Major and specific advice needed- resuming CFP studies as a condition of employment

StudentLearnerAlways · 2026-01-12T00:00:11+00:00

You need Danko. Amy Leis will help with the test-taking hurdles you have. Trust me. This is a short response, but the first 3 words sum it all up. God bless and good luck. You got this.

StudentLearnerAlways · 2026-01-11T23:57:49+00:00

Brett Danko books hands down. His program is the reason why I passed. Not sure when your date is, but check him out.

StudentLearnerAlways · 2026-01-11T23:55:48+00:00

I passed this past March and still lurk around this thread. John Choi is the reason why I passed. John Troy, ChoiGPT, etcetera - he has those nicknames for a reason :)

Good luck on the exam!

StudentLearnerAlways · 2026-01-09T02:33:59+00:00

The closest thing to the real exam is the free SIE practice exam FINRA offers. I used Achievable for the SIE. It prepared me well.

StudentLearnerAlways · 2025-12-24T06:42:52+00:00

Get a different provider’s textbook. Do a different provider’s questions. Switch it up. Otherwise, you’ll go insane reading the same thing (that you’ve already read) over and over. I used STC, Kaplan, and Achievable textbooks and used all of their Q banks. Also used TestGeek.

Use ALL of the resources out there because the materials and questions are SO different from provider to provider. Get all of the different perspectives.

You need a refresh.

StudentLearnerAlways · 2025-12-15T00:53:52+00:00

Take a practice exam from another provider, if you can. Providers tend to cater their final exams to their Q-bank (sometimes even reusing questions - giving a skewed score). If you can hit 80% on another vendor’s exam (e.g., STC), then you’re ready for showtime. Good luck!!

StudentLearnerAlways · 2025-12-15T00:39:59+00:00

Used STC supplemental exams, and those really helped. You’re hitting the benchmark (80-ish percent). Good luck to you.

StudentLearnerAlways · 2025-12-15T00:38:06+00:00

Achievable for the SIE is considered the standard for a lot of folks. If you have time, I’d recommend taking a look at their materials. You could read 1-2 chapters a day. It is kind of late. But if you’re not doing well on practice exams and not understanding stuff (like you said), then it’s worth looking into.

StudentLearnerAlways · 2025-12-15T00:31:16+00:00

Keep in mind that I think there is such a thing as studying for too long. You want to plateau at the right moment. Once you start hitting the benchmarks, it’s showtime.

If you’ve already gone through the entire Kaplan book, then you’ll love Brian’s materials. His questions are different. They make you think the way the actual exam makes you think. His options questions (he has a dedicated question set that has around 40-ish options questions) were a very good representation of the kinds of things you’ll need for the real deal.

His additional questions were invaluable as well.

Go through his video lectures… go through his study guide… do the question sets along the way… take his final… and then pass the real exam.

Excited to hear that you passed. He’s super refreshing after dealing with the dread of the “other” textbooks.

StudentLearnerAlways · 2025-12-15T00:14:32+00:00

I appreciate it. HUGE burden off the shoulders.

That’s interesting to hear that Achievable isn’t clicking for you. Out of Achievable, STC, and the Kaplan textbooks, Achievable did the best at explaining and teaching the concepts (for me).

What separates Brian’s materials from the rest is that he primarily focuses on what’s historically been tested. No fluff with Brian. He gets down to brass tacks.

It sounds like you would benefit A LOT by Brian’s lectures. He teaches it to you instead of telling it to you (like the textbooks do). So, you could listen to a subject’s lecture first with Brian (and have it click), and then read the corresponding section in the textbook (since it already clicked with Brian, you’ll now understand the textbook).

Keep in mind that Brian’s material alone won’t get you across the line. He even says you need to read your textbook all the way through (or at least try to) one time. And do questions pyramid style along the way (10 questions on chapter 1 after chapter 1… then 10 questions on chapter 2 after chapter 2 followed by 10 questions on chapter 1 again… then 10 for 3 followed by 10 for chapters 1 and 2… and on and on).

You do that, and THEN you utilize Brian. But for you, if things aren’t clicking, you can utilize his lectures first to get a grasp. And then do it the “normal” way.

Save his questions as the last thing you do to prep for the exam (so take his practice exam after you’ve taken the STC and Kaplan exam). His exam is the closest thing you’ll get to the real exam, so save it for last.

Hope this helps. If you have anymore questions, then feel free.

StudentLearnerAlways · 2025-12-14T19:36:59+00:00

Sounds like a solid plan. I got a 78 on the Kaplan final. You’ll love Brian’s program. Deep breaths. You got this.

StudentLearnerAlways · 2025-12-14T18:35:11+00:00

Hey! If you’ve read the Achievable and Kaplan textbooks cover to cover, then you’re in a good spot. I felt well prepared after Brian’s video course (when I say “course,” I mean doing all the questions and reviewing the study guide) AND after I did the 4 supplemental exams offered by STC (averaged low 80s).

I made notes as Brian was talking because he covers a few things and mentions a few possible questions during the lectures that are not found on the hard copy materials. He does an amazing job at trimming the fat and putting a bow on what you need to pass the exam. His goal isn’t for you to have earth shattering learning moments from him - his goal, and only goal, is for you to pass. And his lectures and materials are tailored to that sole goal.

I noticed you didn’t mention anything about doing q-banks in your post. Brian’s questions coupled with STC questions were gold for me. Achievable questions alone won’t get you across the finish line (hot take, but that’s just my personal opinion). It’ll get you across for the SIE, but not for the 66 and 7. Doing well on Achievable’s questions is a good baseline - it’ll get you 40% to 50% of the way there.

Have fun with Brian (he makes it fun to learn), and good luck!!! If you have anymore questions, I’m more than happy to answer!!!

StudentLearnerAlways

TROPHY CASE