I used Training Consultants for both the Series 7 and 66, and I took both exams back to back and passed them the first time around. With the Series 7 I did a little better with a 90% versus the 84% I received on the Series 6. I would say the Series 66 would have been a lot more difficult if I had taken time off after the Series 7, even with the use of Training Consultants. I think its going to be difficult for you to get an objective opinion on which program is better, because the only people who can tell you are those that failed the Series 66 using one program and then switched to the other to pass. Based on what I’ve seen with the new brokers going through our financial advisor training program, the few that don’t pass the 66 the first time have sticked with whatever program they were already using and passed it the 2nd time. I think that’s the key. So because you’ve already started with Training Consultants, I would recommend you stick with it for the 66. Best of luck!

Thank you so much asuafoa for your response!!! I really appreciate your input and I agree, since I am already comfortable learning from the TC program and used to the layout and all, I think I will stick with it for the 66. Thank you again and I hope you have a great day!

Anyone has TC study materials to share/get rid of? thanks

Oops, forgot to add: TC study materials for series 66 needed, such little detail, huh? not a good sign, lol. I just past series 7 and my brain has not healed yet

TC’s study material is some good stuff.

delete

In my humble opinion using Kaplan study guides are like walking into a molecular science class, the teacher looking at everyone, telling them what grade they need to get on the exam, giving them the book and walking out. It is an overwhelming study process, their online study guide isn’t really that good either. The only thing that I would credit Kaplan with are their tests. They have some of the best exams in the business, bar none. I am not trying to pump up another study guide system but I am using Training Consultants for my Series 66, just purchased it yesterday, so we will see how it goes. I will tell everyone about my adventure when I am done. I just do not like Kaplan. Used it for the 7, and failed on the first try and used it for the 66 and failed on the first try. They require you to read a 400+ page book and memorize everything, and I suffered a head injury when I was younger so my short term memory is terrible. When I study with Kaplan its an ongoing battle of getting the humongous book done and retaining all of the information. Its a terrible process, especially for someone like myself. I have no idea what I need to do and it is hard to track your performance on Kaplan. Kaplan is for individuals that don’t have any problems taking exams. If you have never had problems in school Kaplan is the way to go. If you are completely self driven and don’t have a problem studying or retaining difficult information Kaplan is the way to go. Besides that I hope this helps some. Again, I am not trying to down Kaplan, they have created a hell of a book for both Series 7, and Series 66. It is just a frustrating process, you spend all of this time and money on study systems and it doesn’t work out. Goodluck to all!

I think you are greatly exaggerating the difficulty in reading the Kaplan manual. Most people who take the 66 have already passed the 7 and have read a much larger manual. They are giving you basic information that you need to know as an investment adviser representative. I don’t think reading a shorter book is the answer to either helping you pass the test or learning about being an investment adviser rep. With that said, the question bank is equal to or more important than the manual. Take takers should seek challenging questions which is why I highly recommend Pass Perfect,. especially their Smart programs. I just worked with a student who passed the 66 with 85% and said the Pass Perfect questions were harder than those on the actual exam. If you handle Pass Perfect’s questions, you will have a very good chance of passing the test.

Mstudy - do you work for PassPerfect?

I own a tutoring company focused on licensing exams. I also have tutors who work for me. I typically recommend Pass Perfect because I think they have excellent materials and I want my students to have the best. Their Smart programs work out great for me because I can track my students’ progress in their system.

I own a tutoring company focused on licensing exams. I also have tutors who work for me. I typically recommend Pass Perfect because I think they have excellent materials and I want my students to have the best. Their Smart programs work out great for me because I can track my students’ progress in their system.

I have search many posts on here for which to study for Pass Perfect, TC, Kaplan, STC, or Fire. I have noticed your posts on the subject and I am most certain that you are an employee for Pass Perfect. Everything you have said to someone that was studying for an exam and they werent using Pass Perfect has always been NEGATIVE. 90% of people is looking to pass the EXAM and continue with our career. Stop bashing people for not using Pass Perfect. IT SUCKS

What you are saying just is not correct. In this thread, I defended Kaplan’s materials when someone voiced a negative opinion on their materials. Plenty of my students use Kaplan as their primary source of information. See below:

“I think you are greatly exaggerating the difficulty in reading the Kaplan manual. Most people who take the 66 have already passed the 7 and have read a much larger manual. They are giving you basic information that you need to know as an investment adviser representative.”

I actually scored better on the 66 than I did the 7. I got an 86% on the 66 using TC. TC is the best system to use.

Let me tell you, I think these exams are a farce and are NOT designed to reward people who understand the material. I just took and PASSED my 66, on the second attempt, and my score only went up TWO points, despite:

I didn’t memorize the books, I comprehended them. I was scoring in the low 90s on all my TC final exams. Scoring in the low 80’s on STC exams. I went into the testing center FULLY expecting mid 80’s at the worst… and by the time I was 25 questions into it, I knew that there was a good chance I would fail. There were MANY questions that had more than one correct answer choice. And there were many questions that had information that just wasn’t a focal point of any of the study companies material. Thats what really annoyed me.

Anyway, now that I scared you, study your brains out and don’t be a slacker. It has to be your life for a few weeks. If I can pass, so can you. I passed my 7 by the skin of my teeth, and am completely new to finance.

I have TC online component being unused right now BTW. take it from me for cheap if you need it

I feel for you @captainhookset. You should have done the entire TC course. I did Kaplan for the 66, and thought that I knew the test and I got a 70. I then bought TC’s course, did it for probably a month and a half and really studied their material head to toe and back again and received an 86. Tina, the founder of TC, really does her homework on what is going to exactly be on the exam. She has employees that will take the exam. That is why their system is so much better than anything else, I can’t name another system where the tutor or ongoing employees actually test their system (currently, not I passed 15 years ago). They have a pass-rate in the high 80’s low 90’s. TC is a much more accurate study guide than say Kaplan, who basically pulls information from a million different sources and maybe 30-40% of their study material is on the exam. That is insanity. I will not support another Kaplan course ever, I took it for the 7 and it was horrendous, I failed the first time and really buckled down for the second time and studied the course in and out and barely passed. Their cheat sheet is a freaking joke too. You spend $500 or more for a bulk 7 & 66 packet from Kaplan, wouldn’t you expect to pass? That’s not the case. The exam still has old questions that do not apply with the changes in securities laws. If you take TC they tell you about this stuff. TC tells you everything you need to know. Trust me! I am not a TC salesman, just a lucky Adviser that stumbled across this beautiful system.

She has employees that will take the exam. That is why their system is so much better than anything else,

I am not saying that they did what you are suggesting but you think that this would be appropriate behavior?

Ok, so do you believe in the ethical behavior of test takers who share what questions that they remember from the actual exam to bloggers on this site? Is it illegal to take the exam? Is it illegal to share information? I believe if you are a tutor that you should take the exam every year if you want people to believe that your system works. You wouldn’t trust an overweight trainer, would you? Their system works, and despite what you believe about their ethical behavior their tutors know their stuff. Their study system makes you learn the material, you cannot memorize the practice tests and pass the exam. I received a 90% on the laws and regulations and it was not due to memorizing test questions. If you can’t keep up with their success stories then change your system up. I read countless of times where you are referring to them as being unethical or questioning their appropriate behavior. I know you are a tutor, but shouldn’t you change your system or make it better to compete with TC? Their system is $250, for a large bank of questions, a study guide, flash cards, your own tutor etc. There isn’t anything in that that says, “secrets to passing the exam,” or, “here are the answers.” The study material to each section on the exam is there, they drill the topics into your head just like any other system. They just have had people within TC take the exam a couple of times. Hell if I wanted to create a study guide I could get the book thrown at me for taking the exam more than once. Just because you studied a certain way or with a certain program doesn’t mean that you are going to be more ethical than the next guy.

You are not focusing on the main issues here. The purpose of this or any similar exam to qualify individuals, in this case, as investment adviser representatives. NASAA and FINRA try to protect investors, in part, by requiring that people pass tests. You should read the court case and the resolution to the case and see if your opinion is still the same.

I know the main issues and to tell you the truth I don’t care. They cut the bull out of studying for the exam. As I have said this a million times, time will tell if an advisor is going to be able to serve clients. Taking and passing the 66 with whatever study system will not dictate if the advisor is going to be ethical or not. You also are not going to learn everything about the industry while doing a crash course for the 66. They help you pass the exam. Period.