Learn Faster. Remember Longer. Understand Deeper.
You don’t really know something until you can teach it.
It’s a cliché for a reason—because it’s true.
And in CFA prep, this truth is a secret weapon.
The Feynman Technique, named after Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, turns this truth into a practical study strategy. It helps you cut through passive review, shallow recognition, and false confidence—and replace them with clarity, depth, and mastery.
Let’s explore how.
What Is the Feynman Technique?
At its core, the Feynman Technique is based on three simple principles:
You can’t memorize what you don’t understand.
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t really get it.
Teaching something is the fastest way to remember it.
That’s it.
It’s not a gimmick.
It’s not another productivity hack.
It’s a method to rewire how you interact with material—moving from passive recognition to active, personalized understanding.
Why the Feynman Technique Works for CFA Candidates
CFA exams are not about rote recall.
They’re about applying knowledge.
That means:
Understanding definitions, not memorizing them word-for-word
Breaking down formulas into conceptual building blocks
Navigating multi-step problems under pressure
Spotting traps and distinctions that only true comprehension reveals
That’s where the Feynman Technique shines.
By trying to explain a concept out loud—or on paper—you expose every crack in your understanding. You can’t fake it. You either know it, or you don’t. And once you identify the gaps, you can fix them. Fast.
How to Use the Feynman Technique (CFA Edition)
Here’s a CFA-adapted version of the Feynman Technique, step by step:
Step 1: Choose a Concept
Pick something that’s giving you trouble or that you want to lock in.
It could be:
The difference between systematic and unsystematic risk
The logic behind the Gordon Growth Model
How duration and convexity affect bond prices
What it means when a portfolio is mean-variance efficient
Step 2: Explain It Like You’re Teaching a Friend
Close your notes.
Pretend you’re explaining it to a smart friend who doesn’t know finance.
Write it out. Say it out loud. Use your own words.
Try to answer:
What is it?
Why does it matter?
How does it work?
When would I use it?
Example:
Instead of saying “Duration is the weighted average time to receive a bond’s cash flows,” try:
“Duration tells you how sensitive a bond’s price is to changes in interest rates. If a bond has a duration of 5, then a 1% increase in interest rates should drop the bond’s price by roughly 5%.”
Can’t do that? Great. Now you know what to fix.
Step 3: Find the Gaps
Where did you struggle?
Which parts did you oversimplify, skip, or misstate?
Go back to the curriculum or video lesson and clear up the confusion.
Now repeat Step 2 with sharper clarity and simpler language.
Step 4: Use Analogies, Contrasts, and Examples
The brain loves associations. Use them.
Analogies:
“A bond’s convexity is like a seatbelt—protects you more as things get worse.”Contrasts:
“Beta measures market risk. Standard deviation measures total risk.”Examples:
“Let’s say you’re analyzing a portfolio with 3 assets…”
These deepen understanding and improve recall dramatically.
Use the Feynman Technique to Spot False Confidence
One of the biggest dangers in CFA prep is mistaking recognition for mastery.
You read a concept. You nod. It feels familiar.
Then on exam day, you’re staring at a question thinking:
Wait, I’ve seen this… but what do I actually do with it?
The Feynman Technique cuts through that illusion.
If you can explain it, you own it.
If you can’t, go back and break it down again.
Final Thoughts
Most candidates study for the CFA like it’s a memory test.
But you can’t memorize your way to a passing score.
You need to understand. Recall. Apply.
The Feynman Technique gives you a way to do that.
It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it’s real.
And real understanding is what passes the exam.
So next time you finish a reading, don’t ask: Did I get through it?
Ask: Could I teach this to someone else right now?
Because if the answer is yes, you’re on the right track.
And if it’s no—good news. Now you know where to begin.
