6 months or so is a good rule of thumb. Incidentally I'm very familiar with the assessment of which you speak, what part in particular did you have issues with?

It's not a particularly hard test, it's more of an assessment on how candidates work under pressure, simulating the series 7 exam, maybe you're overthinking the questions?

Most people who take the assessment finish with plenty of time left. Next time trust you gut, and try and not to over think things. They want to see you can get through it quickly. They'd rather finish it and get some wrong as opposed to not finish and get the ones you had time for right.

I got invited to the next step with the phone interview and online interview. So I guess the questions left off on the IQ test (Part I) were made up for on the situational/personality test (Part II).

How should I prepare for the online portion (wear a suit and tie)? Types of questions?

If you're fresh and previously unlicensed it's pretty much a personality test, seeing if you can survive in their world, not much you can do to prepare.

And to be frank, you're applying to work as an advisor for Morgan Stanley, financial firms are VERY traditional. If you have to ask wether you need to wear a suit and tie......maybe it isn't a good fit, would you go into work in jeans and t-shirt?

I've never done a pre-recorded video interview. To me it's a nontraditional approach. I am sure its the new norm, so I will suit up! Still haven't got the call. I guess I will move forward with the video interview tomorrow and follow-up with the recruiter next week.