Q & A with Deborah Gannaway, CFE

Deborah Gannaway of Houston, Texas, loves spending time with her two granddaughters and enjoys running — she’s currently focusing on 5Ks and working out with the Original Navy Seal PT Course in Houston. This past March, however, she set some time aside to accomplish her goal of obtaining the CFE credential after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Washington, D.C. Deborah says that the knowledge she acquired while studying for her CFE has prepared her to conduct more thorough financial crime investigations.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Gannaway: I was certified on April 1, 2016.
 
Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Washington and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site. Please describe your experience of participating in the 4-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.

Gannaway:  Although there was a lot of material covered, and at times it seemed a bit overwhelming, the material was well-organized and well-presented. The instructors did an excellent job of preparing us to take the daily exams and calming our nerves.
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course?

Gannaway: The opportunity to take daily exams for each section, with immediate feedback regarding whether I passed or failed.
 
Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will benefit you?

Gannaway:  As part of my responsibilities as a Senior Security Specialist with Exelon Corporation (energy provider), I conduct some investigations involving financial crimes. Not only will I be better prepared to conduct the investigations, but executive management will have more confidence in my capabilities because of the CFE credential.
 
Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?

Gannaway: In the months prior to this course, I read a large portion of the Fraud Examiners Manual. In addition, during this course, I felt I would be particularly challenged with the Financial Transaction and Fraud Schemes section of the course, so I spent time on Sunday and Monday nights taking the online practice exam.
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Gannaway: Absolutely, and I actually already have.
 
Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Gannaway: My Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting served me well during my 20-plus years as an FBI Special Agent, and much of my career was dedicated to investigating a multitude of fraud matters. My detail-oriented personality really loves finding the “smoking gun” in reams of paper or electronic financial records.
 
Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Gannaway:  I love anything that physically challenges me. In the past, I have been involved in long-distance running, triathlons, and long-distance cycling. Currently, I primarily focus on 5Ks, and I work out almost daily with the Original Navy Seal PT Course in Houston,Texas.  I also love spending time with my two granddaughters, Madison – Age 10, and Parker – Age 5.
 
Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?  

Gannaway: For anyone who has a reasonable background in fraud investigations, I strongly recommend the CFE Exam Review Course with daily exams along with studying the Prep Course. I believe that is all that most would need to successfully become a CFE.

Q & A Christopher Moon, CFE

Christopher Moon became a CFE after attending the Review Course in Washington, DC. During Christopher’s free time, he enjoys being with his family and fishing. He started fly fishing over the last few years and truly enjoys the activity. But recently, Christopher put some time aside to accomplish his goal of obtaining the CFE credential. The materials presented at the course were directly applicable to his job as a fraud investigator, and he believes the knowledge he obtained will be beneficial with his fraud investigation work related to the U.S. Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Moon: April 1, 2016

Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Washington and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site.  Please describe your experience of participating in the 4-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.

Moon: The course was broken down into manageable sections; the instructors did a great job dissecting each section, providing focus, and highlighting what was most important. They also acknowledged that some of the subject areas would intersect and build upon one another. I appreciated that they understood students would not be experts in every field, which is what a fraud unit is all about—different specialties coming together to build a total picture.

Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 

Moon: I liked having the ability to review and ask questions about the material prior to sitting for the exam. The instructors did a wonderful job explaining everything.

Coach:" In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Moon: The materials presented have a direct connection to my job as a fraud investigator. At the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTRAP) under the U.S. Treasury, we are tasked with investigating fraud related to TARP. These cases involve all the disciplines within the fraud field.

Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?

Moon: I reviewed the material prior to class. We were then provided a one-hour lunch break, and the great thing about the first three days was having lunch provided at the class site. I would take a half hour to eat, and then go back and review that morning’s material. After class, I would spend another half hour or so studying the material, until I felt comfortable, and then pick up my test.

Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Moon: Yes, I already have.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Moon: I have been in law enforcement for almost 20 years. Fraud, like other criminal acts, is a matter of solving a puzzle. Our job as investigators is to prove an allegation happened or that it did not. This is something I have been passionate about for as long as I can remember. In my current position, I have the privilege of working some of the most complex bank fraud cases with a group of professionals that share that passion.

Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Moon: When I am not spending time with my family, my other passion is fishing. I have begun fly fishing over the last few years and truly enjoy the sport. We are lucky enough to have some of the best trout waters in the United States here in northern Virginia, and I get out as often as I can. I recently began building my first fly rod and tying my own flies. It will be gratifying to catch a fish on a rod I built, with a fly I tied.

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Moon: It will be tremendously beneficial to follow the advice of your coaches and review the study materials before class as much as your schedule allows. It will pay dividends. Everyone is busy, but do yourself a favor and reduce the anxiety by planning ahead. Be prepared for long days.

Q & A with Anthony Ball, CFE

Anthony Ball became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Houston, TX. When Anthony has a break from his busy work schedule in law enforcement, he looks forward to spending time with his wife. But recently, Anthony put some time aside to accomplish his goal of obtaining the CFE credential. Now that Anthony is a CFE, he feels that the credential will aid in his transition from law enforcement to the private sector. He is optimistic that the credential will be a very valuable asset.

Coach:  When did you receive your CFE credential?
Ball: I received my CFE credential on 2/11/2016.

Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Houston and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site.  Please describe your experience of participating in the 4-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.

Ball: Challenging! For me, the training event is best described as a marathon. Like any run, it takes a few minutes to become comfortable and get into a pace—but then you begin to enjoy the event. At some point, usually when you have completed approximately 75 to 80 percent of the run, you begin to struggle as your body fatigues (in spite of all your preparation), and as you near the finish, you are simply hoping the finish line is around the next corner. That is the four-day course. By the afternoon of day one, you are very comfortable, and then day two and the morning of day three seemed to breeze by. By the time you finish the exam on day three and look around, everyone appears to have an expression of “just one more day (mile).”

Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 

Ball: It was a great environment for learning. There were no surprises. The course syllabus outlined exactly what you needed to prepare for and the review focused on that material.

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Ball: The response to outside training, specifically non-governmental training (at least in my 30 years of experience in law enforcement), is usually mixed with positive and negative responses. I decided to obtain the credential to aid in my transition from law enforcement to the private sector, and I am very optimistic that having the credential will be a very valuable asset/skill set. 

The information contained in the course will be and is very helpful to me in performing my duties as a detective for the police department.

Coach:  How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site?

Ball: I ordered the self-study Prep Course and spent approximately two months simply reviewing the material. I then started a more intensive study regiment for approximately two months before coming to the Review Course.

Coach:. Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?

Ball: Yes. I spent approximately an hour reviewing the notecards I had created covering the next day’s exam material. In hindsight, I am not sure that was really the best approach. As long as you have prepared properly, I would probably recommend you simply rest and recover from a very long day.
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Ball: Yes, and I have already recommended this course to my colleagues.

Coach:  How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Ball: In local law enforcement, big cities (Atlanta) and small, white-collar crime is not an area where most police find a great deal of interest. Most administrations give it very little attention, as it is classified as a Part II crime and does not affect crime statistics kept for reporting purposes. However, there are a great many victims of this type of crime, and as a law enforcement officer, I simply became frustrated when I realized I did not know how to combat or present the cases for prosecution. So, twenty-plus years ago, I obtained my BA in Business-Accounting and decided I wanted to learn about white-collar crime. I am still learning today.

Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Ball: I enjoy spending  time with my wife.

Coach:  Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Ball: Drop your ego, get the Prep Course, and open your mind. There is a lot to learn. Fraud is such a dynamic field and criminal creativity abounds. Keeping up with that much creativity will provide you with a very interesting and challenging career. Good luck!

Q & A with Heather Yannello, CFE

Heather Yannello of New Jersey recently became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in New York. In her free time, Heather enjoys gardening. The smell of dirt is what she loves most. This past October, however, she put some time aside to accomplish her goal of obtaining the CFE credential. Heather became a CFE to enhance her opportunities as she pursues a career with a federal agency. Heather says that when you’re a CFE, you put yourself in the top-tier of applicants.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential? 

Yannello: I received my credential in November 2015.

Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in New York and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site. Please describe your experience of participating in the 4-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after. 

Yannello: Intense—the course is fast-paced and really keeps you on your toes. I took the course and sat for the exams immediately afterward, while the information was fresh in my mind. There’s plenty of coffee and tea available, but you might want to bring a protein bar to eat after class, before each exam.
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course?

Yannello: The learning environment in the live-event provides something for everyone—visuals, written materials, and class discussion. I also appreciated that the instructors kept the class moving. Too often, students can get sidelined with “war stories.” The instructors politely refocused those individuals, but then took the time to speak with them after class.
 
Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession? 

Yannello: I didn’t take the course to enhance my current career; I took it to enhance the opportunity for a second career. Many public and private sector employers look for an “applicant with a CFE.” When you’re a CFE, you put yourself in the top-tier of applicants, and you’re more likely to get that interview. I need to set myself apart from the crowd of other federal agents with similar experience.
 
Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day? 

Yannello: I did all the online prep I could. My expertise is investigation, not finance, so I felt I needed to work through all the exam prep questions, hundreds of them. I did some review at night, but not much. I felt it was more important to have a decent meal and a good night’s sleep.
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Yannello: Yes; don’t go at it alone!  As a matter of fact, I took the CFE Exam Review Course with a colleague and my husband. After completing the course, I spoke to other agents who are preparing for a second career and encouraged them to get their CFE credentials, too.
 
Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Yannello: In 1984, just out of college, I began my career in federal law enforcement by joining the U.S. Secret Service—the Treasury was still issuing paper checks! I found the IG community offered a greater variety of fraud cases—bid rigging, bribery, public corruption, and, of course, mortgage fraud. I was working mortgage fraud cases 10 years before the mortgage meltdown, but few people understood it then. Try explaining a same-day flip, an A-C-B flip, or the role of a straw buyer to a 1997 grand jury!  I feel passionate about many of my cases. One that stands out was a foreclosure counselor who solicited cash from over 100 clients by telling them she would work with the mortgage company on a loan modification. Over a period of a year, she took almost $300,000, or $1,800 a day, and gambled it away. A 6-year prison sentence is small payment for the hundreds of lives ruined by her scam.

 
Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Yannello: I am an avid gardener; I love the smell of dirt, and I enjoy the fruits of my labor.
 
Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Yannello: If possible, work with someone who has a different area of expertise than you. They can explain terms and concepts unfamiliar to you. Also, use the online Prep Course materials, and answer the hundreds of practice questions for each section.

Thank you for your time and congratulations on your new CFE credential.

Q & A with Constance Robinson

Constance Robinson of Tennessee recently became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Austin, TX. In her free time, Constance enjoys outdoor activities. But this past November, she put some time aside to accomplish her goal of obtaining the CFE credential. The knowledge Constance acquired while studying for her CFE has provided her with additional tools that will enhance her ability to review and test during audits. She now better understands the importance of gathering the right documentation when red flags are identified during an audit.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Robinson: I became certified in November 2015.

Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Austin and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site. Please describe your experience of participating in the 4-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.

Robinson: Attending the on-site course removed the daily distractions of life and helped me focus for four days to accomplish my goal of becoming a CFE. Reviewing the materials the night before class was helpful in helping me concentrate the next day on areas that required further understanding.

Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 

Robinson: The CFE Exam Review Course acted as a refresher for areas I previously studied prior to attending the course. Additionally, the real-life examples provided during the course discussions assisted in helping me understand the subject areas and provided me with a mental picture when taking the exam, if there was an area that caught me off-guard during the exam.

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Robinson: The knowledge obtained from the CFE program provides additional tools in specific areas to review and test during audits. Also, it allows me to understand the impacts of documentation and gathering the right documentation when red flags are identified during an audit.

Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?

Robinson: Prior to the on-site course and exam, I spent two hours a day reading and studying materials, answering review questions, reviewing results, and focusing on areas that required further study.

Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Robinson: Yes, in addition to the study materials and online tools, this course is essential to successfully passing the exam.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Robinson: Through internal audits and managing finance groups, I have identified several areas of fraud. While it may seem that all employees are honest, this is not always the case. In my experience, frauds were identified mostly in the areas of management, where there were weakened controls. These risks were further reviewed after the fraud, and additional controls and assurance processes were put into place.

Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Robinson: Sitting indoors all day can be quite confining, so I perform activities outdoors as much as possible. This includes gardening, golfing, walking dogs, fishing, and hiking, when the opportunities become available. Volunteering is also a very rewarding experience.

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Robinson: Focus on a specific test area and subjects within the test area for 3-4 days. Shifting around between various areas can be distracting and frustrating. Once you obtain enough knowledge for a specific area, move on to the next one. Revisit the area reviewed in about two weeks to see how much knowledge you have retained. Fraud and the content study material is fascinating; if you have a passion for the subject matter, the learning is enjoyable.

Also, if you are a CPA or CIA, reading articles in your monthly magazines. Doing so retains interest and provides you with real-world examples that assist your learning.