How I passed the Series 66
Kyle is an incoming Planning and Advice Associate at Fidelity and a recent graduate from Bentley University.
Pursuing a career in finance comes with a lot of licensing exams and hard work, but the right study habits make all the difference. After passing his SIE exam, Kyle began prep for the Series 66 and learned firsthand what it takes to stay motivated and confident throughout the process.
Read below to learn how he overcame challenges and built momentum toward his finance career. If you are currently working toward a future in the industry, Kyle’s journey may provide the encouragement and inspiration you need to keep going.
What motivated you to take this exam?
I took the Series 66 because I’m pursuing a career in wealth management and financial planning. After passing the SIE, the 66 felt like the next major step toward becoming fully licensed and building credibility in the industry. It was also personal for me because I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle a more difficult licensing exam and keep moving toward the career I want after graduation.
What was the biggest challenge during your prep?
The biggest challenge was definitely staying consistent without burning out. There is a lot of information on the Series 66, and some of it can feel very similar, especially the differences between broker-dealers, investment advisers, agents, and IARs. I also struggled at times with confidence because even after studying, it was easy to second-guess myself on practice questions. My biggest hurdle was learning how to slow down, review what I got wrong, and not let one bad practice exam throw me off.
What strategies, habits, or tools helped you most?
The thing that helped me most was taking full practice exams and then carefully reviewing the questions I missed. I liked using Achievable because it gave me a clear structure, rather than leaving me to guess what to study each day. I also made quick memory hooks and “brain dump” notes for topics I knew I needed to remember right away, like the differences between a broker-dealer, investment adviser, agent, and IAR. My system was basically: follow the study plan, take full exams, review weak areas, and repeat until the material felt more familiar.
How did you feel going into test day?
I was definitely nervous going into test day, but I also felt prepared because I had put in the reps. What helped was reminding myself that I had already passed the SIE and that I had seen a lot of the concepts through practice questions. I also tried to go in with the mindset that I didn’t need to know everything perfectly. I just needed to stay calm, read carefully, and trust the work I had done. Passing the exam felt like a huge relief and a big confidence boost.
