For working professionals who are done doing this alone

Pass the CPA exam with a coach in your corner the whole way.

The Course gives you everything you need to pass on your own. The Coaching Circle gives you that — plus me, coaching you every week, keeping you accountable, and making sure you actually cross the finish line.

Limited spots each cycle backed by the Pass Promise
Your coach
Coached personally by
Joey Arnold, CPA
Founder · passed the CPA exam while working full time
“Although Joey’s senior to me, his words felt like not just a mentor but also a companion.”
Ken · Big Four audit associate
The real problem

Finishing is the hardest part.

Most people don’t fail the CPA exam — they quit before they ever take it. Not because the material is too hard, but because no one is keeping them on track. You get behind one week, then two, the exam date quietly slips, and eventually you stop. Studying alone, on willpower alone, is the real risk — especially around a full-time job. The Coaching Circle exists so finishing doesn’t come down to willpower. It comes down to a coach and a plan that keep you moving, week after week, until you pass.

The Coaching Circle

The full course, plus a coach who keeps you moving until you pass.

The Coaching Circle is the Smarter System, with a coach attached. Same clear daily plan, same only‑what’s‑tested method — but now you’ve got weekly coaching, direct access to me, accountability that keeps you moving, and a promise that if you do the work and don’t pass, your retake is on me.

What’s included

The full system — with a coach attached.

Everything in The Course, plus the support that makes sure you actually use it.

Weekly group coaching calls with Joey

Get unstuck, ask anything, and stay on pace. Attend as many as you want — and every call is recorded, so you never miss anything.

Direct email access to Joey

Hit a wall at 10pm? Email me. A real CPA who’s been exactly where you are, in your corner every day.

A Pre-Exam Strategy Call

The week before you sit, we get on a call and lock your final game plan so you walk in ready.

Mindset & comeback coaching

Exam psychology, and exactly how to bounce back if you’ve failed a section before. The mental game is half the battle.

One free 1:1 session with a CPA tutor

Stuck on a brutal topic? Your membership includes one free one‑on‑one session with a CPA tutor to work through it.

An accountability partner + a committed exam date

We set your target sit‑date together and pair you with a partner, so you’re never drifting.

The full Smarter CPA Community

Talk through the hard weeks, vent the stress, and trade tips and advice with other working professionals balancing the CPA with a full‑time job — people who actually get what you’re going through.

Recognition when you pass

Join the wall of passers — because you’ll have earned it.

How it works

A rhythm you can actually keep around a job.

No heroics — just a weekly cadence, with a coach making sure you hold it.

1

Start with your Game Plan Call

We set your exam date and build the plan that fits your schedule.

2

Follow your weekly plan

Do today’s work, and drop into the group coaching calls as you go.

3

Stay on track

Weekly coaching calls, your accountability partner, and regular check‑ins keep you from drifting.

4

Lock it in — then pass

We finish with your Pre-Exam Strategy Call, so you walk in 100% ready.

Meet your coach

You’re coached by someone who did exactly what you’re trying to do.

I’m Joey Arnold, and I passed the CPA exam while working full time. I went through the struggle of late-night studying after work, squeezing in questions on my lunch break, and balancing my CPA exam efforts with my career. It was my own struggles with traditional review courses and study methods — which aren’t built for people with jobs — that led me to create Smarter CPA. I bring all of that experience, and more, to you. In the Coaching Circle, I coach you through it personally. You’re not doing this alone — I’m with you the whole time.

Proof

From people I’ve coached.

“I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for more direction or who feels stuck. It gave me a much clearer roadmap for passing the CPA Exam.”
Evan
Big Four audit associate
Passed all four sections
“If you struggle with accountability and staying on track, definitely join. Joey is very supportive and takes his time to map out study plans.”
David
FP&A
“Having direct access to Joey and being able to have honest conversations about where I am, what I’m struggling with, and what I should do next has been extremely valuable.”
Juan
Tax business owner
“The two-week review plan before sitting for the exam… covers all chapters, subchapters, and is tailored to increase study time on areas you struggle with the most.”
Jazmin
Tax senior associate
“Every meeting fills in a piece of the CPA puzzle, and I’m already seeing results very quickly with Joey’s methods.”
Blake
Corporate accountant
“I’m so grateful for the weekly group calls, and I strongly appreciate the accountability — Joey’s coaching really means so much to me.”
Jason
Tax senior associate

Do the work, and if you don’t pass, your retake is on us.

I’m confident in this because the plan works — so here’s my promise: complete the program (attend the weekly calls and hit your benchmarks) and sit for your exam, and if you still don’t pass, we’ll cover your retake. You do your part; I’ve got the rest.*

*Full conditions in your enrollment agreement.

Is this you?

Built for a specific kind of candidate.

The Coaching Circle isn’t for everyone — and that’s on purpose.

This is for you if…

  • You work full time and need accountability to stay consistent.
  • You’ve failed a section before and don’t want a repeat.
  • You want a real person in your corner, not just videos.
  • You want the certainty of a pass promise.
  • You’re not sure where to start with the CPA exam and want someone to guide you.
Enroll in The Coaching Circle

This isn’t for you if…

  • You’re a disciplined self‑studier who just wants the materials.
  • You’re not ready to invest in real support to get across the line.
  • You won’t do the weekly work.
Get The Course instead →

The math

What passing is actually worth

At most firms, the CPA isn’t optional for moving up — it’s the gate. You usually can’t make manager without it, and a whole tier of senior finance and accounting roles stays out of reach until you have it. Passing isn’t just a credential; it’s what opens the next stage of your career.

Roles that usually require a CPA
Controller · Chief Accounting Officer · VP of Finance · CFO.

For most of these, “CPA required” or “CPA strongly preferred” is right there in the job description.

This is an investment in your career.

FAQ

The honest answers.

How much time does this take each week?
Plan on the same 10–20 focused hours of study a week it takes to pass on your own. The coaching doesn’t add hours — it makes the hours you already have count. Coaching runs as hour‑long office‑hours sessions 3–4 times a week; you’re not required to attend every week — drop into whatever fits your schedule, and every session is recorded if you can’t make it live.
What if I can’t make a coaching call?
No problem. Every call is recorded and added to your library, so you can watch on your schedule — and you can always email me your question directly between calls.
Is The Coaching Circle worth it over The Course?
If you’re a disciplined self‑studier, The Course may be all you need. The Coaching Circle is for people who know they do better with accountability and a coach — and who want the certainty of the Pass Promise. The real number to compare against isn’t the course price; it’s the months and retake fees of not finishing.
What exactly does the Pass Promise require?
Do your part: attend at least one coaching call a week, finish all of the course content, score a 75 on your simulated exam, and sit for the real thing. Do all that and still not pass, and we cover your retake. Full conditions are spelled out in your enrollment agreement.
How many spots are there, and when’s the next cycle?
I keep it to just 20 members at a time so everyone gets real attention. The next cycle starts this coming Monday — and because spots open on a rolling basis, a seat frees up whenever a current member graduates. Book a call to check what’s open right now.
What if I’ve already failed a section?
You’re exactly who this is built for. We’ll look at what happened, fix the plan, and add mindset & comeback coaching so the next attempt is different. Failing before isn’t a red flag here — it’s a reason not to do it alone again.

Ready to stop doing this alone?

Book your Coaching Circle Intro Call and we’ll figure out if the Coaching Circle is right for you — no pressure. If it’s a fit, we’ll map your path to passing on that same call.

Free · no pressure · we’ll only move forward if it’s a fit.