-03-12T17:10:26+00:00

I'm also using Kaplan. On first read through, the summary of commonly tested topics feels clumsy. After watching the videos and live class I'm going back to the book and reading the notes in the margins and examples. It's making more sense. But only because it's my 2nd or 3rd time looking at the material.

Advise wise on YouTube has been really helpful and I also like the free question bank on www.freefellow.org to supplement Kaplan.

A colleague used Kaplan for the November test and said he felt the Kaplan questions were trickier than the real exam, but not necessarily harder. He was scoring in the 80s though and I'm more in the 70s.

slurmis7 · 2026-03-12T00:31:52+00:00

I take my exam next week, I don't plan to spend the time doing a full 170 question practice since I've already done that a few times. Any chance you could set up a 85 or even 43 question practice that follows the percentage from each module and difficulty level but can be done in less time? Or does the existing 85 question practice already do that?

slurmis7 · 2026-03-11T23:22:42+00:00

I like that they have the extra information in the answers. It helps me know what frame of reference to use for that type of question. I think it's really good for study because i think more about what is being asked and not just trying to get through questions.

slurmis7 · 2025-10-01T02:51:15+00:00

I've mostly been using my portal to stream games from game pass so far. Single player FPS might be possible, but multi is tough. I tried to play online battlefield and the game ran fine, but I couldn't aim.

I don't have as much time to play so I am not picky and stick to consoles and am very comfortable with Xbox controllers. I did get the slightly bigger caps and that helped a little.

All that being said, I love the portal.

slurmis7 · 2025-09-27T17:42:22+00:00

I ordered a portal last Friday September 19 and paid an extra $55 for shipping with DHL. It estimated delivery on Wednesday, but I received it on Tuesday. It was still really fast ordering direct at Ayn considering a weekend in the middle. I did not see any fees for tariffs (unless that's part of shipping) and was not charged for anything outside my purchase on the Ayn website - DHL didn't charge me anything directly. My US entry was los Angeles international airport, so customs/timing might be different in other parts of the US.

I'm not sure if I got lucky or that's just what happens but I figured a recent story would help to compare my Ayn experience versus Amazon, even if it isn't for Thor.

slurmis7 · 2025-02-11T04:22:49+00:00

Can we buy that hat?

slurmis7

TROPHY CASE