From the Series 7 to the Series 66: Building momentum with Achievable
James Drinkwater is a recent graduate from UCF and serves as the Director of Client Relationships at Drinkwater Wealth Management.
Passing the Series 66 was a huge milestone for me. It came just three weeks after passing the Series 7, and it felt like the final step in completing a challenging but rewarding chapter in my career. Working in wealth management, earning these licenses was an important step toward serving clients and continuing to grow professionally. Looking back, I’m proud of the work that went into both exams, and I’m grateful for the study tools that helped me get there.
After passing the Series 7, I didn’t have much time to celebrate before jumping into the Series 66. I knew the momentum I had built was valuable, so I wanted to keep it going while the study habits and discipline were still fresh. Even though the Series 66 covers different material, I found that having a structured plan from the start made the transition much easier.
One of the biggest challenges was balancing studying with work. I work full-time in wealth management, so there weren’t many opportunities to spend entire days preparing. Instead, I focused on consistency. I studied before and after work, made the most of weekends, and tried to stay disciplined even on days when I didn’t necessarily feel motivated. Some study sessions were only an hour or two, but staying consistent every day made a much bigger difference than trying to cram everything at once.
Building a strong foundation with Achievable
Achievable played a major role throughout both exams. I used Achievable to prepare for the Series 7, and it gave me such a strong foundation that using it again for the Series 66 felt like a natural progression. I already knew how the platform was organized, how the lessons built on each other, and how the review questions reinforced the material. Instead of spending time figuring out a new study system, I could focus entirely on learning the content.
One thing I appreciated most was how Achievable explained difficult concepts in a way that actually made sense. Rather than simply memorizing facts, I felt like I understood why the rules existed and how they applied in real-world situations. That made it much easier to remember information on exam day and gave me more confidence as I worked through practice questions.
I also learned that practice questions are incredibly important. Every question I missed became an opportunity to identify a weak area and improve it before the actual exam. Instead of getting discouraged by incorrect answers, I treated them as part of the learning process. Over time, I noticed my confidence growing because I wasn’t just memorizing answers; I was recognizing patterns and understanding the reasoning behind them.
Preparing for the Series 66 exam with confidence
Going into test day, I was definitely nervous. I think that’s normal for any FINRA licensing exam. But I also felt prepared because I trusted the work I had put in over the previous weeks. By following my study plan consistently and using a resource that had already helped me succeed on the Series 7, I knew I had done everything I could to prepare. Once the exam started, I focused on taking one question at a time rather than worrying about the final result.
If I could give one piece of advice to someone preparing for the Series 66, it would be to trust the process. There will be days when your practice scores aren’t where you want them to be or when the material feels overwhelming. That’s completely normal. Keep showing up, keep reviewing your weak areas, and don’t let one bad study session convince you that you’re not making progress. Improvement comes from consistency, not perfection.
What’s next after passing the Series 66
Passing the Series 66 was especially meaningful because it represented the completion of back-to-back exams in a relatively short period of time. Three weeks after passing the Series 7, I had earned my Series 66 as well. It was incredibly rewarding to see the hard work pay off.
Looking ahead, I’m excited for what’s next in my career. My next goal is to earn my CFP® certification and continue to grow as a financial professional. The Series 7 and Series 66 exams gave me the regulatory knowledge I need to move forward, and I’m looking to build on that foundation as I continue serving clients.
For anyone preparing for a FINRA exam, my advice is simple: stay consistent, trust your study plan, and don’t underestimate the value of using a resource that keeps you engaged. Achievable gave me a strong foundation for the Series 7, so transitioning to the Series 66 felt seamless. It made the process more manageable, built my confidence, and played an important role in reaching this milestone.
