Q&A with Cynthia Merchant, CFE

Cynthia Merchant of New Jersey recently became a CFE after attending a CFE Review Course in New York this past fall. Merchant is in the investigation field and she feels that now that she is a CFE, she’s properly trained and have an often required accreditation. Read more about Merchant below.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential? 

Merchant: I took the tests for the CFE certification on October 18-21, 2021. I received my physical certificate on December 4th.

Coach: Please describe your experience of attending the four-day CFE Exam Review Course and what did you like most about the course?

Merchant: I am a visual learner.  Having the instructors explain things and tell us what to focus on in our study guides was very helpful.  It also helped that I could ask the instructors questions on points I still had questions about or that were unclear. The instructors were very approachable.

Coach: Please describe your experience of taking the CFE Exam each day after class.

Merchant: Having done it this way, I wouldn’t do it any other way.  The material was fresh in my brain.

Coach: Did you review the Prep Course prior to attending the course? If so, how often did you study?

Merchant: Yes, I did review the Prep Course prior to attending the course.  Although I had the best of intentions to start studying months before, I was unable to do so due to my workload and other commitments.  I started focusing in earnest about 2-3 weeks before when I felt I had to cram for an exam, during that time, I studied a few hours per day during the week and 10-12 hours each day on Saturdays and Sundays.  I don’t recommend this. 

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

Merchant: It provides me with the proper training and accreditation that is often required.  Although I’ve been doing investigations for a long time, the question about certifications is often asked.

Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues? 

Merchant: Absolutely!  I highly recommend it.  I think the tests would’ve been much more difficult without the course.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Merchant: That’s an interesting question.  I “fell into it” and the more I learned, the more passionate I became. 

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?

Merchant: I love to scrapbook (the old-fashioned way, not digitally).  It’s relaxing and a way to relive memories while finding ways to creatively memorialize them.  It’s something completely different from my job.  I also enjoy reading and working out.

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

Merchant: Review the material often, take the Practice Exams as many time as you can and don’t be shy about approaching the instructors and classmates with questions.