Q&A with Jacob Goldwire III, CFE

Jacob Goldwire III of North Carolina recently became a CFE after attending a CFE Exam Review Course. This past August, Goldwire put some time aside to focus on obtaining the CFE credential, as he believes the CFE credential will help him achieve his educational, professional, and career goals. When Goldwire is not working, he enjoys golfing, coaching his son’s youth football team, and spending time with his family.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Goldwire: I received my certification on September 12, and my certificate came shortly after.

Coach: You attended a four-day Review Course in Chicago, and following the course, you sat for the CFE Exam on-site. Please describe your experience.

Goldwire: The CFE Exam Prep Course was pivotal preparation for me prior to attending the Review Course and taking the CFE Exam. I reviewed the majority of the material approximately one and a half months prior to attending the live course, so the Review Course reinforced what I had already reviewed and prepared for at home. In addition, the course provided specificity of what would be discussed and tested on each day, which meant I had to focus on only one area at a time. I think anyone who is serious about attaining their CFE credential should attend the Review Course.

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

Goldwire: I think the best parts of the Review Course were the specificity given to each part of the exam review and the ability to take the written exam immediately following that day’s review. The course allowed maximum retainability for each section of the CFE Exam due to each day focusing on only one portion of the overall exam material. The two instructors were awesome in providing vital instruction on how to focus on the volume of material being presented and the specific information highlighted throughout each day before taking each section of the CFE Exam. Providing meals, snacks, and beverages throughout each day was tremendously helpful in providing a respite from the stress of each day’s review and test.

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

Goldwire: I have spent most of my career as a special agent, U.S. Army CID (Criminal Investigation Division), in specialized units with the majority of my investigative time spent in acquisition/procurement fraud and economic crimes investigations. Receiving my CFE credential was the next logical step in pursuing the next level of educational, professional, and career progressions. Aside from the financial benefits the CFE credential can afford, it is the additional educational and professional courses, taught by some of the leading experts in the field, that made attaining this a priority for my overall professional career. With my current assignment as the law enforcement subject-matter expert for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Commander’s Oversight Review Board, my CFE credential provides the organization yet another sharpened tool to utilize in support of the dynamic mission this organization engages in daily.

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

Goldwire: My organization purchased the Prep Course for me about two months prior to the date of the course. Once I received the Prep Course material, I took a Practice Exam in each of the sections to get a baseline on my grasp of the information. I passed some of the sections but struggled with others. The areas I had the most difficulty with were the ones I concentrated my daily and weekly reviews on prior to attending the course. I tried not to overwhelm myself with attempting to complete an entire section in one sitting; I would usually review one hundred or so questions and then take a Practice Exam to see if I was progressing. As a result of this study method, by the time the Review Course arrived, I had passed every section at least once. This method allowed me the flexibility to fully concentrate on what was being presented during the live course because I had already acquired a baseline understanding of the volume of material and the types of questions I would potentially see on the actual CFE Exam.

Coach: Would you recommend the Prep Course to your colleagues?

Goldwire: I would strongly encourage my colleagues to take the Prep Course and pursue the certification. It is not only beneficial while still serving in an active duty position, but it is also beneficial once folks like me retire or move on to seek a civilian profession outside of the military. Most of the supervisory special agents, like myself, who have worked for any length of time in acquisitions or economic crimes see the CFE credential as one of the most important certifications an agent can receive outside of their agency’s badge and credentials.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Goldwire: As mentioned previously, most of my investigative experience has been focused on or centered around acquisitions, procurement fraud, and economic crimes. Initially, I was not all that excited about fraud and fraud investigations until I realized how complex, financially damaging, and frequent fraud or fraudulent activities occurring within the U.S. government and financial institutions are. Some of the best investigations for the government I have worked on, solved, or assisted with involved recouping stolen money or property and have been related to some level of fraud, embezzlement, procurement fraud, or other white-collar crime—in some cases, on a global level. On the surface, fraud investigations might seem mundane and very boring to an outsider, but to those of us who specialize in or have worked on these types of investigations, they can be exciting, dangerous, and rewarding all at the same time.

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?

Goldwire: I’m an avid golfer (nine handicap), so when I’m not working, coaching my son’s football team, or spending time with my family, I’m on the golf course working to improve my game. Much like professional education when it comes to fraud, in golf I’m always seeking ways to more effectively and efficiently get that little white ball in the hole.

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

Goldwire: I would recommend purchasing the Prep Course material as early in the process as possible. If utilized properly, it provides you with all the materials and tools you will need in preparation for the CFE Exam. In my opinion, taking advantage of the Review Course in conjunction with the study material almost guarantees success on the CFE Exam the first time you take it. By no means am I saying it will be easy; even with dedicated preparation, the examination itself can be a tremendous mental drain. However, I do feel that studying with the Prep Course and attending the Review Course allowed me to achieve first-time success and attain my coveted CFE credential.