Salt Solutions CFA Review (2025): The Future of CFA Prep?
Best for: Best for Visual Learners Updated 12/16/2025Price: from 499 USD/course
Pros
- Best video quality in industry
- Sleek modern interface
- Automated planning
- High engagement
- Free trial available
Cons
- Less comprehensive than Kaplan
- Smaller QBank
- Newer provider
The CFA prep market has been stagnant for years. Textbooks, long lectures, and clunky interfaces were the norm. Salt Solutions entered the scene with a clear mission: to drag CFA prep into the modern era.
If Kaplan is the dusty library, Salt Solutions is the sleek tech startup. But does a pretty interface translate to a passing score?
The Salt Solutions Difference
Salt Solutions is built around the idea that engagement matters. If you’re bored, you’re not learning.
1. Video-First Learning
This is the platform’s superpower. Instead of hour-long lectures of a professor reading slides, Salt uses:
- Short Segments: Videos are typically 5-15 minutes long.
- High Production: Professional voiceovers, custom animations, and motion graphics.
- Visual Explanations: Complex concepts like derivatives or financial reporting are explained visually, making them much easier to grasp.
2. The Dashboard & Scheduler
Salt Solutions removes the “what should I study today?” anxiety.
- Automated Planning: You input your exam date and weekly availability. The system builds a custom schedule for you.
- Weekly Goals: It breaks the massive curriculum down into manageable weekly targets. If you fall behind, it recalibrates.
3. Focus on “What Matters”
Salt Solutions openly admits they don’t cover 100% of the CFA curriculum’s minutiae. Instead, they focus relentlessly on the high-yield topics that are most likely to be tested.
- Pros: You save time and don’t get bogged down in obscure details.
- Cons: If the CFA Institute throws a curveball on a niche topic, you might feel underprepared compared to a Kaplan student who read every footnote.
Salt Solutions has aggressively courted new students by offering the entire Level 1 course for free (or at a very low cost) during certain promotional periods. Check their site for the latest offer—it’s an insane value if available.
Pricing (2026 Exams)
Salt Solutions offers both subscription and one-time payment options.
- Standard Package ($499): Full curriculum access for one exam window.
- Premium Package ($899): Extended access, additional mock exams, and priority support.
- Free Trial: Test the platform before committing.
Pros
- **Video Quality:** The best in the industry, hands down.
- **User Experience:** Sleek, modern, and bug-free interface.
- **Scheduling:** The automated planner keeps you on track.
- **Engagement:** Much harder to 'zone out' than with traditional lectures.
Cons
- **Depth:** Some users feel it's less comprehensive than Kaplan.
- **QBank:** Smaller question bank than UWorld or AnalystPrep.
- **Newer:** Less data on long-term pass rates.
Final Verdict
Salt Solutions is the best choice for visual learners and anyone who finds traditional textbooks unbearable. If you’ve tried studying for the CFA before and quit because it was too dry, Salt Solutions is the antidote.
However, if you are a “completionist” who wants to know every single detail of the curriculum “just in case,” you might prefer the exhaustive nature of Kaplan or Wiley (UWorld).