Achieving Success: My Journey to Passing the Series 66 Exam

I’m thrilled to share that I successfully passed the Series 66 exam today! As I reflect on this journey, I want to address a pervasive mindset I’ve observed in this field: the tendency to compare how quickly we each obtain our licenses. Let’s be clear: this is not a race. Your personal timeline should focus on your dedication to excel in this industry—pun intended. If you’re truly committed to your success, persistence is key; you will continue taking exams until you pass. So, maintain your faith and keep pushing forward!

Here’s a summary of my experiences as I navigated through the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE), Series 7, and now the Series 66 exams—all of which I completed on my first attempts.

1. The Challenge of Anxiety During Exams

While preparing for the Series 7 and 66, I often felt overwhelmed, especially by the midpoint of each exam. Despite countless hours studying through Kaplan, creating hundreds of flashcards, and engaging with online resources, I encountered questions that were entirely new to me during the actual exam. This can be disheartening, especially after reaching the 15th or 20th question.

2. The Freedom of Self-Study

In contrast, the only exam I felt confident about was the SIE, which I prepared for independently. This autonomy allowed me to set my own pace and tailor my study schedule to fit my learning style without the pressure of external expectations.

3. The Pressure of Sponsorship

While I’m incredibly grateful for my sponsorship from a Fortune 500 company to pursue my licensing goals, the pitfalls were significant. The accelerated pace of the program didn’t accommodate diverse learning speeds and placed an undue amount of pressure on my performance. Failing to meet the standards could mean losing my position; I only had one opportunity to retake the exam unless I scored below 60. This environment led to constant stress, and I hadn’t enjoyed a full night’s sleep since before passing the Series 7 exam over two and a half months ago.

4. Advice for Aspiring finance Professionals

If you’re aiming to get licensed and break into the finance industry, I’d like to share some advice that I wish I had known earlier: pursue your SIE, Life and Health (L/H), and Series 66 exams independently. You don’t require sponsorship to achieve these. Studying