EA Training Advice

[MAJ]

I need some advice on EA Training.

what have you used?
What have you found good/bad about the products?
I've seen a few different vendors out there....

What ones should I stay away from...??
If you used a product please RATE on a scale of 1-10 - 10 being THE GREATEST!! (hard).

If you know rough cost$ that would be helpful too!
Anyone selling their training kits? OR Better yet - Want to lend it to a wonderful guy!!??
(the guy with 4 kids - still not in college - sucking me dry this summer??)

If you're in the area (NJ) I can barter for computer services. I'd offer Tax Services but don't know how far that'll get me...

Enjoy THE REST OF THE SUMMER!!
Now I need to schedule a day off and go to the beach.. Went twice so far.. The water was incredible.

[erchess]

Schedule Flexibility

I took Block's training course which is no longer offered to outsiders. The test has also changed very much since I took it. Do take full advantage of the flexible scheduling of the current rules. Study for one part, pass it, and go on to the next part. Good luck to you.

[ChEAr$]

I, also, never used one, just went up to Atlanta for two days and took the four groups.

But from all I heard, Gleim is best. Take a look at www.naea.org for references.
And of course when you pass the test, be sure to join NAEA.

[MLINDER42]

Ea Training

I took a 2 weekend course offered by VSEA it was very good they used Gleim materials.Passed the first time. I had not studied in 40 years so I thought it was a must .Feel I would not have passed without it.

[MAJ]

I'm Gleiming...

Seems Gleim is the way to go -- EBay has a 2006 Part 2 book I can pick up for $7.50
I presume the full materials would be much better.
Looking forward to picking up Part #1 and studying my but off between now and January.
It'd be wonderful if I could get all 3 parts done before Tax Season starts....

I'd still like to hear more from others... Please...

What - No offers on renting the materials?? Too outdated you think!?

[OtisMozzetti]

Gleim

I used the Gleim materials during 2006 and 2007 as well as some other exam preparation study materials. The Gleim materials should be adequate preparation and were the best value for the money, saving time and avoiding the need to pay for Prometric retake exams.

The materials that I found the most useful were the printed book and the practice questions CD ROM, not the online practice questions and not the audio tapes which did not match my needs since would not be able to play tapes while commuting. The materials for Part II are a necessity, and the materials for Part III are probably worth their cost even if IRS Publications could substitute if you really want to cut costs. I never did buy any of the Gleim materials for Part I, and there are many other people who might find Part I easy enough that no test preparation materials are required other than for some of the specific topics which you can study from some other source such as IRS Publications.

The DeLuxe Edition Tax Book is all by itself an excellent review guide! You like others who are using this message board should already have Tax Book publications to work with.

[Black Bart]

I think

I need some advice on EA Training.

what have you used?
What have you found good/bad about the products?
I've seen a few different vendors out there....

What ones should I stay away from...??
If you used a product please RATE on a scale of 1-10 - 10 being THE GREATEST!! (hard).

If you know rough cost$ that would be helpful too!
Anyone selling their training kits? OR Better yet - Want to lend it to a wonderful guy!!??
(the guy with 4 kids - still not in college - sucking me dry this summer??)...

Seems Gleim is the way to go -- EBay has a 2006 Part 2 book I can pick up for $7.50
I presume the full materials would be much better.
Looking forward to picking up Part #1 and studying my but off between now and January.
It'd be wonderful if I could get all 3 parts done before Tax Season starts....

I'd still like to hear more from others... Please...

What - No offers on renting the materials?? Too outdated you think!?

most of us here are 4-part era EAs and figure their books wouldn't be any good to you (or want to keep them for reference, future historical interest, nostalgia, etc.). I also used Gleim -- rate it about 8 out of 10 -- think I paid about $300 in '05, but it's $625 now. There weren't as many other vendors mentioned here as there were in previous threads (I assume you've already run a search on "EA review" here -- if not, lots of threads on it will pop up). Here's one with some links:

http://www.thetaxbook.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14668&highlight=STUDY

Apparently there's a run on the books -- checked "textbooks" at Amazon and Barnes & Noble; they're sold out or only have some that are waaayyy out of date (one guy was peddling an "83 model -- now there is an optimist). Anyhow, couldn't find anything post 4-part.

Advice? Just study like the dickens for three months. Maybe a donation to Robert Tilton -- though I can't recommend prayer/good works 'cause leaving the test building I gave $5 to a homeless man and still flunked my first try (that dadgum ChEAr$ -- the big showoff -- is either smart or was high on that pricey scotch he puts away or else back fresh and refreshed from a junket to exotic Bongo-Bongo when he breezed through the exam sans books).

It's gotta be easier now. Yes, yes, my son, it was rough in the old days (no testing in installments, no multiple testing dates, no calculators [pencils & scratch pads only] -- just grit, determination, blood, sweat, and beers.

[BHoffman]

I'll drink to that. The CPA exam just sucks the joy of living right out of you and it never really comes back again.

[MAJ]

now[/b]. Yes, yes, my son, it was rough in the old days (no testing in installments, no multiple testing dates, no calculators [pencils & scratch pads only] -- just grit, determination, blood, sweat, and beers.

Wait........ wait a minute.. So you're telling me back in the old days it was harder!??? I was looking at previous posts and it was stated that the EA tests were strictly given on days when it was snowing [sideways @ 67mph] and the route to the testing center was................................

Yup.. You got it - UpHill - Both ways...

I will check out the other posts... Also did search on Glim materials and didn't find much.
As or the audio portions.. I wonder if you can 'rip' the CD they come on - copy it to the Blackberry and listen via the headphones??

[Lion]

Ea

I also took the Block course in the 4-part/1X/year era and passed all. (It was hurricane season, so we couldn't get our test books back until FL was able to reschedule their tests!) I recommend you beg, borrow, steal, or buy a course; get a study buddy or join a group or live course; and study on a somewhat set schedule. I recommend a weekly course/study group with daily studying over a crash course. (Well, maybe for part one, a crash course or just wing it; but unless you feel proficient in Entities and the stuff in III, don't go it alone.) Check out the NAEA live course on line that includes the Gleim materials. If you're not part of a course that gives weekly quizzes/tests, then make sure you do lots of practice tests along the way. Basis, basis, basis.

[DTS]

Matthew

I have a couple companies. One is Thomas Tax Seminars and Arthur EA, both fine and still good basic reference from time to time. I took Arthur, but Thomas is good and comes in one binder.

You might be able to find one of them online.

[MAJ]

Study Budy -- Great Idea!!

I recommend you beg, borrow, steal, or buy a course; get a study buddy or join a group or live course; and study on a somewhat set schedule. I recommend a weekly course/study group with daily studying over a crash course. (Well, maybe for part one, a crash course or just wing it; but unless you feel proficient in Entities and the stuff in III, don't go it alone.) Check out the NAEA live course on line that includes the Gleim materials. If you're not part of a course that gives weekly quizzes/tests, then make sure you do lots of practice tests along the way. Basis, basis, basis.

Wow - I have all of you to become my Study Buddies with... I can bounce questions off and capitalize on all of your wealth & knowledge..

I did beg - Here... Looking for some study materials...
I also searched ebay for Gleim and found one for $15 - Part II - I emailed to say 'what year' - Umm.. I dunno!.. Finally I took the ISBN # and looked it up - 2006 - He offered for $7.50 - I suppose I can start with that for reading but on average - How much changes in the Section II portion? Hmm.. I do know an H&R block person I may be able to tice..

Thanks people.. Always a pleasure .....
PS - Real bummer tonight - Came out of the pool and lost one contact lens.. My contacts are expensive... Have an old one in - Not the same! I'm like gimme a break! I rely on my contacts - cannot see good enough with glasses -- so it really matters... I know it's yet another deduction - but in the case just another thing chewing up my flex account.

[Davc]

I had the Thomas materials and was ready to start studying when I crushed a vertebrate so I'm not sure how much good they did me. I kept wailing up on the couch with the materials on the floor and a cat sleeping on my chest. Passed all 4 parts even though the Circ 230 was ignored until I skimmed it the night before at the hotel.