Head start on finance licenses

I am an incoming FT analyst at a BB (GS/MS/JPM) for IB and will have to take the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE), Series 79, and Series 63 and pass them on the first try (or a second try but will have to stay off the desk and study from home until I pass them). A bit nervous about this. I am a second semester senior and I have a lot of time so was wondering if I should just study for the SIE/series 63 myself and take it now? if anyone has any tips abt what to do/the difficulty of the exams, it would be greatly appreciated

4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:

  1. Starting Early is Smart: Since you have time as a second-semester senior, it's a great idea to get a head start on the SIE and Series 63. These exams are manageable with proper preparation, and passing them now will reduce stress when you start your role.

  2. Difficulty Levels:

    • SIE: Medium difficulty. It covers high-level finance topics with a lot of information to digest. Study time is typically 50-80 hours depending on your background. Focus on understanding definitions, high-level concepts, and word associations.
    • Series 63: Easy to Medium difficulty. It has a smaller amount of material but can get specific. Study time is around 25-50 hours. Focus on state vs. federal regulations and key concepts like BD, Agent, IA, IAR, and Admin.
  3. Study Tips:

    • For the SIE, use resources like Knopman videos, workbooks, and QBanks. Take notes, review them regularly, and practice with QBank questions.
    • For the Series 63, create a schedule (e.g., one chapter every two days), and focus on understanding the material thoroughly. Practice exams are crucial to identify weak areas.
  4. Timeline:

    • Allocate around 6 weeks for the SIE and 2.5-3 weeks for the Series 63 if you're studying part-time. Adjust based on your pace and retention.
  5. Why Take Them Now?: Passing these exams before starting your role will free up your time to focus on your job and add value to your team immediately. It also shows initiative and preparedness.

  6. Resources:

    • Kaplan and Knopman are highly recommended for study materials.
    • Practice exams are essential to gauge your readiness.

By tackling the SIE and Series 63 now, you'll set yourself up for success and reduce the pressure when you start your full-time role. Good luck!

Sources: Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam Overview, SIE , Series 79 and Series 63 Advice, SIE , Series 79 and Series 63 Advice, Licensing For Dummies, Time allowed to pass SIE/Series 63/79

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

If you have a lot of time, it makes sense. You can ping folks in your network to borrow their exam materials so you dont have to spend money on them. Some folks dont pass on the first try and end up spending more time to clear the second time which is inconvenient. To this day, we still rag on the analysts in our analyst program who didn't pass it on the first try! Admittedly, the S63 was harder than the 7 and 79 for me. 

 

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