Compare the Best FRM Study Materials and Prep Courses
Finding the best FRM study materials that will prepare you to pass the Financial Risk Manager exam is harder than you think. There are a bunch of different options you can choose from and obviously, each company is going to say that its FRM certification course is the best. Therefore, what are you supposed to do and how are you supposed to decide which one is right for you?
That’s why I’ve reviewed all of the top-rated FRM exam review courses on the market today. I compare each one, so you can easily look through the course features, advantages, disadvantages, and discounts to find the right course for you. It’s as simple as that. Check out the course comparisons below and see which one will help you prepare for the exam the best.
Top FRM Exam Prep Courses and Study Guides
- Analyst Prep FRM Prep Course
- Kaplan FRM Prep Course
- Bionic Turtle FRM Prep Course
| FRM Review Courses | Best For: |
|---|---|
| AnalystPrep FRM Review | Best Overall |
| Kaplan FRM Review | Most Reliable |
| Bionic Turtle FRM Review | Largest Test Bank |
1. AnalystPrep FRM Review
Currently, the best FRM prep course available to students is AnalystPrep. This company offers a range of study materials for financial certifications, including the CFA exam. But they offer the same level of quality for all their educational resources, which features a powerful combination of well-made content and a well-designed dashboard.
When it comes to their actual FRM study materials, AnalystPrep has spared no expense. Their entire library of video content is taught by James Forjan, a Ph. D holder and expert in all things finance. To accompany his videos, students can access several practice quizzes for each section—made up of a substantial library of multiple-choice questions. Furthermore, much of this course’s non-video content can be converted into PDFs for saving or printing, which allows you to keep on studying without being connected to the internet.
Accessing all of these materials is easy thanks to AnalystPrep’s expertly designed interface. Signing up for an account is instant and hassle-free since you can use existing accounts from Google or Facebook. From there, you can immediately get an idea of what the different courses have to offer and make a purchasing decision from there. Additionally, this dashboard is seamlessly integrated into their community forums, which means you can collaborate with other students to solve problems and prepare for exam day.
With so many excellent features, it’s surprising just how affordable this course is. Whether you sign up for just one or both parts of their FRM exam study materials, you’ll get an incredible value and definitely CRUSH your FRM exams!
2. Kaplan FRM Prep Course
Kaplan Schweser is the FRM course I’d use if I wanted a polished study system instead of a pile of risk management books.
The best part is how organized it feels. SchweserNotes breaks the FRM curriculum into a cleaner, more readable format, while the Activity Feed turns the course into weekly study tasks instead of making you build a plan from scratch. The QBank is also useful because you can create custom quizzes, review weak areas, and keep practice sessions more targeted.
Kaplan’s FRM packages include SchweserNotes, QuickSheet, SchweserPro QBank, mock exams, InstructorLink, a community forum, a resource library, and PassProtection. The Premium package adds more instruction, including on-demand classes and review materials, while Essential is the better fit if you mostly want self-study tools. For Part II, Kaplan also offers printed and digital books, mock exams, practice tools, and Premium access to an OnDemand Masterclass.
The main caution is that PassProtection is not a cash-back guarantee. If you do not pass, Kaplan covers your next study package under the stated terms. Online access is also tied to the exam window and annual curriculum cycle, so this is not the course I’d buy casually and let sit for months.
Overall, Kaplan is a strong FRM pick for candidates who want concise notes, structured weekly tasks, realistic practice exams, and enough instructor access to get unstuck without needing a fully live course.
3. Bionic Turtle FRM Review
Bionic Turtle FRM offers some of the best Financial Risk Manager prep materials out there. Their study notes and video lectures work hand-in-hand to explain the complicated topics on the exam, so you can understand and remember them when working as a certified FRM. Furthermore, the examples they use in the textbook and the explanations in the video lectures are super easy to follow. They do a really good job of breaking down practice problems, analyzing concepts like portfolio management and asset management, and showing you how to solve them.
The study materials are only part of this course though. Bionic Turtle features the largest FRM test bank in the industry with over 4,400 practice questions. Ultimately, this is one of the most important parts of a review course because it allows you to think through a concept, learn the material, and practice taking the exam all at the same time. The best thing about this test bank is that it’s always up to date. New questions are constantly being added to match the new changes to the exam!
Bionic Turtle also offers an interactive study community forum where you can learn from other candidates taking the exam. You can post questions, read other people’s answers, or take advantage of the hundreds of GARP practice question discussions on the forum. This is no ghost town forum. There are over 30,000 members who actively use this to ask and answer questions. Consequently, it’s quite a resource to students lacking work experience.
You will have access to all of the online Financial Risk Manager study materials for a full year. This is plenty of time to prepare for the exam, but if you need more time, you can get a 3-month course extension.
Essentially, this is a great course for people who want detailed materials on financial markets and a huge test bank to practice with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a financial risk manager do?
Financial Risk Managers identify risks associated with changing earning capacity, assets, and organizational success. This designation is issued by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).
How much does an FRM make?
According to Glassdoor, a FRM makes an average base pay of $102,325 per year. Senior risk managers can make up to $130k annually.
Which is the best study material for FRM?
Wiley has the #1 course ranking spot on this list. They’ll easily help you pass the exam on your first try thanks to their excellent library of practice questions, video lectures, and instructor support channels.
Is FRM equal to MBA?
According to GARP, earning an FRM certification is comparable in degree level to an American master’s degree standard. However, earning a Master’s in Business Administration still carries more significance in a professional environment.
Is the FRM exam tougher than the CFA exam?
It’s tough to gauge which designation is more difficult to earn. Both test you on specific knowledge areas and have fairly low pass rates. Difficulty for each exam is largely based on your personal knowledge of each subject. Ultimately, the CFA curriculum requires a more broad knowledge of financial analysis, whereas FRM requires specific knowledge about risk management in particular.
Is the FRM worth it after the CFA?
Both designations fit nicely together. This is because the CFA covers more broad content areas while the FRM is much more specific. Having both qualifies you for more work overall, so I recommend earning both certs to advance your career prospects and earning potential!
Does the FRM exam have math?
GARP’s study materials state that there are small math sections of the exam. Make sure to prepare for these ahead of time!
