Ask the Agent: Our 10 Questions for Rookie Success Story David Gregory

18 Monday Sep 2023

Posted by in Agents, Getting started

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For about the last 10 years, we’ve been working with first-year agents, trying to help them avoid the usual rookie mistakes that so often take down NFLPA-certified contract advisors before they’ve really begun their new ventures. We’re entering Year 3 of moving from daily emails to monthly Zoom sessions, and the response has been great from our clients.

Zoom sessions allow us to bring in special guests like former scouts, active agents, trainers and other experts. In fact, for the last two years, we’ve brought in the directors of all the major all-star games to introduce themselves to our clients and give them guidance on getting a player invited.

At any rate, it’s that time again for us to kick things off, and Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET, our guest will be David Gregory of Bullrush Sports. David got certified last summer, but didn’t spend his first year certified “learning” and sitting on the sidelines. He dove right in, and for his efforts, he was the only independent rookie agent to have a player drafted last year (Northern Michigan OT Jake Witt, who was selected in the seventh round by the Colts). It’s a monumental task just getting a player signed as an undrafted free agent in Year 1. To get a player drafted is off the charts.

Anyway, we’ll go about an hour, and these are the questions I’ll be asking him. 

  • Why did you choose to become an agent?
  • What is your background? Did it give you any advantages?
  • How did you decide on a budget for Year 1? What was your budget?
  • How many players did you sign? Why did you sign them?
  • How did you first identify Jake as a player to recruit? How did you then initiate contact?
  • Did you give any consideration to sending Jake to the XFL?
  • What was the lowest point for you and Jake after you signed?
  • When did you know there was real interest in Jake? Going into draft weekend, did you expect him to be drafted?
  • What was draft day like?
  • How has Jake’s selection by the Colts affected your Year 2 plans?

If you’re entering Year 1 as a contract advisor, I hope you’ll join us. There’s no cost, but you have to be an ITL client ($29.95/month, cancel at any time).  Your first year as an agent is incredibly tough, and getting to hear from the horse’s mouth how others enjoyed success is invaluable. 

We’ll send out the Zoom link to all our rookie subscribers Tuesday afternoon, a few hours before we get started. It’s going to be a good time, very informal, with plenty of time to get questions from the attendees in addition to the ones I ask. I really want this to be a win for everyone involved, and remember, we’re just getting started. We’ll have them monthly (sometimes twice monthly) for the rest of the year. Hope to see you Tuesday.

How Do NFL Teams Use Expanded Practice Squads?

15 Friday Sep 2023

Posted by in NFL draft, Scouts

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The NFLPA has been successful in not only increasing the number of practice squad slots available to NFL teams, but also taking off any limitations meant to give younger (i.e., cheaper) players opportunities. 

It’s not that teams have dumped the idea of growing and improving players. We’re still seeing youth and development prized across the league as 48.6 percent of all members of practice squads are from the 2022 and 2023 draft classes. However, there’s no doubt we’re seeing the PS go from “pool of developmental players” to “old-school taxi squad.” But how much? Here’s what we found out based on the opening-week makeup of all 32 teams’ practice squads.

  • The Giants are carrying a 13-year veteran, RB Taiwan Jones, on their practice squad, but they’re not the only team with a 10-year vet on the PS. The Bengals opened the season with SS Michael Thomas (2012 draft class) and the Rams had PK Brett Maher (2013) on the practice squad. Four teams had members of the 2014 draft class around for practice. Sixteen players with nine years of NFL experience are also on squads around the league.
  • NFL teams may have up to six players on their practice squads with no limitations on experience; they could all be 20-year veterans, and no one can say a word. The Jets are the only team to take full advantage of that provision; they have six players who are entering at least their sixth seasons, respectively, in the league. The Bills, Panthers and Niners each have five such players. The Broncos, Chargers, Dolphins and Eagles have four each. It’s no surprise to see that most of these teams are veteran-heavy on the practice squad — they’re all Super-Bowl-or-bust teams trying to hoard injury replacements — but it’s interesting that the Panthers and Broncos aren’t holding more spots for rising players.
  • By the way, the Cowboys, Packers, Texans, Jaguars and Steelers have just one player with five-plus NFL seasons on their respective practice squads. 
  • Of the 31 NFL teams’ practice squads (we aren’t counting Dallas, which only lists two members of its PS), the Bucs have the youngest at an average draft class of 2021.43, followed closely by the Packers at 2021.41. Rounding out the five youngest are Jaguars, Raiders, Titans and Bears.
  • The Bills have the oldest at 2019.75, with the Panthers just behind at 2019.93. That’s really interesting and, to me, shows that the Panthers see the NFC South as wide open and winnable. The Niners, Rams and Patriots, in order, are the next three oldest.

If you enjoy digging into the numbers to learn how teams develop their strategies, or you want to know more about which teams are best on draft day, make sure to check out today’s Friday Wrap. In it, we look at which teams have the highest percentage of their draft picks still on rosters since 2014; which teams have the most former draftees on 53-man rosters across the league; and which ones have the most former picks that are active, on practice squad, or otherwise stashed on a list somewhere in the league. You can register for it here.

 

 

2023 NFL Agent Exam: Thoughts on ‘Results Day’

08 Friday Sep 2023

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents, Getting started

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Today is THE most bittersweet day of the year for me, personally, because, on one hand, I get to celebrate the realization of a dream with so many people, but also have to console the disappointment of so many others. I try to get in the trenches with everyone who uses our exam prep services, and that’s the truest of good news/bad news propositions.

A few thoughts as so many people deal with life-changing emails that arrived in their inboxes this morning.

  • For many of those who didn’t get good news today, the testing centers played a big role. I heard lots of stories of people who showed up, only to find that their test was cancelled, or that it would be held later than scheduled. Other test-takers got plenty of intrusion during testing, or had some weird demands made on them. If that was you, find a new testing center next year. Even if you have to drive a little more. 
  • One other note for those who didn’t make the cut: it might be a failure of your note organization more than your grasp of the CBA. One contract advisor who helps with exam tutoring insists that you could theoretically skip studying the CBA altogether if you had extremely organized notes and you were exceptionally good at identifying what the exam asks in each question. 
  • If you passed, or if you didn’t, take this weekend to relax. If you passed, you deserve to celebrate. If you didn’t, rest up and get ready to join us in February when we resume our Zoom sessions. Nothing that happens this weekend will affect you next July.
  • If you passed, consider joining us at Inside the League. Next month (or maybe even later this month), we’ll begin our Zoom sessions for new agents. We’ll have instruction on who and how to recruit, how all-star games work, how to set a training budget, what to expect from players’ parents, and so many other relevant topics. We’ll have agents who were in your shoes next year telling their stories, as well as former scouts discussing player evaluation and other topics. We’ll also have Zooms to help you find sleepers in the draft. I hope we can work with you.
  • You probably have some favorite NFL draft accounts on social media, but begin looking for accounts that focus on small-schoolers. Unless you already work for a major agency, you won’t be signing any potential first-rounders this year.  I also highly recommend following actual former NFL scouts. They not only know their stuff, but they will often give you tips and engage with you if you ask intelligent questions. Here are a few Twitter accounts I recommend: Blake Beddingfield (@BlakeBedd), Rodrik David (@RightStepAdv), Greg Gabriel (@ggabefootball), Randy Mueller (@RandyMueller_) and Mark Gorscak (@gors55). Emory Hunt (@FBallGameplan) and Damond Talbot (@DraftDiamonds) are not former NFL scouts, but they are key follows.

Before I go, let me share some of the joyous texts I got from several successful test-takers, all of them unsolicited. 

  • “Passed! Thanks so much for all your help Neil. I’ll be sticking with ITL moving forward – Couldn’t have succeeded without your team.”
  • “I’m overwhelmed with happy emotion brother!!! 🙌🏾 And you were part of that journey!!! And I truly appreciate you!!!”
  • “I passed the exam Neil! Appreciate all the help along the way man! Let’s keep in touch man, I’ve already referred someone who’s taking the test next year to go to Inside the League.”
  • “Just found out I I passed the NFLPA agent exam. Now I’m a player agent for both NBA & NFL Players! THANK YOU & ITL FOR EVERYTHING! Now that the easy part is complete, the journey has begun!”
  • “Thank you for sticking in my corner of the past few years!!! I literally couldn’t have done it without you!!!”
  • “You are the freaking Man!!!!  Could not have done this with out you!!!!  You and (ITL instructor) Ian (Greengross) deserve a congratulation too!!!!  Thank you so much!!!!!!!” 
  • “LFG!!!!!!!!!! Can’t thank you and Ian enough. So (freaking) happy right now.”
  • “Thx! ITL has been a tremendous resource already. You are truly tapped in…just like the name Says “ITL”. Let’s go!”

See you at the Friday Wrap later today. Aren’t registered? Sign up here.

Ask the Scout: Can Docu-Series Help in Evaluation?

01 Friday Sep 2023

Posted by in Agents, NFL draft, NIL, Scouts, Uncategorized

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You won’t find a scout who doesn’t cite film as the foundation of his job. You gotta watch the tape to find out what a player offers. There are other ways to measure a prospect’s worth, of course, but it all goes back to film.

Of course, there are different kinds of film, and one kind we’re seeing more of is the kind you might find playing on ESPN, the NFL Network, HBO, or any number of networks that aim to bring behind-the-scenes action to fans eager for more exposure to the game they love. For example, the series “QB1: Beyond the Lights” featured such well-known passers as Justin Fields, Spencer Rattler and Jake Fromm long before they had reached the NFL (or are near reaching the NFL, as Rattler is). The next season offers two of this spring’s first-rounders in Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson. 

It doesn’t stop there. Netflix’s popular “Last Chance U” prominently featured two future draftees in Dakota Allen (7/251/2019, Rams) and Jermaine Johnson (1/26/2022, Jets). And lest you think this is some new phenomenon, back in the spring of 2005, the game show “Super Agent” aired on SpikeTV. It pitted nine agents against each other as they vied for USC DT Shaun Cody, who went 2/37 to the Lions in the 2005 draft. 

This is all to say nothing of how name, image and likeness have changed the game for players like USC QB Caleb Williams, who’s appearing in Wendy’s commercials these days. It begs the question: is there value in mining these series for tips on what kind of players these prospects will be under the bright lights of the NFL? We asked some friends in scouting, and this is what they told us.

  • “I think you can glean some information from those docs and reality shows from a personality standpoint. I don’t know if you remember the QB1 documentary, it was a camp . . . do you remember the one with (South Carolina QB) Spencer Rattler? It really showed him as this bratty, cocky, demeaning (guy) when he was ripping on the other quarterbacks there, and he came across as a real jerk. You hear some of these schools talking about how he was on school visits, so I think there’s something you can get from those documentaries as far as personality.”
  • “I think it can be helpful. It does give you insight to the person that is being featured. . . You just need to make sure it is valid and not just a spin piece. It really can show you how a player interacts with teammates and other staff.”
  • “No questions these shows help get inside the true person. Just like the combine has always taped interviews, it is a window into the person’s thoughts and lives without actually having to be there. . . Reality shows catch them with their guard down.”
  • “Sure they are. If scouts are willing to do the extra work, there can be all kinds of background information – family and support system, influences, maturity, life skills, attitudes, motivations, work ethic, goals, etc.”
  • “You get a snapshot of the character of the young man and his family. A lot of times you can see who are needy parents and who are good parents. Family background tells you what these players are really playing for and how to coach/motivate them. Some parents are (pains in the ass) and some are cool. Our head coach always wants to meet the parents at pro days to feel them out. Important to learn who shapes these young men.”

Every aspiring NFL player needs to understand that scouts are always watching, and they have more to watch these days than ever. If you’re a draft prospect, or you’re close to one, do them a favor and remind them of this, especially if a camera is nearby.

For more discussion of the draft and player evaluation, make sure to check out our weekly newsletter, the Friday Wrap. Register for it here.

Google and the Rising Cost of Sunday Ticket

25 Friday Aug 2023

Posted by in Getting started

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This week, we turn our blog over to NFL Draft Bible’s Ric Serritella, who not only produces our annual NFL Combine Seminars, but who is very knowledgeable and in tune with the technology behind the game. 

Have you ever woke up on Sunday morning and checked the local listings to see which NFL games will be televised in your market, only to turn on the TV to discover the game has been blacked out? It happens more frequently than you may know. There’s an explanation, according to a $6B class-action lawsuit filed in US federal court, which accuses the NFL and DirecTv of conspiring to limit the availability of televised games in the NFL’s attempt to artificially inflate the price of Sunday Ticket.  

Google, which has since purchased the rights to Sunday Ticket (a deal reportedly worth $14B), is now entangled in the case and is being accused of withholding evidence that could be used to prosecute claims in court. The story is developing.  

There is a large portion of NFL fans and the league’s commercial clients who are fed up with the price-fixing antics as evidenced by the 2.4M people and 48,000 business owners listed in the lawsuit. Attorneys are demanding answers in court and want the hidden data from Google uncovered in what could go down as the largest media payout settlement in history. 

Last season, the cost of NFL Sunday Ticket on DirecTv was $300. This year, on Google’s YouTube platform, the cost has increased to $449. Want RedZone? Add an additional $50, which brings the total costs north of $500 after taxes and fees – nearly a 70% increase! YouTube subscribers are being offered a ‘discount’ price of $349 annually ($299 before the season) but you’ll be on the hook for an additional $72.99/monthly cable service bill ($875/year). That’s beaucoup bucks! 

One of the biggest dilemmas for consumers who do seek the ‘discounted’ subscriber rate model is that they are already locked into an existing streaming service or cable provider contract. Google has made no attempt to reimburse early termination fees for new customers at this time, a tactic often implemented by cell phone companies.  

So where does the case go from here? The antitrust litigation is set for February of 2024. If found guilty of the accusations, the NFL could be on the hook for a $6B claim. It’s a figure that would represent a $187.5M hit in the wallet for each of the 32 organizations.

Google’s acquisition allows the company the rights to sell NFL Sunday Ticket through 2030, at which time cable cords may be obsolete.  

For those of you who wish to track this case, it’s Ninth Inning Inc dba The Mucky Duck v. Google LLC, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 5;23-mc-80213-NC. We will be sure to keep tabs on the case’s progress here at ITL, since none of the NFL media rights-owned outlets, nor any of the mainstream media, picked up on this story.  

Make sure to follow along with all things football business in our weekly newsletter, which goes out at 7:30 p.m. ET every Friday. Sign up for it here.

 

 

 

2023 NFL Agent Class: What Do Agencies Look Like Today?

18 Friday Aug 2023

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents, Uncategorized

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In 2-3 weeks, the people who took the 2023 NFL Agent Exam will get their results. As we’ve discussed previously, we expect a higher-than-usual passing rate based on the feedback we’ve gotten so far from test-takers. While that’s good news, what’s the bad news (as well as the good) as they enter the ranks of NFL player representatives on October 1?

Here’s a look at the NFL agent body today.

Controlled by the big agencies: While there’s been diversity in which firms represent the No. 1 overall pick, there’s not a lot of diversity when it comes to which firms consistently land the top players. For example, at ITL, we’ve tabulated draft “value points” (see here for an explanation) going back to 2007. Since 2007, 14 firms have more than 20,000 points. Some of them are defunct, but those who are still active are, in order, CAA, Athletes First, Independent Sports, Rep1 Sports, Sportstars, SportsTrust Advisors, Rosenhaus Sports, Octagon Football, BC Sports, Priority Sports and Klutch Sports Group. These are the firms that consistently dominate the first three rounds. Then you have another 20 schools who have between 5,000 and 15,000 value points that are a consistent presence in the draft, though not always on Days 1 and 2. These firms are Roc Nation Sports, Wasserman Sports, 1 of 1 Agency, WME Sports, Allegiant Athletic Agency, NC Sports, Enter-Sports, Alliance Management, The Sports and Entertainment Group, United Sports Group, Equity Sports (formerly Steinberg Sports), VaynerSports, JL Sports, Universal Sports and The Ballengee Group (again, some of the points leaders have gone out of business). After that, there are about a dozen other firms that are a regular part of the draft. If you’re not part of one of those 40 agencies, you’ve got a real uphill battle.

Allied with entertainers: This week, we learned that Druski, who gained fame making people laugh on social media platforms, has launched his own sports agency. Jay-Z, Darius Rucker, Lil Wayne and others have entered the arena in the last 10 years, and another big-name entertainer joins the business about every other year. The star power musicians bring has produced mixed results, honestly, but the fact remains that merely being attached to someone with fame and presence is quite the door-opener.

Heavily clustered: If you live on the coasts or in major metropolitan areas, you’re one of many contract advisors in your area. There are 30 agents in Greater Nashville. There are 28 in Miami proper, 39 in the five boroughs of New York City. There are almost a hundred agents in Southern California alone, 30 in Greater Houston and 44 in  Greater Dallas. On the other hand, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming are states with no registered contract advisors.

There are other factors to consider, but these are some of the geographic and business aspects of the business that are pretty fundamental to understanding what today’s player representation firm looks like. For greater detail on this and other topics related to the football industry, make sure you’re reading our newsletter. You can register for it here.

 

My Story, and How It Might Benefit You

10 Thursday Aug 2023

Posted by in Getting started, ITL

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Later today, I will join my friend Billy Yancey on his podcast, Billy and the GOAT. Billy and I played together at Navy — well, I should say, he played and I sat — but we’ve stayed in touch over the years, and I was honored that he would ask me to join him as a guest on his show. 

I must admit that the closer it got to taping, the more nervous I got. What would I say? What points did I have to make? Here’s what I came up with as the key factors in  my journey so far.

Put God first: In a time when nothing is lasting and everything is relative, you must have guardrails. To me, if you don’t have God in your life, you will struggle to determine true north. Even as I write this at 54, I have a long way to go before I am the Christian I want and need to be. However, I won’t stop striving to be that person. Having a personal relationship with Christ keeps me on that path.

Take a different path: Speaking of paths, it’s crucial to go in a unique and original way. It’s not because you want to be self-aggrandizing or “me”-centered, but because you will have a whole lot less competition that way. For example, if I had chosen to try to become an NFL agent, I would have been contending with a lot of people who are much smarter, greater-resourced, more connected, and overall just better than I am. If I’ve ever been smart about anything, it’s that I was smart enough to take a road less traveled. Even today, what we do at ITL is a pretty vast departure from almost anything else out there. That means my audience is smaller, but it also gives me a measure of security.

Surround yourself with people invested in you: Sometimes those people will tell you to press on. Sometimes they will tell you hard truths. Either way, if you know these people have your best interests at heart, you can trust their counsel. There are so many people like that who’ve been part of my life. Wherever it is I am, and whatever it is I’ve achieved, neither would be possible without these people. I’m a pretty big advocate of marriage, and my wife, Polly, has been the pivotal person in my life, professionally and personally, but it’s more than just your spouse. There are so many people I’ve encountered along the way who have pushed me, encouraged me, or both. You have to have these people.

Be genuine: When I was a younger man, and thought of myself as destined for greatness on a wide scale, I never thought about the relationships along the way. In my hubris, I thought that taking time to listen to others, hear their stories and try to meet them where they are would be left to others. As God has helped me better understand my purpose (and taken me down a few notches), I’ve tried to be a servant of my clients. I don’t think that happens if you don’t take time to listen to them, learn about them, and truly care about how you can meet their needs. That may not be the road to success for others, but it’s the only way I know how to do what I do now.  

I’ll have stories and examples to illustrate these points in the podcast. Not sure yet when Billy will post it, but I’ll be sure to tweet it when he does. I’ll also include it in the Friday Wrap. You can register for the Wrap here. 

A Deeper Look at NFL Scouting Changes

04 Friday Aug 2023

Posted by in Scouts

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In last week’s edition of the Friday Wrap, we delved into scouting changes over the last three years, especially as it relates to the number of scouts entering the league as scouting assistants and those who are hired (or promoted) as area scouts. Over the last three years, at least, we found that about 30 new area/college scouts are hired and about 20 scouting assistants (31 and 21, respectively, to be exact).

We got a lot of positive feedback, so we decided to expand our look into the numbers. Here’s a look at a few other numbers we found at different strata of the industry.

Directors (college): Here I’m looking strictly at college director, i.e., how many scouts are making the jump to the executive level. I’m not counting Directors of Player Personnel, which is another jump entirely. So, how many scouts typically “graduate” from scout to Director (or Assistant Director) of College Scouting each year? We counted six this offseason, 16 last year (a whopping eight assistant college directors were named) and 10 in 2021. That means you’re looking at about 11 people who elevate above the area scout/national scout level each offseason.

National scouts: So how many people are “on deck,” traditionally speaking, for the director level? Just three National Scouts were hired this offseason, a big surprise given the recent trend to split up over-the-top roles into two and sometimes three evaluators. Last year, for example, we saw 19 National Scouts hired, and in 2021, a similarly robust 11. Once again, an average of 11 scouts make the national grade every year, though I could see this number falling as most teams have already divided up the role. I don’t see any teams going to four National Scouts anytime soon.

Pro scouts: This one is tricky to measure because we’re seeing more and more seasoned evaluators who are being given dual pro/scout roles. What’s more, we don’t know yet if teams who are expanding their analytics departments are also expanding their budgets or taking from their college/pro departments? Based on the numbers, it seems like pro departments are holding up quite well despite expanding data departments. We counted nine pro scout hires this offseason, 16 last offseason and 17 in 2021 (all of these hires were solely pro scouts — no college/pro hires were part of these numbers). That makes for an average of 14 pro scouts hired per year. More often than not, we’re seeing scouting assistants moved into pro roles as their first full-time gig. Incidentally, we’re seeing plenty of advancement in pro departments, as well, with director-level evaluators growing. Later this month, we’ll look at the size of all 32 scouting departments and the growth trends. 

Hopefully, if you’re an NFL scout or hope to be someday, this helps you understand the picture of how front offices are staffed, and at what pace they turn over.

We’ll discuss this more in today’s Friday Wrap. You can register for it here.

2023 NFL Agent Exam: Three Takeaways

28 Friday Jul 2023

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents, Getting started

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The big test is in the books for this year. After speaking to dozens of our clients post-exam, here’s what we’ve learned.

Tech issues were better, but they didn’t completely go away. As we discussed in our report on Monday, proctoring centers were mostly — but not completely — a hit. One Atlanta-area testing facility couldn’t test its 8 a.m. class, requiring them to re-register for later the same day or Tuesday. The following slot was affected, as well. When there was yet another issue, test-takers had to find a new location altogether. One aspiring agent had to fly out of state (buying a ticket for the next day, which is never cheap) to take the exam. There were also several test-takers based in South Florida who were told Sunday night (about 12 hours before they were to test) that the testing facility would not be open, and that someone would reach out to them in 3-5 business days. We don’t know how that situation was resolved. It’s our hope that they didn’t have to wait until next year. Yet another agent hopeful had to resubmit all his answers with just minutes left in his three-hour slot. Overall, however, things went smoothly enough that we’d guess the NFLPA stays status quo for ’24. Still, don’t rule out a return to Washington, D.C.

The test may have been a little easier this year. Every year, we make sure to focus on the computation of the trickier math of the CBA, i.e., workman’s comp offsets, injury grievances, veterans salary benefit, proven performance escalator, etc. However, we heard from several test-takers that there were fewer problems that required a calculator. Furthermore, while many of the questions were tricky and designed to determine if agent candidates really knew the material, several people who took the exam last year said it was just easier. “I think that this year they intentionally made the test easier,” said one aspiring contract advisor. What’s more, many more than usual first-timers told us the test was really straightforward, and that they expect to pass. Obviously, that might be false confidence, but the positive responses were unmistakeable. I’m expecting a slightly bigger class than normal. 

The reviews on our exam prep materials were really good. I never ask for positive reviews on our study guide, exams and videos, but obviously, it’s great to have happy clients. Once again, we got several unsolicited texts that made for pleasant reading. “I was prepared and organized, big thanks to you guys,” said one aspiring agent. “your study guide was a tremendous benefit . . . I will definitely be recommending people to you bro!,” texted another. “I really appreciate your time. Your promptness. Your effort. Your patience,” added yet another. That’s probably the most satisfying comment. We take seriously our efforts to help people pass the exam. 

We’ll be talking about the industry even more, as usual, in today’s Friday Wrap. Make sure to register for it if you haven’t already. You can do that here.

 

2023 NFL Agent Exam: How Do Our Materials Help?

21 Friday Jul 2023

Posted by in Agents, Getting started

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The big day for everyone taking the NFLPA Exam this summer is Monday. Pretty crazy that, after all this buildup, it’s just around the corner. So many people have been preparing since early this year (and some much longer), and it all comes to a hopefully happy ending in three days.

Obviously, we try hard to make sure everyone we work with gets good news in October, when results come out. However, predicting success is difficult. Or is it? As a way of predicting which of our clients will have success, we decided to look at last year’s buying patterns among our clients who passed the exam. Here’s what we found:

  • Seventy percent purchased the ITL Study Guide. That’s no surprise. We see it as the best exam prep resource on the market. “I actually feel better after reading the study guide about literally 20 times,” said one especially diligent student for this year’s exam. “There is no way I would even have a chance on this test without the study guide . . . .” 
  • Of those who purchased the guide, 63 percent had it before the end of April, while 72 percent had it before the end of May. It’s never too late to buy it, but the earlier, the better, generally.
  • Not everyone bought a study guide, but those who didn’t mostly purchased at least one of our two practice exams. Only 14 percent of our class passed on the study guide and practice exams, sticking only to our videos. You must buy Exam 1 first, which you can do here. 
  • Our practice exams are a big part of our prep services, as well. About two-thirds (64 percent) of our clients bought at least the first practice exam. Frankly, that’s surprisingly low. Our exam questions are written in the style of the actual exam, and knowing what the test looks like is crucial if you want to pass.
  • Just under half (45 percent) of our clients last year bought the second exam. Given that the second exam is only half the price of the first exam, that’s an unnecessary risk, in my opinion. 
  • Sixty percent of those who bought the study guide took no chances as they also bought both practice exams. 
  • In just our first year offering monthly video sessions teaching different facets of the CBA, 25 percent of our clients bought at least one of our six videos. 
  • Only 16 percent attended our final, two-hour Zoom review session.

So here are our takeaways.

  • Get the study guide, and get it as soon as you can.
  • Buy at least Practice Exam 1. 
  • If you’re more of a visual learner, check out our six videos (buy them here), though they may serve best as a backup plan.
  • If you feel confident about what you’ve learned, take the last days before the exam to “sweep up” and collect your thoughts.

If you’re taking our exam, good luck! We hope you pass, especially if you worked with us. For more tips and info on the exam, check out our Friday Wrap. You can register for it here.