Study Question of the Week: January 24, 2013 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 6, Series 7, Series 62, Series 65, and Series 82. –ANSWER POSTED– Continue reading

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available.

Question (Relevant to the Series 6, Series 7Series 62, Series 65, and Series 82):

“Phantom tax exposure“ is a characteristic of:

I.  T-bonds

II.  Treasury STRIPS

III.  Zero-coupon bonds

IV.  Municipal revenue bonds

 Answers:

A. I, II and III

B. I and IV

C. II and III

D. None of the choices listed

Correct Answer: C. II and III

Rationale:  Treasury STRIPS, which are sold at a discount and don’t pay annual interest to owners, are a type of zero coupon bond.  Zeroes are taxed each year based upon the imputed annual value of the cumulative interest earned.  “Phantom tax exposure“ means you pay taxes each year on interest you don’t receive.  The trade-off is that you avoid reinvestment risk along the way.

Weekly study questions are from Solomon’s industry-leading Online Exam Simulator.

Study Question of the Week: January 3, 2013 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 7, Series 62, Series 65, Series 66, Series 79, and Series 82. –ANSWER POSTED– Continue reading

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available.

Question (Relevant to the Series 7Series 62Series 65, Series 66, Series 79, and Series 82):
Two corporate bonds have different durations, but are equivalent in other ways. Bond A has a duration of 6. Bond B has a duration of 4. Interest rates go down by 50 basis points. Which of the following is true?

Answers:

A: The price of Bond A will increase more than the price of Bond B

B: The price of Bond A will decrease more than the price of Bond B

C: The price of both bonds will increase by a similar amount

D: The price of both bonds will decrease by a similar amount

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Duration is a measure of the sensitivity of a bond’s price to changes in interest rates. A price of a bond with a higher duration will be influenced more by a change in interest rates than a bond with a lower duration. Bond A has a higher duration so it will be influenced by a change in interest rates more than Bond B. When interest rates go down, the prices of existing bonds go up. Thus, a decline in interest rates will cause the price of both bonds to increase, but because Bond A has a higher duration than Bond B, its price will go up more than Bond B.

Weekly study questions are from Solomon’s industry-leading Online Exam Simulator.

Solomon Exam Prep attending WIFS National Conference in October

This year, Solomon Exam Prep will feature a booth at the Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS) National Conference in Portland, OR on October 20-22. Continue reading

This year, Solomon Exam Prep will feature a booth at the Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS) National Conference in Portland, OR on October 20-22. WIFS is a great organization dedicated to encouraging women in the financial services sector and helping them develop their talents and careers. Stop by the Solomon Exam Prep booth in the exhibit hall or meet with Professor Karen Solomon at 1 pm on Thursday the 20th for her one hour session on the NASAA Series 65 exam.

To find out more information about the WIFS National Conference this year, please click here. Learn more about WIFS as an organization by checking out their website: www.wifsnational.org.

Registration Alert: Oregon Investment Advisors Must File Electronic IARD

As of January 1, 2011, new and renewing investment advisory firms and investment advisor representatives must file electronically through the Continue reading

As of January 1, 2011, new and renewing investment advisory firms and investment advisor representatives must file electronically through the Investment Advisor Registration Depository (IARD). Also, as of January 1, 2011, in Oregon it is mandatory to file the new Part 2 of Form ADV.

Exam Alert: NASAA develops list of “Best Practices”

A 2010 NASAA review of broker-dealers found that the three most common compliance problem areas were failure to follow supervisory policy, Continue reading

A 2010 NASAA review of broker-dealers found that the three most common compliance problem areas were failure to follow supervisory policy, advertising and sales literature, and suitability issues. NASAA developed a list of ten best practices and released them in October of 2010.  The recommendations focus on suitability, exception reports, supervisory procedures, and communications.  Relevant to Series 6, Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, Series 66, Series 24, Series 26, Series 62 and Series 79. The list can be found here: http://www.nasaa.org/NASAA_Newsroom/Current_NASAA_Headlines/13382.cfm.

Solomon Exam Prep Publishes New 2010 Audio Guides for the Series 6, Series 63 and Series 65 Exams

According to a 2009 Northwestern University study published in the journal SCIENCE, listening to audio can deepen and strengthen memory and Continue reading

According to a 2009 Northwestern University study published in the journal SCIENCE, listening to audio can deepen and strengthen memory and learning – even when one is sleeping.  

Solomon Exam Prep is excited to announce publication of new and fully updated 2010 editions of our bestselling PASS THE 6, PASS THE 63 and PASS THE 65 audio training guides for the FINRA Series 6 exam and the NASAA Series 63 and 65 exams.

A happy customer wrote: “Thanks to Linda’s lively voice, I learned the material quickly and passed the Series 65 with flying colors. The humor is great. It was fun to listen while driving, and it was easy to absorb the information—just like being taught by an entertaining young professor!”

Linda Franklin is the voice of Solomon Exam Prep and reads all of our audio books. Listen to an excerpt of the Series 65 audio book here:

Does her voice sound familiar to you? If you’ve ever called our office, you’ve probably spoken with Linda since she also answers the phone around here!

Has an audio book helped you pass an exam? Tell us about it! Email info@solomonexamprep.com

NASAA and FINRA Raise Passing Score on Series 63 Exam

Effective January 1, 2010, NASAA and FINRA will raise the passing grade for the Series 63, Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, from 70% Continue reading

Effective January 1, 2010, NASAA and FINRA will raise the passing grade for the Series 63, Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, from 70% to 72%. The new raw passing score will be 43 out of 60.

NASAA Memorandum Re Passing Scores for Series 63, 65 and 66 Exams

NASAA and FINRA raise the bar for the Series 65 and Series 66 Exams

Effective January 1, 2010, the NASAA and FINRA will raise the passing grade for the Series 65, Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination, from 68.5% to Continue reading

Effective January 1, 2010, the NASAA and FINRA will raise the passing grade for the Series 65, Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination, from 68.5% to 72% and for the Series 66, Uniform Combined State Law Examination, from 71% to 75%.

For more information see
NASAA Website

NASAA announces important changes to Series 63, 65 and 66 exams

NASAA announces important changes to Series 63, 65 and 66 exams Continue reading

NASAA announces important changes to Series 63, 65 and 66 exams

Series 65: new topics will include capital markets theory and special accounts such as college savings plans, also, the question distribution will change. In addition, the number of questions under Legal, Regulations and Guidelines, including Prohibition on Unethical Business Practices will decrease from 45 to 40.

Series 66: new topics will include capital markets theory and special accounts such as college savings plans, also, the question distribution will change. Specifically there will be fewer legal questions and significantly more questions on Economic Factors and Business Information, Investment Vehicle Characteristics and Client Investment Recommendations and Strategies.

Series 63: no new topics but question distribution will change.

(PDF) More about changes to the Series 63, 65 and 66 exams.