Q & A with Jimmy Wong, CFE

Jimmy Wong of Virginia became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Los Angeles, CA. In his spare time, he loves to cook and spend time with his family. This past July, Jimmy focused on accomplishing his goal of obtaining the CFE credential, which he believes will enable him to better identify, prevent, and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in his organization.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Wong:  I became certified on July 22, 2016.

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

Wong: At first, the idea of the four-day CFE Exam Review Course might sound overwhelming, but it is manageable. The instructors are subject matter experts in their areas and provided great examples to help reinforce the material covered on the exam. It was very helpful to be able to sit for the exam at the end of each day, as the information was still fresh in my head. Also, it was definitely rewarding knowing whether you had successfully passed each session shortly afterward.
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 

Wong: I liked the fact that the review questions provided after each session help reinforce the understanding of the course content. The instructors were very knowledgeable in the subject areas and provided real-world applications to reinforce what was covered in the course content.
 
Coach:  In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Wong: My new CFE credential provides the knowledge that will enable me to better identify, prevent, and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in my organization. 
 
Coach:  How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?

Wong: Prior to attending the review course, I took the pre-assessment exam provided with the online CFE Exam Prep Course to understand which areas were my weakest. In preparation for each day's session, I read over the review material and wrote down notes and questions so that I could ask the instructors during the lectures. After class each day, I made sure to find some time to complete the practice exams provided with the online prep course.
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Wong:  Yes, I highly recommend this course to my colleagues and individuals who plan to sit for the CFE Exam.
 
Coach:  How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Wong:  Back in 2007, I recall watching a television show called Fraud Squad, which aimed to promote public awareness about the global problem of fraud. Ever since that day, I always wanted to be part of a team doing behind-the-scenes forensic accounting to prevent and detect fraud. A couple of years ago, I was fortunate to be able to join the Inspector General (IG) community and be part of a team of individuals that contributes to promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in an organization. We work together to prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. I learned about the CFE credential from a colleague during an audit and decided it was something that I wanted to pursue. 
 
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?

Wong: I am a foodie and love to cook. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with family and my lovely 5-month-old daughter, Megan. 
 
Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Wong: I recommend taking time to study the CFE Exam Prep Course materials and taking the pre-assessment exam to identify your strongest and weakest subjects. This method will enable you to allocate time and resources in an efficient manner as you prepare for your exam date. 

Q & A with Homoud Alfayez, CFE

Homoud Alfayez became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Los Angeles, CA. Homoud is in the accounting field and is passionate about fraud. He’s confident that his new CFE credential will help him shift his career so that he can focus entirely on fighting fraud. When Homoud is not working, he enjoys traveling and exploring new places.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?
Alfayez: I received my CFE certification announcement on July 23, 2016.
 
Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Los Angeles and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site.  Please describe your experience of participating in the four-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.
Alfayez: Honestly, when I first signed up for the course, I was very hesitant to take the exams right after the lectures because it sounded like too much. However, when I arrived for the first day, the lecturer was very encouraging and supportive, so I decided to give it a try. I am very glad I listened to him.
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 
Alfayez: I enjoyed a lot of things:

• The material was well organized and right to the point, which I liked very much, especially compared to the Fraud Examiners Manual. The manual contains a lot of details and will therefore be more beneficial as a reference resource after getting the credential than for exam preparation.
• I liked the atmosphere of the hall and how everyone was engaged and committed.
• Everything was taken care of, and I was able to find an answer for any question I had since ACFE staff was always nearby.
• John Gill is funny. 

Coach:  In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?
Alfayez: I am currently in the accounting field, and I am personally passionate about fraud. I am confident that this credential will help me a lot in shifting my career so I can focus my effort entirely on fighting fraud.

Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?
Alfayez: Right after the lecture every day, I would go up to my room, sit and relax for one hour and go through the important material until I felt confident taking the exam.  
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?
Absolutely. If anyone is interested in becoming a CFE, I highly recommend taking the CFE Exam Review Course. Doing so saves time and money.
 
Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?
Alfayez: I have an accounting background, and honestly, accounting limits your ability to be creative and inventive. And yet, I love accounting. Then I came across the anti-fraud field, and I realized that it is the perfect combination of the two things I like. Fighting fraud is as limited as your imagination is.
 
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?
Alfayez: I believe traveling is the best answer to any question and the best medication for any illness. Exploring other lands and people will always make you wonder. Once you keep wondering, you will be open and ready for any challenge in life. We are very fortunate to live in this time where traveling is enjoyable; it was miserable and a punishment not long ago. 
 
Coach:  Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?
Alfayez: I think I talked too much, but here is one more thought: Once you become a CFE, know that this is only the beginning. You have to keep up with what is happening around you, not just in the fraud area, but everywhere in the business world. By not being involved and staying up-to-date, you are indirectly harming the very thing you hope you are doing right—reducing fraud worldwide. 

Q & A with Tara Hilton, CFE

Tara Hilton of Albuquerque, New Mexico, recently became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Los Angeles. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. Tara also coaches girls club volleyball. This past July, however, she put some time aside to accomplish her goal of obtaining the CFE credential. The process of obtaining her CFE has broadened Tara’s fraud-related knowledge and skillset, and it has provided her with information that she didn’t have before. Tara believes that having her CFE will open many doors for her career.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential? 

Hilton: I was certified on July 22, 2016. 
 
Coach:  You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Los Angeles, and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site. Please describe your experience of participating in the four-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.

Hilton: I thought that attending the review course and taking the exam on the same day aided me in passing each exam. It does make for a long day, but my scores were significantly higher than when I took the online practice exams.
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course?

Hilton: The course content was excellent and was tailored to all adult learning styles. I really enjoyed HOW the facilitators taught the content. I was really able to grasp concepts that I wasn’t able to fully understand just by reading the manual.
 
Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Hilton: Fraud-related training at my credit union is limited. The ACFE provides training that I am unable to obtain anywhere else. Attaining my CFE has broadened my training, knowledge, and skillset, providing me with information that I did not have before. Also, having my CFE opens many doors for my career.
 
Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?

Hilton: After a full day of instruction, I did allow myself 15 minutes to review that day’s content. I specifically concentrated on my weak topics, and when ready, I made sure I was as comfortable as possible (i.e., taking time for a restroom break, snack, or drink) before taking each exam.  There is no per-question time limit when taking the on-site exam, which is worth its weight in gold. In speaking with other participants, one person had a really great idea. That idea was to take the online practice exam the evening before the next day’s topic. So if the Law section review was on Tuesday, I spent a couple of hours on Monday evening after dinner taking the Law online practice exam. That way my mind was prepared for the next day’s topic.
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Hilton: Absolutely! Life has a lot of distractions, and this was the perfect way to get away and solely concentrate on the material. I really do think that I tested better and attained better scores with the review course than if I had attempted to take the CFE Exam online.
 
Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Hilton: I became passionate about fraud by accident. I worked in a credit union collections department, and the fraud investigator happened to be in the same department. I always loved catching fraud when I was a teller, and the fraud investigator took me under his wing and showed me how he investigated his cases. I then moved to a different credit union to oversee collections. A fraud investigator position opened up, and I was asked to apply. I did, got the job, and haven’t looked back since. I love investigating fraud and am super talented at it. I wish I had found it earlier in my career, but I’m very fortunate that I discovered my passion for fraud investigations when I did. I love it!
 
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?

Hilton:  When I am not investigating fraud, I am spending time with my family, which includes a love for traveling. Additionally, I coach girls club volleyball, concentrating on the high school level. I love to see the girls’ growth. I also play competitive volleyball, and my goal is to play at nationals next year.
 
Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Hilton: I started studying the Fraud Examiners Manual and reviewing Prep Course questions four months prior to attending the CFE Exam Review Course. As I got closer to the course, I allotted more time for studying. I do suggest contacting the CFE Exam Coach for suggestions. Everyone studies and learns differently, and tapping into that expertise is worth it. I do not suggest going to the review course without studying ahead of time. One month prior to the course, I was studying two hours per day, five days per week. I actually had notebooks for each of the four topic areas. I would allot myself 30 minutes to review and write notes for each section. So every night, I was covering information from all four areas. Studying before the course really lightened the load. I could concentrate on the areas that I didn’t get to when studying (and not beat myself up over it). I am very thankful that I did study.
 

Q & A with Madeline Patterson-Baleno, CFE

Madeline Patterson-Baleno recently became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in New York. When she’s not working, Madeline enjoys spending time with her family. This past April, however, she put some time aside to accomplish her goal of obtaining the CFE credential. Madeline believes that both the credential itself and the knowledge she gained while studying for her CFE will benefit her professionally by showing her colleagues and peers that she is competent in fraud matters.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential? 
Patterson-Baleno: I was certified April 28, 2016

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.
Patterson-Baleno: It felt like fraud boot camp, but that is what I liked about it! I studied with the CFE Exam Prep Course, but I felt like the in-class experience helped me retain the information better because the material was presented in a different way. Sitting for the exam immediately after attending class was helpful. The information was fresh in my mind, and getting my results right away was a huge confidence booster.  

Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 
Patterson-Baleno: I really appreciated getting the exam results right away. It was very reassuring to move forward to the next part of the exam knowing that I did not have to worry about the previous section and that my time studying had paid off. I also enjoyed meeting people who all had the same goal as I did, regardless of their background or experience. I returned with a fresh perspective on my career. 

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession? 
Patterson-Baleno: I feel that having the CFE credential is beneficial because it shows colleagues and peers that I have a competency in the area of fraud. Maintaining a credential shows that an effort is being made to stay current with fraud trends, which is very important. 

Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day? 
Patterson-Baleno: I studied with the Prep Course almost every day, in short blocks of time. It was important for me to have the information in my long-term memory and feel confident going to the review course. I spent so much time studying before the review course that I did not study after class. Instead, I used that time to make sure that I got enough rest so I could fully concentrate the next day. 

Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues? 
Patterson-Baleno: I have already recommended this course to colleagues. 

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?
Patterson-Baleno: In 2011, management moved me out of a call center position into a newly created fraud position. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. 

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?
Patterson-Baleno: In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and family. 

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?
Patterson-Baleno: Take full advantage of the CFE Exam Prep Course and CFE Exam Review Course. The amount of questions in the Prep Course is intimidating at first, but the questions go by fast because the content is so interesting. I was actually a little disappointed when I finished! 

Q & A with Madisan Muth, CFE

Madisan Muth of North Carolina recently attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Washington, DC. Madisan enjoys living close to the beach and is looking forward to the warmer summer weather. This past March, she put some time aside to accomplish her goal of becoming a CFE. As an external auditor, Madisan believes her new CFE credential will assist in furthering her understanding of fraud-related red flags and concepts. The CFE credential has already helped her become a better auditor, which has benefited both her department and the taxpayers she assists.  

Coach:  When did you receive your CFE credential?
Muth: I received my confirmation email stating I could begin to use the CFE credential 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 four-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.
Muth: It was intense, but necessary for me. This four-day course is definitely a crash course. It is a great opportunity to be able to take an exam immediately after class each day. Exams are graded upon completion, so people know if they passed right away. There are also opportunities to retake exams while there. It might be the longest four days of your life, but the course is worth every minute. 
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 
Muth: I really enjoyed the classroom setting. The speakers’ examples and videos were relatable, and the speakers really understand the course’s intensity and how much information people are taking in during those four days. They try to help everyone understand key concepts so people will pass the exam each day.
 
Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?
Muth: I believe my new CFE credential will assist me in further understanding red flags and concepts related to fraud. As an external auditor, fraud is always something I need to consider, and the CFE credential has really helped me become a better auditor. It has not only benefited my department, but has also allowed me to assist taxpayers in better understanding the laws. 
 
Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?
Muth: I began slowly studying about three months before taking the exam on-site. Two months before I attended the course, I really buckled down and studied hard. I took all of the review sessions and practice exams in the Prep Course. I would not recommend studying after class each day. You will be burned out by day four, so you should try to study as much as possible before attending the course. Take the nights off and just mentally prepare for the next day. It is a long four days, so try to separate each day by refreshing yourself.
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?
Muth: I would definitely recommend this course to anyone. Even if you do the review sessions at home, the course is extremely helpful if you enjoy a classroom setting. With enough study time at home and the four-day review course, I was able to successfully pass all four exam parts after one attempt.
 
Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?
Muth: Fighting fraud was something I stumbled upon and really grew to love. I originally went to school for criminal justice and returned for my accounting degree. I have a passion for both sides of the spectrum and believe becoming a CFE really completed what I have wanted to do since graduating from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW).
 
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?
Muth: I am looking forward to warmer weather and plan to take advantage of living close to the beach. My husband and I are expecting our first child in the fall, and we are really excited about and overwhelmed by becoming first-time parents. I wish there was a review course for that!

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?
Muth: I found doing all of the Prep Course review sessions and practice exams to be extremely helpful. I handled one section at a time and followed it with the practice exam. If you decide to take the exam online, I recommend at least taking the practice exams, because you will get used to each question being timed. Study before going to the four-day course. So much material is thrown at you during the course, and it is more beneficial to see the information as a review as opposed to seeing if for the first time. 

For aspiring CFEs contemplating taking the plunge and starting to prepare for the exam, I wish you the best.