From Division I athletics to the SIE: How I balanced graduate school, recruiting, and exam prep
Joe Santoro is a finance and economic analytics graduate student at Murray State University with experience in corporate development, financial analysis, and strategic finance. He previously interned with C.H. Robinson in Corporate Development and Finance Operations, where he worked on M&A evaluations, valuation analysis, FP&A reporting, and strategic growth initiatives.
Alongside his professional experience, Joe has developed a strong quantitative and analytical background through advanced coursework in econometrics, derivatives, portfolio management, and investment analysis. He is currently pursuing opportunities in investment banking, equity research, and corporate development.
When I decided to take the FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam, I knew it would be an important step toward the type of career I wanted to pursue. I’m currently finishing my master’s degree in Economic Analytics with a concentration in Finance at Murray State University, and most of the roles I’ve been targeting in investment banking, equity research, and corporate development either require FINRA licensing exams or strongly value candidates who have already started that process.
How athletic discipline prepared me for the SIE
For me, passing the SIE was about more than just adding a certification to my resume. I wanted to strengthen my understanding of the financial industry, improve my credibility as a candidate, and gain an advantage in recruiting for highly competitive finance roles.
I studied for the SIE between February and April of 2026 while taking 15 credit hours of master’s-level coursework and actively applying for jobs. At the same time, I was adjusting to a major life transition: for the first time in years, I was no longer competing as a Division I cross-country athlete.
Looking back, that transition actually helped me more than I expected. The time that would normally have gone toward training, traveling, and competing became time I could dedicate to studying. The discipline and consistency that came from athletics also translated directly into exam preparation.
Turning information overload into organized learning
The biggest challenge for me was the sheer amount of information on the exam, especially the rules and regulations section. Early on, I underestimated how much material there really was. Achievable provided a structured study timeline, but there were definitely moments where I convinced myself I was further ahead than I actually was. That caught up to me during the final two weeks before the exam, when I realized I needed to tighten things up quickly, but I was fortunate enough to pass the SIE on my first attempt.
I also deal with test anxiety, which made the preparation process mentally challenging at times. The practice exams were what ultimately helped me push through that. My very first practice exam did not go well at all, and I walked away seriously doubting whether I would pass the real thing. After that first attempt, though, something started to click.
I ended up taking 13 practice exams in total. While I passed all of the remaining exams after the first one, many of my early passing scores were barely above 70%, which did not exactly build confidence. It was only once I consistently started scoring above 80% that I finally felt prepared. Even then, my highest practice exam score was only 84%, so I never felt like I had the luxury of becoming complacent.
More than anything else, the practice questions were the reason I passed the exam. I used Achievable almost exclusively throughout the entire process, aside from the official FINRA SIE practice exam on FINRA’s website. The repetition of seeing concepts presented in different ways forced me to truly understand the material rather than just memorize definitions. Some of the most helpful questions were the ones that asked for the answer choice that was NOT correct, because they forced me to reason through every option carefully rather than relying on recognition alone.
Practice questions built confidence for exam day
My study routine was fairly simple. Most days, I followed the Achievable timeline and tried to complete whatever section was scheduled for that day. If I had a particularly busy day with classes or recruiting, I would combine multiple study days later in the week. No matter what, though, I tried to keep interacting with practice questions daily. Even short sessions helped keep the material fresh in my mind.
By exam day, I felt both confident and nervous. Once I started the exam, I kept track of how many questions I felt completely certain about. After my first pass through the test, I felt 100% confident on only 43 questions. Then it became 58, then 63, then 69 after reviewing flagged questions. At that point, I finally told myself I'd probably done enough to pass.
Still, clicking the button to submit the exam and see the result was one of the most stressful moments I’ve had in a long time.
From exam prep to career advancement
Looking back, the biggest piece of advice I would give future SIE candidates is simple: do practice questions every single day. Do not underestimate how important they are. Reading the material matters, but consistently applying concepts through practice questions is what builds confidence and understanding over time.
Passing the SIE gave me a stronger foundation in the financial industry and reinforced my interest in pursuing analytical and strategic finance roles. I am currently continuing my job search while exploring opportunities in investment banking, equity research, and corporate development, and I know the experience of preparing for this exam will continue helping me throughout my career.
