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.

Q & A with Patrick Richers

Patrick Richers became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Washington, DC. When Patrick has downtime, he enjoys running and watching Penn State football games. Patrick is also working toward receiving his pilot license. But recently, Patrick put some time aside to accomplish his goal of obtaining the CFE credential. Being a CFE will strengthen Patrick’s ability to identify common fraud schemes and recognize instances of suspected fraud, thereby allowing him to move such issues to a quicker resolution.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Richers: I received my CFE credential in October 2015.

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.

Richers: I enjoyed attending the course because each day consisted of an extensive review of the day’s topics, with the option to take the test immediately after the lecture. The days were long, but I felt that I had an advantage because I was able to take the test immediately after reviewing the material.

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

Richers: The best part of the course was that the material was applicable to the real world – not just the exam. I was able to take information that I learned during the CFE Exam Review Course and use it on my first day back at work. Additionally, the ability to network with other course attendees was valuable.

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

Richers: The CFE credential will benefit me in several ways. It will allow me to maintain knowledge of common fraud schemes, and it will also give me the opportunity to learn about some of the more specialized topics that I might encounter. In addition to providing continuing education, the opportunity to network with other CFEs will be a great benefit.

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

Richers: I was pretty busy leading up to the exam, so my strategy was to identify my weakest subject and then focus my time on that. One week before the review course, I tested myself on ten percent of the CFE Exam Prep Course practice questions for each subject, identified my weakest area, and then spent a few hours working on that section in the days leading up to the course.

Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Richers: I would definitely recommend this course to my colleagues. I think that the course represents the best route to obtaining the CFE credential because you get to review each topic before you take the test.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Richers: During my senior year in college, I was fortunate enough to intern with the United States Secret Service in Washington, DC. While I was there, I was exposed to some of their investigative responsibilities, and I became very interested in financial crime investigations.

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?

Richers: When I’m not working, I like to run and watch Penn State football. I’m also currently working toward getting my private pilot’s license.
 

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

Richers: I would suggest a two-part strategy for aspiring CFEs. First, budget your time wisely, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and try to improve those weaknesses. Second, attend the CFE Exam Review Course and sit for the exam directly after so that you can capitalize on the material taught during the course.

Q & A with Randolph Sawyer

Randolph Sawyer of Virginia, recently became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Washington, DC. Randolph enjoys deer hunting , but this past September, he put some time aside to accomplish his goal of obtaining the CFE credential. Becoming a CFE has provided Randolph with a higher level of credibility in his work as a staff auditor. 

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Sawyer: I was certified October 1, 2015.
 
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.

Sawyer: The four-day review course helped me significantly.  Although the amount of material covered was almost overwhelming, the instructors were able to properly manage the time to ensure salient points were covered appropriately.  
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 

Sawyer: Each day was tailored to the on-site exam offered that afternoon. 
 
Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Sawyer: My credentials lend credence to my examination of company records, as well as my work related to ethics and compliance policies and procedures. 
 
Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?

Sawyer: I studied prior to taking the exam using the online Prep Course.  I did not study after class each day, as I felt the presented material was sufficient. 
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Sawyer: Yes. Absolutely! I did not feel prepared until I sat through the review course each day. At the end of each day, I felt comfortable going into the exam.  
 
Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Sawyer: I was a contracting officer in the U.S. Air Force for many years. Then, I was the Suspension and Debarment Official at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In both positions, I was exposed to potential and real fraud.
 
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?

Sawyer: I am an archer and hunt whitetail deer in my backyard.  I find that waiting for the right moment to pull the trigger imposes the need for perseverance, which is also required in my profession.
 
Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Sawyer: Study with the Prep Course, first as that prepares you for the four-day “fire hose” of data that is difficult to comprehend without some prior exposure to the information. 

Q & A with Felicia Bland

Felicia Bland of Missouri recently became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Washington, DC. In her free time, Felicia enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures. Felicia also enjoys spending time with her family. This past September, however, she put some time aside to accomplish her goal of obtaining the CFE credential. As a bank examiner, receiving the credential and going through the training provided Felicia with a foundation of knowledge that will enable her to better identify, investigate, and interview individuals when fraud is suspected.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Bland: I became certified October 1, 2015

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.

Bland: The experience was intense and exhausting, but rewarding. As a result, I learned a lot.

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

Bland: The CFE Exam Review Course provided much needed context to facilitate a deeper understanding of the course content. The instructors were very knowledgeable about the subject content and were able to provide "real-world” examples to help drive home points related to the course content. The course content was substantive and applicable to the program.

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

Bland: In my current role as an examiner of financial institutions, I review books and records of banks and try to detect possible fraudulent activity, particularly among bank directors, officers, and executives. This CFE credential and the training and testing that lead to it has provided a foundation/baseline knowledge that will enable me to better identify, investigate, and interview individuals when fraud is suspected.

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

Bland: My current position is extremely demanding and allowed me NO time to prepare or study prior to the on-site course. I spent time during every break, lunch, and after class each day reading and studying materials to help me better prepare for the exam.

Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Bland: I highly recommend this course to any person working in an examiner or auditor role. I particularly recommend this course to anyone who wants to sit for the CFE examination on-site.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Bland: Since the start of my career as a bank examiner 15 years ago, I have been passionate about fighting fraud. I feel that most companies lose more of their revenue to internal and external fraud than any other source. As a person with a strong desire to one day own my own business, it is important for me to be passionate about detecting and fighting fraud.

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?

Bland: I love to travel. I find that visiting other cities, states, and countries provides an insight into the cultural differences among people, which enables me to understand some of the things that occur around the world. I also love to spend time with my grandchildren. They are my joy!

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

Bland: I recommend taking time to study the Prep Course materials. Additionally, spend time studying after class each night.

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