Securities Licensing Exams

4th Edition of the Solomon Series 7 Study Guide Now Available

If you plan to take the FINRA Series 7 exam, the new edition of the Solomon Series 7 Study Guide covers everything you need to know to pass the exam. Continue reading

There are many exciting careers in the securities industry, such as stockbroker, investment adviser representative, financial advisor, and investment banker. Perhaps less exciting are the securities licensing exams you’re required to pass to pursue these careers. For example, if you’re interested in a career buying and selling all securities products, then you’ll need to pass the FINRA General Securities Representative Exam, also known as the Series 7 (plus the co-requisite Securities Industry Essentials, or SIE, exam).

The Series 7 is one of the longest FINRA exams. It is a 135-question test that covers the four main functions of a securities representative. You have three hours and 45 minutes to complete the exam. Like all qualifying exams in the securities industry, the Series 7 is closed-book. As one of the most challenging FINRA exams, it’s a good idea to be well-prepared going into test day. How should you prepare for the Series 7 exam?

Solomon Exam Prep has just released its 4th edition of The Solomon Exam Prep Guide to the Series 7 General Securities Representative Examination. To help professionals pass the exam, the Solomon Series 7 Study Guide is comprehensive and covers exam topics in easy-to-understand language. Charts, graphs, and practice questions throughout the text support learners in understanding and applying key concepts.

“The Series 7 is challenging. To pass this exam, you must learn the concepts, not just memorize test questions. The Solomon system focuses on teaching the core concepts in a digestible way and reinforcing them through examples and quizzes. This prepares customers not only for the exam, but also for their careers.”

Jeremy Solomon

Solomon Exam Prep President and Co-founder

What changes with this new edition?

While the core content remains the same, the 4th edition of the Series 7 Study Guide includes helpful content updates, along with general writing improvements.

Updates are also reflected in the Solomon Series 7 Exam Simulator. Designed to accompany the Study Guide, the online Exam Simulator contains over 4,400 original Series 7 practice questions with rationales that explain why an answer is correct. With the Solomon Series 7 Exam Simulator, learners can take an unlimited number of quizzes and exams, and the simulator comes with helpful self-assessment tools and Solomon’s proprietary Pass Probability™ technology, which calculates the probability that the student will pass the Series 7 exam.

Solomon Exam Prep is committed to providing industry-leading securities licensing materials, which are continuously kept up-to date. If you are an existing Solomon Series 7 customer, the new 4th edition will be automatically updated in your account, free of charge.

To learn more about Solomon Exam Prep’s Series 7 study materials, including Study Guide, Exam Simulator, Audiobook, Video Lecture, Flashcards, and Live Web Classes, visit the Solomon Series 7 product page.

How to Pass the FINRA Series 7 Exam

NASAA Ending Most Online Testing for Series 63, 65, and 66 Exams

If you’re planning to take the Series 63, Series 65, or Series 66 exam after March 31, 2022, testing online will not be available for most candidates. Continue reading

Starting April 1, 2022, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) will no longer offer the option to take the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams online. Online testing for these exams will only be available for candidates who provide medical proof that they cannot take exams in testing centers.

If you’re currently scheduled to take a NASAA exam online on or before March 31, 2022, then this announcement does not apply to you.

However, if you have an online appointment for any dates after March 31, it will be canceled. In this case, you can either submit an accommodation request to FINRA or schedule a new appointment at a Prometric testing center. To learn more about submitting a request for testing accommodations, visit the FINRA Testing Accommodations page.

You can find more information about enrolling for and scheduling the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams on the FINRA Test Enrollment Services System.

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Arkansas, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia Move to Adopt IAR CE Requirement

Arkansas, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C. have begun the process to adopt NASAA Investment Adviser Representative continuing education. Continue reading

Arkansas, Kentucky, and Washington D.C. have begun the process to adopt NASAA’s new continuing education (CE) requirement for investment adviser representatives (IARs). If the two states and the District of Columbia adopt the CE requirement by the end of 2022, then it will go into effect on January 1, 2023.

Nevada is also in the process of adopting the CE requirement for IARs. Michigan and Wisconsin finalized adoption of the IAR CE requirement, and implementation will start in 2023 in those states.

The IAR CE requirement is already in effect in Maryland, Mississippi, and Vermont. That means that IARs who are registered in these states must complete CE by the end of 2022. The requirement applies to both state-registered and federal-registered investment advisers.

IARs who are affected by the CE requirement will have to complete 12 credits of CE coursework per year: six credits in Products and Practices and six credits in Ethics and Professional Responsibility, with at least three about ethics. To earn CE credit, courses must be taken from a NASAA-approved vendor, such as Solomon Exam Prep.

To learn more about Solomon’s on-demand IAR CE courses, explore the Course Library.

Disclaimer: NASAA does not endorse any particular provider of CE courses. The content of the course and any views expressed are our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASAA or any of its member jurisdictions.

Solomon Exam Prep Exhibiting at Midwest Finance Association 2022 Conference

If you’re attending the Midwest Finance Association 2022 Conference March 10-12, visit Solomon Exam Prep’s exhibitor booth. Continue reading

Solomon Exam Prep is proud to be sponsoring and exhibiting at the Midwest Finance Association 2022 Conference, which will be held at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago, IL, March 10–12. Solomon invites attendees to visit our booth to learn about how Solomon provides its innovative Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam prep to colleges and universities across the country.

About the MFA

Founded in 1951, the Midwest Finance Association is a nonprofit professional association of academics and finance industry professionals dedicated to the furtherance of finance education. The organization currently has over 400 members from more than forty countries, and membership is open to anyone who has a career in the area of finance. The annual conference provides a forum for the exchange of intellectual ideas between academic and business circles.

What is the SIE Exam?

The FINRA SIE exam is the foundational exam required for anyone who wants to become licensed to work in the securities industry. Passing the SIE shows potential employers that you have mastered the basics of the industry and opens doors to a variety of careers. Anyone over 18 years old can take the SIE, so it’s perfect for college students.

Solomon Exam Prep partners with dozens of colleges and universities to bring the Solomon SIE exam prep program to students across the country. Join institutions such as Florida Memorial University, Pepperdine University, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, University of Delaware, Adelphi University, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Seton Hall University, Ohio Dominican University, Georgetown University, Widener University, and University of Dallas in partnering with Solomon.

To learn more about the ways colleges and universities can partner with Solomon, contact Beth Hamilton, Higher Education Development Manager, at beth@solomonexamprep.com or 503-601-0212.

How to Pass the NASAA Series 63 Exam

Thinking about taking the Series 63 exam? Keep reading to learn what the Series 63 qualifies you to do, what the exam covers, and how you should prepare for it. Continue reading

The Series 63, also known as the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam, is the state law test for broker-dealer representatives. Passing the Series 63 is required by most U.S. states if you want to register in a state as a registered representative. However, to be fully registered, you may also need to pass the FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and the Series 6, 7, 22, 52, 79, 82, or 99. For example, if you plan to sell securities for a broker-dealer, you must pass the Series 6 or 7 (plus the co-requisite SIE) in addition to the Series 63.

The Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams were all created by NASAA, which represents state securities regulators in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The goal of NASAA is to protect and educate investors to promote the integrity of financial markets. In terms of content, there is a fair amount of overlap between the exams, but each one qualifies individuals a bit differently.

What’s the difference between the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams?

Of the three exams, the Series 63 is the shortest, at 65 questions. The Series 63 exam covers the registration of persons and securities under the Uniform Securities Act and ethics in the securities industry. As mentioned above, passing the Series 63 permits you to sell securities in a particular state, but you must also pass a FINRA exam (often the Series 6 or 7) in order to become fully registered. For instance, if you pass the Series 6 and Series 63, you are qualified to become a financial adviser or insurance agent who also sells mutual funds and works at a brokerage, investment firm, bank, or insurance company. On the other hand, with the Series 7 and Series 63, you can work as a stockbroker at a brokerage, investment firm, or bank.

If you want to register as an investment adviser representative (IAR), you will need to pass the Series 65 or 66, depending on the state. Some states allow registered brokerage representatives to act as IARs. In these states, if you’ve passed the Series 7, then the 66 will qualify you to become a licensed IAR. If you have NOT passed the Series 7 and want to become an IAR, then you’ll need to take the Series 65 exam. The Series 65 exam contains much of the same information as the Series 7, and it also tests your knowledge of the state laws governing investment advisers. The Series 66 does not cover much of the information from the Series 7, but it does test your knowledge of state laws governing investment advisers. As result, the Series 66 is shorter than the Series 65 (100 questions compared to 130).

If you’re not sure whether you need to pass the Series 63, 65, or 66 for a particular state, check with the state regulator for specific requirements. This page on the NASAA website lists contact information for all state regulators.

About the Exam

The Series 63 exam consists of 60 scored and 5 unscored multiple-choice questions covering the eight topic areas of the Series 63 Content Outline. The 5 additional unscored questions are ones that the exam committee is trying out. These are unidentified and are distributed randomly throughout the exam.

Note: Scores are rounded down to the next lowest whole number (e.g. 71.9% would be a final score of 71% – not a passing score for the Series 63 exam).

Topics Covered on the Exam

The questions on the Series 63 exam cover the following content areas, as determined by NASAA:

NASAA updates its exam questions regularly to reflect the most current rules and regulations. Solomon recommends that you print out the current version of the NASAA Series 63 Content Outline and use it in conjunction with the Solomon Series 63 Study Guide. The Content Outline is subject to change without notice, so make sure you have the most recent version.

Question Types on the Exam

The Series 63 exam consists of multiple-choice questions, each with four options. You will see these question structures:

Closed Stem Format:

This item type asks a question and gives four possible answers from which to choose.

Typically, how long must an investment adviser keep records?

1. Three years
2. Five years
3. Six years
4. For the lifetime of the firm

Incomplete Sentence Format:

This kind of question has an incomplete sentence followed by four options that present possible conclusions.

A broker-dealer registered in one state whose only office is located in that state does not need to register in another state if it has:

1. Less than $50,000,000 in assets
2. Over $100,000,000 in assets
3. No non-institutional clients in that state
4. Five or fewer non-institutional clients in that state

“EXCEPT” Format:

This type requires you to recognize the one choice that is an exception among the four answer choices presented.

All of the following are exempt from registration under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 except:

1. A broker-dealer that charges a fee for investment advice
2. A publisher that charges a fee to write a column about investments
3. A lawyer that gives investment advice as part of overseeing a client’s estate
4. A teacher who is paid to teach a class that offers instruction on how to construct a portfolio

Complex Multiple-Choice (“Roman Numeral”) Format:

For this question type, you see a question followed by two or more statements identified by Roman numerals. The four answer choices represent combinations of these statements. You must select the combination that best answers the question.

Which of the following are types of orders issued by an administrator?

1. Stop order
2. Cease and desist order
3. Resume order
4. Criminal order

1. I only
2. II only
3. I and II
4. III and IV

Answers: 1. B 2. C 3. A 4. C

For an even better idea of the possible question types you might encounter on the Series 63 exam, try Solomon Exam Prep’s free Series 63 Sample Quiz.

Taking the Series 63 Exam

The Series 63 exam is administered by FINRA and can be taken at a Prometric test center or remotely online using Prometric’s ProProctor system. If taking the exam at a test center, you will be given a dry erase pen and whiteboard or a pen and scratch paper, and a basic electronic calculator. You cannot bring notes, paper, or your own calculator. Phones and watches are not permitted either. Due to COVID-19, you are required to wear a mask the whole time you are at the test center. Solomon recommends taking timed practice exams in the Series 63 Exam Simulator while wearing a mask to get used to this added discomfort.

If you’re thinking about taking the test from the comfort of your own home or office with ProProctor, it’s important to be aware of the strict procedures you must follow. See this user guide for complete details. And for a first-hand account of the remote testing experience, read this Solomon blog post.

Test-Taking Tips

Whether you take the exam in person or online, it helps to keep some test-taking strategies in mind. Don’t spend too long on one question—this may cause you to run out of time and not get to other questions you know. If you don’t know the answer to a question, guess at the answer and “flag” it. There is no penalty for guessing, so it is beneficial to answer every question.

After you have finished all the questions, you can come back to any flagged questions. Not only does this strategy allow you to efficiently answer the ones you know, but it can also help because you might learn something later in the exam that may help you answer an earlier question. Just remember to save enough time to return to the questions you didn’t answer. However, it is not a good idea to simply skip all of the difficult questions with the intention of answering them later. You should make a serious effort to answer each question before moving on to the next one, as your thoughts are often clearer early on in the exam-taking process than they will be later.

How to Study for the Series 63 Exam

Follow Solomon Exam Prep’s proven study system:

- Read and understand. Read the Solomon Study Guide, carefully. The Series 63 is a knowledge test, not an IQ test. Many students read the Study Guide two or three times before taking the exam. To increase your ability to focus while reading, or as an alternative to reading, listen to the Series 63 Audiobook, which is a word-for-word reading of the Study Guide.
- Answer practice questions in the Exam Simulator. When you’re done with a chapter in the Study Guide, take 4–6 chapter quizzes in the Solomon Exam Simulator. Use these quizzes to give yourself practice and to find out what you need to study more. Make sure you read and understand the question rationales. When you’re finished reading the entire Study Guide, review your handwritten notes once more. Then, and only then, start taking full practice exams in the Exam Simulator. Aim to pass at least six full practice exams and try to get your Solomon Pass Probability score to at least an 80%; when you reach that point, you are probably ready to sit for the Series 63 exam.

Use these effective study strategies:

- Take handwritten notes. As you read the Study Guide, take handwritten notes and review your notes every day for 10 to 15 minutes. Studies show that the act of taking handwritten notes in your own words and then reviewing them strengthens learning and memory.
- Make flashcards. Making your own flashcards is another powerful and proven method to reinforce memory and strengthen learning. Solomon also offers digital flashcards for the Series 63 exam.
- Research. Research anything you do not understand. Curiosity = learning. Students who take responsibility for their own learning by researching anything they do not understand get a deeper understanding of the subject matter and are much more likely to pass.
- Become the teacher. Studies show that explaining what you are learning greatly increases your understanding of the material. Ask someone in your life to listen and ask questions. If you don’t have anyone, explain it to yourself. Studies show that helps almost as much as explaining to an actual person (see Solomon’s previous blog post to learn more about this strategy!).

Take advantage of Solomon’s supplemental tools and resources:

- Use all the resources. The Series 63 Resources folder in your Solomon student account has helpful study tools, including documents that summarize important exam concepts. There is also a detailed study schedule that you can print out – or use the online study schedule and check off tasks as you complete them.
- Watch the Video Lecture. This provides a helpful review of the key concepts in each chapter after reading the Solomon Study Guide. Take notes to help yourself stay focused.

Good practices while studying:
- Take regular breaks. Studies show that if you are studying for an exam, taking regular walks in a park or natural setting significantly improves scores. Walks in urban areas or among people did not improve test scores.
- Get enough sleep during the period when you are studying. Sleep consolidates learning into memory, studies show. Be good to yourself while you are studying for the Series 63: exercise, eat well, and avoid activities that will hurt your ability to get a good night’s sleep.

You can pass the NASAA Series 63 Exam! It just takes focus and determination. Solomon Exam Prep is here to support you on your path to becoming qualified to sell securities within a state!

Explore all Solomon Exam Prep Series 63 study materials, including the Study Guide, Exam Simulator, Audiobook, Video Lecture and Flashcards.

Looking for more support as you prepare for the Series 63 exam? Solomon offers Live Web Classes for the Series 63.

For more helpful securities exam-related content, study tips, industry updates, and promotional offers sent directly to your inbox, join the Solomon email list. Just click the button below:

Florida Memorial University, InspereX, and Solomon Exam Prep Bring SIE Exam Prep to FMU Students

With sponsorship from InspereX, FMU students will receive the Solomon study materials and exam fee they need to pass the FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam. Continue reading

Solomon Exam Prep is pleased to announce a partnership with Florida Memorial University and InspereX to support FMU School of Business students in preparing for and taking the FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam. Through this partnership, FMU is offering an SIE Self-Study Program led by Visiting Instructor of Finance and Marketing, Lawrence Goehrig, in Spring 2022.

Thanks to the generosity of InspereX, FMU students will receive the top-of-the-line Solomon SIE Total Study Package. InspereX is also funding the purchase of hardcopy Study Guide upgrades for all students in the program, plus the FINRA SIE Exam fee, which is $80.00 per student.

Solomon Exam Prep President Jeremy Solomon says

“Solomon is honored to work with FMU and InspereX to help prepare students to take the FINRA SIE Exam. The SIE is the foundational exam required for anyone who wants to become licensed to work in the securities industry, and passing the SIE exam will give FMU students a competitive edge in the job market.”

Geared to fit a variety of learning styles, the Solomon SIE Exam Total Package includes the full line of Solomon SIE materials: digital Study Guide, Exam Simulator, Audiobook, Video Lecture with downloadable slides, and digital Flashcards. Students will also be able to take advantage of free resources and tools, including Solomon Study Schedules and Solomon Pass Probability™ technology. And with access to the Solomon Instructor Admin Portal, Professor Goehrig will be able to monitor his students’ progress to assist them as they study.

Florida Memorial University, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest academic centers in Florida, and is the only historically Black university in southern Florida. The university offers 27 undergraduate degree programs and three master’s programs.

InspereX is a leading fintech transforming how fixed income securities and market-linked products are accessed, evaluated, and traded. The firm has principal offices in Delray Beach, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City.

About Solomon Exam Prep

Founded by Karen Solomon (Ph.D., University of Chicago) and Jeremy Solomon (MBA, Wharton), Solomon Exam Prep has helped thousands pass their securities licensing exams including the SIE, Series 3, 6, 7, 14, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 63, 65, 66, 79, 82 and 99.

To learn more about the ways colleges and universities can partner with Solomon, contact Beth Hamilton, Higher Education Development Manager, at beth@solomonexamprep.com or 503-601-0212.

Solomon Exam Prep Launches Investment Adviser Representative CE

Solomon’s NASAA-approved IAR CE courses are now available for investment adviser representatives who must complete the new CE requirement for 2022. Continue reading

Solomon Exam Prep is excited to announce the launch of its Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education (IAR CE). All Solomon IAR CE courses are approved by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and earn credit to fulfill the new, annual CE requirement for IARs (Investment Adviser Representatives).

About Solomon IAR CE

As a leader in securities exam prep, including the NASAA Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66, Solomon brings the same level of expertise to creating high quality IAR CE content. Course content is delivered in self-paced online modules accessible on any web-enabled device, so you can study when and where you like. Short, engaging modules use a read-and-quiz format that results in higher retention for better learning. Plus, the user-friendly platform allows you to easily jump into the course and start learning.

Solomon’s on-demand courses can be purchased individually, or through a membership to the entire course library to complete all your IAR CE in one place. The Solomon IAR CE platform helps guide course selection for you so that you know you are taking the right number of credits in the required course categories.

Curious about Solomon’s IAR CE courses? Explore the Solomon IAR CE course library.

IAR CE FAQs (frequently asked questions)

Solomon has compiled some of the most common frequently asked questions about the new IAR CE requirement and how Solomon IAR CE works:

Why is there a new CE requirement for IARs?

CE courses are designed to keep a financial professional up to date on industry developments, current regulations, and ethical standards. NASAA received support from state regulators and the securities industry for the creation of a CE program to ensure that IARs, like broker-dealer agents, insurance agents, certified financial planners, and real estate agents, maintain or expand their level of knowledge and competence throughout their careers.

Who must complete IAR CE?

Every investment adviser representative (IAR) registered in a jurisdiction that adopts the NASAA model rule is subject to the CE requirement. The requirement applies to all registered IARs of both state-registered and federal-covered investment advisers. IARs must meet the CE requirements of any state in which the IAR is registered.

When do IARs need to start complying with the CE program?

Compliance starts in the 2022 calendar year in states that have adopted the model rule with an effective date of January 1, 2022. To view the states that adopted the new CE requirement, see the NASAA website or the Solomon IAR CE webpage. CE credits must be reported by the end of each calendar year. Newly registered IARs must meet the annual IAR CE requirement by the end of the first full calendar year following the year in which they first become registered.

How many courses do I have to take?

You have to complete 12 credits of CE coursework per year. Six of the 12 credits must be in the Products and Practices category. The other six credits must be in the Ethics and Professional Responsibility category, at least three of which must specifically be about ethics. The category that each course belongs to is indicated in the Solomon IAR CE course library. All Solomon courses are at least one credit.

Where can I take NASAA-approved courses?

NASAA has approved several vendors to provide IAR CE courses, including Solomon Exam Prep. All of the courses in the Solomon IAR CE library have passed an approval process with NASAA and Prometric, the course management vendor.

How are the courses delivered?

Solomon Exam Prep’s IAR CE courses are delivered online and are self-paced, so students can study when and where they like.

Do I have to pass an assessment to complete a course?

Yes, every course has an assessment that is at least 10 questions in length. In Solomon IAR CE courses, the assessment is broken up into shorter assessments that appear throughout the course, instead of a single assessment at the end of the course. You must pass assessments with a score of 100%, and you have an unlimited number of attempts. You may also be asked to complete a satisfaction survey as part of the course activities.

If I earn more than 12 IAR CE credits in a calendar year, can I carry over extra credits to the next year?

No, credits earned beyond the 12 required credits do not carry over into a subsequent year.

What happens if I do not complete the IAR CE requirement by the end of the calendar year?

You will be required to pay the registration renewal fee, and CRD will set your IAR CE status to “CE Inactive.” This status will appear in the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IADP) and in BrokerCheck. You can continue to do business; however, if IAR CE is not completed by the end of the subsequent year, you will not be able to renew your registration. An IAR that is CE Inactive will hold that status in all states where the CE rule is effective following adoption of the model. If a state has not yet adopted the CE model rule, the CE program will have no impact on the registration status of the IARs registered with that state – the current registration practices will remain the same.

Do I need to make up missed CE credits?

Yes. If you complete courses in the current year, those credits will first apply to the previous year if you hadn’t completed 12 credits in the previous year. Once the missing credits for the previous year have been completed, then additional courses taken in the current year will apply to the current year’s requirement. Remember that any excess credits completed in a year will not carry forward to the next year.

Who reports course completion?

The course provider (i.e. Solomon Exam Prep) reports course completion to FINRA, NASAA’s vendor for program tracking. IARs should still keep a record of their completed courses for their own records. Solomon Exam Prep will distribute a course completion notice, once credits are reported, for this reason.

Is there a reporting fee?

Yes, the reporting fee, also known as the roster fee, is $3 per credit hour. For Solomon IAR CE courses, the reporting fee is included in the cost of the course or membership. Solomon submits the reporting fee and course completion information to FINRA, the manager of NASAA’s CE reporting database.

How do I make sure my completion of the annual IAR CE requirement is shown in FINRA’s CE reporting database?

The course provider (i.e. Solomon Exam Prep) is responsible for reporting successful completion information to both the IAR and to FINRA. To do this, Solomon must collect the IAR’s CRD number, and first and last names. The IAR is responsible for communicating this information to Solomon when prompted. The IAR is also responsible for ensuring they receive documentation of courses completed and keeping track of the number of CE credits awarded for each course.

For more information about IAR Continuing Education, visit the NASAA FAQs page.

Wisconsin Adopts Continuing Education Requirement for Investment Adviser Representatives

Wisconsin is the latest state to adopt the new NASAA continuing education requirement for investment adviser representatives. Continue reading

On January 24th, Wisconsin became the latest state to adopt NASAA’s new continuing education requirements for Investment Adviser Representatives.

Starting in 2022, every investment adviser representative (IAR) registered in a jurisdiction that has adopted the NASAA model rule will be subject to the CE requirement. The requirement applies to all registered IARs of both state-registered and federal-covered investment advisers.

Affected IARs will have to complete 12 credits of CE coursework each year. Six credits must be about product knowledge and industry practices, called Products and Practices CE. The other six credits must be about ethical and regulatory obligations, called Ethics and Professional Responsibility CE, and at least three of these must specifically be about ethics.

For Wisconsin and other states that adopt the CE requirement this year, the requirement will go into effect on January 1, 2023. For states that adopted the CE requirement last year (Maryland, Mississippi, and Vermont), it is currently in effect.

Solomon Exam Prep’s NASAA-approved IAR CE courses will be available soon. To stay informed, visit the Solomon website and join our Continuing Education email list.

How to Pass the MSRB Series 50 Exam

How do you prepare for a challenging securities exam like the Series 50? Solomon shares insights about the test and how to study successfully. Continue reading

The Series 50, also known as the Municipal Advisor Representative Qualification Examination, was developed by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) to set professional standards and ensure a basic level of industry knowledge for municipal advisor representatives. Passing the Series 50 exam qualifies you to provide advice about municipal financial products to, or on behalf of, municipal entities. That means you will be able to help municipalities through the process of issuing securities and advise them on how to invest their proceeds.

The registration category, “Municipal Advisor Representative,” was created to comply with the Dodd-Frank Act, which Congress passed in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Municipal advisor firms must have at least one individual who has passed the Series 50 in order to engage in municipal advisory activities.

Whether you have years of professional experience, or you’re just starting out in the industry, the Series 50 can be a challenging exam and requires ample study time. Solomon recommends studying for 60 hours over a four-week period. That might seem daunting, but understanding what the test is like and how to study for it will set you on the path to being well-prepared for exam day.