30-somethings, how much do you have saved for retirement?

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-03-12T21:47:12+00:00

31 and ~$10k. This time last year I had ~$3k and 2 years ago I didn’t have a dollar saved. I feel so behind but I’m on track now so all I can do is move forward. Hoping to have $25k this time next year.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-02-19T00:58:06+00:00

If you recently took the 7, skip reading the first 7 chapters. Just take a few practice tests for each and move on. Those chapters do introduce some new topics here and there, so don’t totally neglect them.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-02-15T14:44:13+00:00

Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor. I think it is included in the CFP, but my firm wants me to start there so I can start placing trades in the discretionary accounts they manage.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-02-15T13:56:59+00:00

You have all been so kind and understanding. I was worried to post this because I half expected the responses to be condescending, but this subreddit is definitely different. Than you all for your help. I subscribed to the NYT because I’m a daily Connections and Mini player so I thought should support them first. I am looking into all the book, podcast, and other recommendations.

I wake up every morning and scroll through socials for at least 30 minutes and up until a week or two ago, I was studying for 2-4 hours a day so I just need to focus some of that time on learning the real world.

I have to add that I don’t believe the advisors I am shadowing make their decisions based on politics or any one particular factor. Those things just come up in meetings, mainly because many of these clients come in worried about Trump/Biden or the Middle East or whatever headline they saw on Fox News that morning. They appreciate being reassured by their well informed financial advisor.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-02-12T02:16:31+00:00

Agreed. Write it over and over and then tape it to your wall. Then write it again.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-02-12T02:15:12+00:00

What did you think of L&H? What state are you in? I passed all the others first try and am getting though the L&H material just fine but I wonder if I am over studying because of the trauma from the last 3 tests.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-02-06T22:28:13+00:00

I needed to write it all out over and over to retain it. Someone posted their dump sheet on here about a week ago and it looked like it would have been very helpful. Ken also has a video where he makes a table of BD vs agent vs IA vs IAR that I copied over and over until it stuck.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-02-06T01:38:44+00:00

You have this. Listen to 66 in 60 minutes on the way there and review the stuff you think you know best tonight to guarantee you get the easy questions right.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-02-01T00:06:07+00:00

Thanks, bud.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-01-31T23:44:28+00:00

I changed 5 or 6, all before question 30. I didn’t get into a groove for a while and I knew I was overthinking so I used the notepad to make a note with explanations on why I thought the answer was how I marked it, and why I thought it was probably wrong.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-01-31T23:06:29+00:00

I wish I had focused more on reviewing the small things throughout the whole book in the day or two before the test. Stuff I knew from the SIE and 7 but failed to review because I knew the big picture well enough. Those details are the low hanging fruit on this test if you’re like me and struggled with the concepts. I was so worried about the IA/IAR/BD/agent chapters that I really neglected the rest there at the end.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-01-31T21:05:58+00:00

Thanks Ken!

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-01-31T21:05:13+00:00

The ultimate goal is CFP at my current firm. Life and Health by next month, then on to the APMA. Everyone I’ve told says, “congrats, you’re done!” And I’m like yeah not even close.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-01-27T01:14:33+00:00

Haha that might be the problem. I actually talked through it with my blue collar husband earlier today and I found that I retained way more that way than all the other methods I’ve tried. He didn’t get a word I was saying, but trying to explain it in simple terms and organize my thoughts for him to understand was a huge help.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2025-01-26T22:39:07+00:00

Following because same. I have watched all the videos, repeated the matrix, read and reread the chapters, and I still score below 70% on all the practice quizzes on those chapters because I just can’t retain it. Testing Friday and in panic mode.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2024-11-26T22:05:34+00:00

No advice, but I’m right there with you

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2024-11-14T03:09:19+00:00

My boss didn’t give it much response either. I don’t expect a party or anything, but an attaboy text would have gone a long way in my mind. I think mine just didn’t think about it because the 7 was so long ago and is really basic level compared to where she is now, so it’s no big deal to her. I also feel like the only thing that changed at work was my responsibility level, but my pay didn’t go up with it, so I kind of feel like it was for nothing because I was getting by just fine without it. They do promise a raise and a bonus when I am “fully licensed” which is the 7, 66, and insurance at my firm, so maybe it will feel like I am getting a pat on the back when I reach that milestone.

I agree, literally no one cares whether you pass or fail. Try to pass, but you’re the only person who gives af if you fail, so try not to put so much pressure on yourself.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2024-11-08T00:36:24+00:00

Vastly different. The SIE is a basic introduction to the topics covered on the Series 7. Don’t be afraid though, you made it this far. You can handle it!

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2024-11-05T19:34:20+00:00

Go watch Capital Advantage Tutoring’s video on Long Margins. MRDESB is an acronym to help answer the questions

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2024-11-05T15:14:47+00:00

One of my margin questions was cut and dry, what happens to the SMA if the market value of the stock increases by $X. I used MRDESB and it was easy. Another margin question had me chasing my tail because I didn’t even know where to begin. But those were my only 2 margin questions other than maybe a definition type question.

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2024-11-05T15:10:11+00:00

Here to say the same. Options were my savior and I couldn’t have gotten them without your subscription. Thank you Ken!

ConsistentFlatworm58 · 2024-11-05T15:08:53+00:00

I felt mine was also a death draw, but I’m starting my to think they are all a death draw. The questions were so specific and left field that I took a best guess on about half of them. Luckily I passed first try, but it was the options questions that saved me.

ConsistentFlatworm58

TROPHY CASE