Zahn Associates

What Zahn Associates does

Zahn Associates Inc. is a privately held financial education company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida, that prepares individuals for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification examination and FINRA securities licensing exams (SIE, Series 6, Series 7), and delivers continuing education to practicing CFP professionals. Its core offerings include the Live Review Exam Prep Program, structured around a three-step methodology (Prestudy of 100-120 hours, a 34-hour Live Review Class over four days, and Post Study of 60-80 hours) with approximately 2,600 practice questions, and CFP Board-Registered Education Programs delivered through partnerships with Tallahassee State College, North Carolina Central University, and University of Dallas in OnDemand, Accelerated 4-day, and Weekend formats.

The technology platform centers on an online learning management system with a Student Center portal, mobile applications for iOS and Android delivering flashcards, Q&A Quick Prep, glossary, acronyms, and audio flashcards, and an exam analyzer that identifies areas of weakness. Content is built on National Underwriter's Tools and Techniques textbooks augmented by proprietary supplemental books, and is maintained by instructors who are themselves practicing CFP professionals. The company claims to exceed the national CFP exam pass rate by 10%, supported by lead instructor Bart Brewer's documented 13,300+ hours of live classroom teaching and 181 Live Review classes delivered since November 2002.

Revenue is generated through a combination of individual course fees (CFP courses at $595 each, Capstone at $695, plus a $205 CFP Board submission fee), securities licensing subscriptions with 180-day access, continuing education units priced at $69-$175, group discounts for cohorts of five or more, corporate training contracts for broker-dealer new hires, university partnerships for academic-credit-bearing programs, one-on-one tutoring, and a 2025 scholarship program with YGC Wealth supporting diverse aspiring financial planners. The go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer through self-serve online checkout, supplemented by channel partners (universities and corporate clients) and instructor-led speaking engagements delivered to organizations such as Ameriprise Financial, Charles Schwab, and FPA chapters.

Name

Zahn Associates

Legal name

Zahn Associates Inc.

Website

https://kenzahn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zahn Associates is a privately held financial education company founded in 2000 that provides CFP certification exam preparation, FINRA securities licensing exam prep, and continuing education courses to aspiring and practicing financial professionals through online, mobile, and live formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Exam Preparation

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Securities & Investment Licensing Exam Prep (FINRA Series 7/63/65/66, SIE) (EDANAIAJ), Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ)

Keywords

• Financial planning education
• CFP exam preparation
• Securities licensing training
• Professional certification prep
• Continuing education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Education Program Course Fees: Individual course sales at $595 per course (General Principles, Insurance Planning, Investment Planning, Psychology/Income Tax Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning) and $695 for Capstone. CFP Board Program Completion Submission Fee of $205.
2. Securities Licensing Programs: SIE, Series 6, and Series 7 exam prep programs with 180-day access period. Includes video lectures, textbook, and practice questions.
3. Continuing Education Courses: CFP Board approved CE courses including Code and Standards at $69 and Keeping Current manual/exam packages from $75-$175. 30 CE credits required every two years for CFP certification renewal.
4. Supplemental Materials: Test bank questions, flashcards, glossary, and acronyms available on mobile app. Exam prep materials designed to supplement core study programs.
5. Live Review Scholarship Program: 2050 TrailBlazers Live Review Scholarship partnership with YGC Wealth supporting diverse aspiring financial planners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Zahn Associates provides CFP Board-Registered Education Programs, a Live Review CFP Certification Exam Prep Program (in-person and virtual formats), FINRA Securities Licensing exam preparation (SIE, Series 6, Series 7), and CFP Board-approved Continuing Education courses for financial professionals. Programs are delivered through university partnerships (Tallahassee State College, North Carolina Central University, University of Dallas), direct online sales, corporate training, and one-on-one tutoring.

Product overview

Zahn Associates is a financial education company offering a comprehensive suite of CFP certification exam prep and continuing education products. The core offerings include the Live Review Exam Prep Program (available in virtual and in-person formats with approximately 2,600 practice questions) and CFP Board-Registered Education Programs delivered through partnered universities (Tallahassee State College, North Carolina Central University, University of Dallas) in OnDemand, Virtual, and Live formats. The education curriculum consists of seven modules: General Principles, Insurance Planning, Investment Planning, Psychology/Income Tax Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, and Capstone. The company also provides Securities Licensing exam prep for FINRA credentials (SIE, Series 6, Series 7), a mobile Student Center app with flashcards and practice questions, supplemental materials (test banks, casebook workshops), one-on-one tutoring services, and CFP Board-approved continuing education courses including the mandatory Code and Standards ethics course. Group discounts are available for organizations with 5 or more participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Review CFP Exam Prep Program Comprehensive CFP Certification Examination preparation program delivered via in-person classes (four consecutive days, 34 classroom hours) and Virtual live classes, structured as a three-step process (Prestudy 100-120 hours, Live Review Class 34 hours, Post Study 60-80 hours) with approximately 2,600 practice questions. Built for aspiring CFP professionals and consistently produces pass rates 10% above the national average.
• CFP Board-Registered Education Programs CFP Board-Registered seven-course financial planning education program delivered through partnered universities (Tallahassee State College, North Carolina Central University, University of Dallas). Available in OnDemand, Virtual, and Live formats covering General Principles, Insurance Planning, Investment Planning, Psychology/Income Tax Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, and Capstone, with group discounts for 5 or more participants.
• SIE Exam Prep Program Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam preparation program with 15 hours of prerecorded video lectures, 180-day program access, 65 random practice questions per bank with unlimited use. Built for aspiring broker-dealer representatives preparing for the FINRA SIE exam (75 questions, 70% passing score, 50 hours prep time).
• Series 6 Exam Prep Program Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative Examination (Series 6) preparation program with 8 hours of prerecorded video lectures and access to practice questions. Built for broker-dealer representatives and corporate trainees preparing for the FINRA Series 6 exam (50 questions, 70% passing score, 50 hours prep time).
• Series 7 Exam Prep Program General Securities Representative Qualification Examination (Series 7) preparation program with 19 hours of prerecorded video lectures, 180-day program access, textbook, Student Center access, flashcards, and practice questions with exam analyzer. Built for broker-dealer representatives and corporate trainees preparing for the FINRA Series 7 exam (125 questions, 72% passing score, 100 hours prep time).
• One-on-One Tutoring Services Private one-on-one tutoring with Zahn-certified instructors (Bart Brewer CFP, CFA, EA; Tim Hummel CFP; Brandon Truitt CFP, MPAS, CRPC) covering CFP exam prep, FINRA exams, and various financial planning designations. Bart Brewer has completed over 1,000 hours of private tutoring for CFP and FINRA exam candidates.
• Corporate and Chapter Speaking Engagements Professional speaking services for company meetings and chapter events covering intermediate continuing education classes to specialized corporate meetings, customized to client needs. Delivered for organizations including Ameriprise Financial, Charles Schwab, and FPA chapters.
• Code and Standards CE Course CFP Board-approved 2-hour ethics course available in OnDemand and Virtual live webinar formats for $69, satisfying the mandatory CFP Board ethics continuing education requirement (2 CE credits). Designed for practicing CFP professionals seeking to fulfill their 30 CE credits every two years.
• Keeping Current Manual Annual reference manual ($100 Manual Only, $175 Manual and Exam, $75 Exam Only) updated with current tax laws and industry changes, accompanied by video lectures and an optional 100-question exam (70% required to pass) worth 10 CE credits. Designed for practicing CFP professionals fulfilling annual CE requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Exceed national CFP exam pass rate by 10%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tallahassee State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTallahassee State College's Professional Financial Planning program is registered with the CFP Board. Zahn provides educational content using National Underwriter's Tools and Techniques series with Zahn supplemental books. Program consists of six courses plus capstone class. Offered in OnDemand, Virtual, and Live formats.
• North Carolina Central UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnered program providing CFP Board-registered education for students seeking financial planning certification. Part of Zahn's university partnership network.
• University of DallascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnered program where Zahn instructor Brandon Truitt serves as adjunct faculty. Provides CFP Board-registered education through weekend format for working professionals.
• YGC Wealth (2050 TrailBlazers)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMerit-based scholarship partnership with Rianka R. Dorsainvil, CFP® under YGC Wealth to support diverse aspiring financial planners. Scholarship covers Live Review program for CFP certification. Recipients receive study strategy session with Rianka.
• CFP BoardcoreOthersCFP Board-registered program provider. Programs aligned with CFP Board topics and exam requirements. CE courses approved by CFP Board with direct credit submission. Note: CFP Board does not endorse, promote, review, or warrant accuracy of Zahn's products or pass rates.
• FINRAcoreOthersFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority administers SIE, Series 6, Series 7, and other securities exams. Zahn exam prep programs aligned with FINRA exam requirements and content.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pass Perfect: Pass Perfect offers FINRA exam prep for Series 6, 7, 24, 63, 65, and other securities licenses. Comparable to Zahn's Securities Licensing program offering, with overlapping target customers and self-study/delivery models.
• Dalton Education: Dalton is a CFP Board-Registered education provider offering the seven required courses in online and self-study formats. Comparable to Zahn's education programs and Live Review, with similar target customers (aspiring CFPs) and overlapping academic partnerships.
• Knopman Marks Financial Training: Knopman Marks delivers FINRA licensing exam prep and continuing education with strong corporate/B2B training focus. Comparable to Zahn's Securities Licensing and Corporate Partnership channels, serving broker-dealers and financial firms.
• Securities Training Corporation (STC): STC specializes in FINRA securities licensing exam prep (SIE, Series 6, 7, 24, 63, 65, 66). Directly comparable to Zahn's Securities Licensing programs in product offering, target customer (broker-dealer new hires and training firms), and delivery model.
• ExamFX: ExamFX provides pre-licensing and continuing education for insurance, securities (SIE/Series), and financial services. Comparable to Zahn across multiple exam prep verticals including FINRA securities licensing and CE, with a similar B2C/B2B hybrid model.
• The American College of Financial Services: The American College offers CFP certification education plus advanced designations (CFA, ChFC, CLU). Comparable to Zahn's education curriculum and continuing education library, with deeper credentialing authority and broader designation portfolio.
• College for Financial Planning (a Cengage brand): College for Financial Planning is a CFP Board-Registered program provider and longtime leader in financial planning education. Directly comparable to Zahn's CFP education curriculum and continuing education offerings, with the added credibility of degree-granting authority.

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan Financial Education: Kaplan is one of the largest providers of CFP and FINRA exam preparation in the US with deep B2B distribution and broad digital content. Comparable to Zahn as a direct competitor in CFP certification and securities licensing prep, but at significantly larger scale and budget.
• Brightwood (formerly OnCourse Learning / Kaplan): Brightwood provides licensing and continuing education across financial services, real estate, and insurance. Comparable to Zahn as a multi-vertical financial education incumbent, with broader product coverage and stronger B2B distribution.

Emerging players

• Achievable: Achievable is a modern, mobile-first exam prep platform with adaptive learning for FINRA exams. Comparable to Zahn as a FINRA exam prep competitor with technology-led differentiation that could pressure traditional instructor-led approaches over time.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zahn-associates

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 Zahn Associates