What Salt Solutions does

Salt Solutions, Inc. is a privately held U.S. company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, that operates an online learning platform for candidates preparing for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams at Levels I, II, and III. The company holds official CFA Institute Prep Provider status, which authorizes it to use CFA Institute copyrighted materials and requires annual curriculum-aligned content updates. Its platform is built around a two-phase learning model: a Learn phase of video lessons and study manuals for core concept acquisition, followed by a Focus phase for last-mile review featuring a custom quiz builder, performance analytics dashboards, mock exams designed to mimic the Prometric interface, and per-question discussion boards with instructor Q&A support.

The business runs on a direct-to-consumer, product-led growth model sold exclusively through the company's website. Free acquisition is anchored by a 14-day no-credit-card trial (previously a free lifetime Level I program from February 2023 through January 31, 2024). Paid Full Exam Access subscriptions are priced at $645 for Level II and $749 for Level III, include a pass guarantee (continued access until the candidate passes), and are discounted 40% for candidates residing in IMF-designated developing economies. Revenue mechanics are therefore subscription-based, exam-cycle-driven, and distributed across a long tail of individual candidates rather than enterprise contracts. The company reports serving thousands of candidates who collectively log millions of study hours on the platform, with over 90% of surveyed users rating it four stars or higher. No external funding rounds, parent companies, or acquisitions are disclosed; the company appears internally financed and operationally lean.

Name

Salt Solutions

Legal name

Salt Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://saltsolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Learning / Exam Preparation Software

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Exam Prep & Standards-Aligned Review Courseware (Within Curriculum) (EDAFACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Diagnostic & Adaptive Assessment Content (Skills/Readiness) (EDAGADAJ), Assessment Item Banks, Question Authoring & Test Development Content (EDAGADAG), Assessment Analytics & Item/Question Intelligence (IRT, Item Banks, Diagnostic Insights) (EDAFAFAG)

Keywords

• CFA exam prep
• Online learning platform
• Adaptive learning technology
• Mock exam practice
• Finance certification prep

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Full Exam Access Subscription: Subscription-based access to CFA exam prep materials for a specific level (Level I, II, or III). Includes video lessons, manuals, practice questions, mock exams, and analytics. Access continues until the candidate passes the exam (pass guarantee).
2. Developing Nations Discount: 40% discount on Full Exam Access for candidates residing in IMF-designated developing nations
3. Free Trial/Freemium: 14-day free trial with mock exam and full topic access. Previously offered free lifetime access to Level I materials (ended January 31, 2024)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Salt Solutions is an authorized CFA Institute Prep Provider operating an online learning platform that delivers comprehensive Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam preparation for Levels I, II, and III. The platform pairs video lessons, study manuals, and practice questions with adaptive learning technology that personalizes study focus based on candidate performance. It also provides Prometric-style mock exams, a custom quiz builder, performance analytics, and instructor-monitored discussion boards, sold primarily through annual Full Exam Access subscriptions with a 14-day free trial funnel.

Product overview

Salt Solutions is a CFA Institute Prep Provider offering a comprehensive online CFA exam preparation platform for all three CFA exam levels (Level I, II, and III). The platform uses a two-phase learning approach: the Learn Phase provides core study through video lessons and comprehensive manuals, while the Focus Phase delivers review materials, custom quizzes, and mock exams for final exam preparation. Key products include Focus Express and Full Exam Access subscription tiers, along with supporting features like an Analytics Dashboard, Discussion Boards, and a Custom Quiz Builder. The platform also offers a 14-day free trial, a Developing Nations Discount program, and a Referral Program. Salt Solutions positions itself as a modern, user-friendly alternative to traditional CFA prep providers, with instruction provided by experienced charterholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Salt Solutions CFA Exam Prep Platform Online learning platform offering video lessons, study manuals, practice questions, mock exams, analytics, and discussion boards for CFA Levels I, II, and III, sold via per-level Full Exam Access subscriptions with a 14-day free trial and pass guarantee.
• CFA Level I Exam Prep Standalone CFA Level I exam preparation product covering investment tools fundamentals, ethical and professional standards, quantitative methods, economics, and financial reporting and analysis, taught by charterholders with adaptive learning and mock exams.
• CFA Level II Exam Prep Standalone CFA Level II exam preparation product focused on deeper investment tools, asset valuation, portfolio management, and item-set format practice questions, with adaptive learning and mock exams.
• CFA Level III Exam Prep Standalone CFA Level III exam preparation product emphasizing portfolio management, behavioral finance, asset allocation, trading, private wealth, performance evaluation, and constructed-response (essay) practice.
• 14-Day Free Trial Trial offering that grants full mock exam access, a complete topic with 10+ hours of study materials, and custom quiz builder use at no cost for 14 days with no credit card required, designed to convert candidates to a paid Full Exam Access subscription.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% satisfaction rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AnalystPrep: Online CFA prep platform offering video lessons, practice questions, and mock exams for all three levels, positioning as a digital-first, lower-cost alternative to the legacy providers.
• Kaplan Schweser: The dominant CFA exam prep provider with multi-decade brand recognition, comprehensive study materials, and institutional relationships with banks and universities - the most direct head-to-head competitor to Salt Solutions across all three CFA levels.
• Bloomberg CFA Prep: Premium-priced CFA prep program tied to the Bloomberg terminal ecosystem, targeting the same globally distributed candidate pool with adaptive question banks and instructor-led content.
• Wiley CFA Review: Established CFA prep provider offering instruction and adaptive practice question banks with deep publishing heritage, competing for the same self-study and instructor-led candidate persona.

Broad incumbents

• Princeton Review: Broad-based test prep brand with CFA offerings included within a wider portfolio of standardized exam courses, providing a benchmark for how a multi-credential incumbent monetizes exam prep.
• CFA Institute Learning Ecosystem: Official provider of the CFA Program Learning Ecosystem with included practice tools for enrolled candidates; sets the baseline against which all third-party Prep Providers (including Salt Solutions) compete.

Others

• Ankiflash / Anki spaced-repetition community: Open-source spaced-repetition flashcard ecosystem widely used by CFA candidates for free, representing the 'do-it-yourself' alternative to Salt Solutions' flashcard and adaptive learning products.

Emerging players

• AdaptPrep: Adaptive learning-focused CFA prep platform using question-banking analytics to personalize study paths, directly comparable to Salt Solutions' adaptive engine and analytics dashboard.
• 300 Hours: Specialty CFA prep provider offering practice question banks and review materials at competitive price points, overlapping on the practice-question/mock-exam niche where Salt Solutions invests heavily.
• IFRSbox / Finquiz: Adaptive practice-question platforms targeting CFA and adjacent finance exams; comparable on adaptive question banks but with narrower content scope than Salt Solutions' full three-level offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SaltSoln
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SaltSoln
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salt-soln
• Instagraminstagram.com/SaltSoln

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Salt Solutions