Series 24

Study Question of the Month – January

This month’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Submit your answer for a chance to win a $10 Starbucks gift card! Relevant to the Series 7, 24, 26, 27, 51, 52, 53, 62, 79, 82, 99. –ANSWER POSTED– Continue reading

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

***Submit your answer to info@solomonexamprep.com to be entered to win a $10 Starbucks gift card.***

Question (Relevant to the Series 7, Series 24, Series 26, Series 27, Series 51, Series 52, Series 53, Series 62, Series 79, Series 82, Series 99)

Jon and Jenny are married. They each have an individual account and they have a joint account owned by both of them. What is the combined maximum SIPC coverage for all their accounts?

Answers:

A. $500,000

B. $1,000,000

C. $1,500,000

D. $750,000

Correct Answer: C. $1,500,000

Rationale: SIPC covers a maximum of $500,000 per “separate customer” at a broker-dealer or clearing firm including up to $250,000 in cash.Total coverage can be higher for multiple accounts if the accounts are considered to be held by separate customers. There are five categories of separate customers defined by SIPC. These categories include 1) individual accounts, 2) joint accounts, 3) accounts held by executors, administrators, and guardians/custodians/conservators (such as UGMA accounts), 4) accounts held by corporations, partnerships, or unincorporated associations, and 5) trust accounts. Thus, two individual accounts held by two different people, and one joint account would be considered three separate customers by the SIPC, and therefore subject to a maximum of $1,500,000 of coverage.

Congratulations! This month’s winner is Abe B.

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

Study Question of the Month – December

This month’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Submit your answer for a chance to win a $10 Starbucks gift card! Relevant to the Series 7, Series 24, Series 62, Series 65, Series 66, and Series 79. –ANSWER POSTED– Continue reading

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

***Submit your answer to info@solomonexamprep.com to be entered to win a $10 Starbucks gift card.***

Question (Relevant to the Series 7, Series 24, Series 62, Series 65, Series 66, and Series 79 ):

A popular type of business structure that does not limit an owner’s personal liability for the actions and/or debts of the entity and does not have to pay corporate taxes on profits is a:

Answers:

A. LLC

B. C corporation

C. S corporation

D. Sole proprietorship

Correct Answer: D. Sole proprietorship

Rationale: LLCs, S Corporations and C Corporations all offer some form of limited liability to their owners. LLCs and S Corporations are so-called “pass through“ entities and do not pay taxes on profits at the entity level (as opposed to C Corporations which do). The correct answer to this question is a sole proprietorship. A sole proprietorship does not offer an owner any liability protection and is not required to file corporate income tax returns.

Congratulations! This month’s winner is Jeffrey B.

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

Testimonial Tuesday: November 25, 2014 Edition

“I passed the 24 the first time with the help of the Solomon materials…” Continue reading

“I passed the 24 the first time with the help of the Solomon materials. The online course and the exams really helped focus in and clarify what was important. I’ve recommended them to all of my colleagues!”

-Corrinne Kaucher, Austin, TX

— Read more reviews here: Solomon Exam Prep Reviews —

Solomon’s Industry News: November 2014 Edition

Solomon Exam Prep is happy to release this month’s edition of “Solomon’s Industry News.” Continue reading

Solomon Exam Prep is happy to release this month’s edition of “Solomon’s Industry News.” Every month we will send out industry updates from the past month, so you can stay current and up-to-date on everything that is happening here at Solomon Exam Prep and in the industry.

Check out this month’s edition here: Solomon’s Industry News – November 2014.

To be added to our monthly mailing list, please click here.

“The Solomon Exam Prep Guide: Series 24 General Securities Principal Qualification Examination, 2nd Edition” Exam Study Guide Now Available

In response to the new FINRA Series 24 outline, Solomon Exam Prep restructures its Series 24 Exam Study Guide giving Solomon students the most up-to-date Series 24 study materials available. Continue reading

In response to the new FINRA Series 24 outline, Solomon Exam Prep restructures its Series 24 Exam Study Guide giving Solomon students the most up-to-date Series 24 study materials available.

Solomon Exam Prep is pleased to announce the publication of the online study guide, “The Solomon Exam Prep Guide: Series 24 General Securities Principal Qualification Examination, 2nd Edition” (https://solomonexamprep.com/series24/exam-study-guide).

As of October 13, 2014 FINRA has revised the Series 24 General Securities Principal Exam outline to include new rules and laws, including the adoption of rules from the consolidated FINRA rulebook. The new Series 24 exam outline will be categorized by function, rather than by the current sections. In addition, in the new Series 24 each function will include specific tasks describing activities associated with performing that function, similar to the revised Series 7 and Series 6 exam outlines.

This brand-new edition reflects the revised FINRA exam outline format for October 2014, and includes the latest information on asset-backed securities, including new sections on Regulations AB and ABII and static pool analysis. Written by Karen Solomon, Ph.D., and Al Schaller, M.A., the guide works in three mutually reinforcing ways: it focuses on the most important aspects of the exam, it provides the reader with plenty of practice questions with detailed rationales, and it continually reminds them of the importance of taking the test in the first place: to protect investors.

For more information, or to order “The Solomon Exam Prep Guide: Series 24 General Securities Principal Qualification Examination, 2nd Edition,” please go to: https://solomonexamprep.com/series24/exam-study-guide.

Study Question of the Week: August 27, 2014 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 6, 7, 24, 26, 55, 62, 79, and 82. –ANSWER POSTED– Continue reading

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

Study ? of the Week

Question (Relevant to the Series 6, Series 7, Series 24, Series 26, Series 55, Series 62, Series 79, and Series 82):

What is the maximum civil penalty that can be imposed on a firm when an employee engages in insider trading?

Answers:

A. The greater of $1,000,000, or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided as a result of the violation

B. The lesser of $1,000,000, or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided as a result of the violation

C. Three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided as a result of the violation

D. $0

Correct Answer: A. The greater of $1,000,000, or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided as a result of the violation

Rationale: The maximum civil penalty that can be imposed on a firm when an employee engages in insider trading is the greater of $1,000,000, or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided as a result of the violation.

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

Study Question of the Week: August 20, 2014 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 7, 24, 62, 65, 79, 82, and 99. –ANSWER POSTED– Continue reading

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

Study ? of the Week

Question (Relevant to the Series 7, Series 24, Series 62, Series 65, Series 79, Series 82, and Series 99):

To qualify as a REIT, a company must do all of the following EXCEPT:

Answers:

A. Invest at least 75% of its assets into real estate or cash

B. Distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to shareholders annually in the form of dividends

C. Have a minimum of 100 shareholders after its first year of operation, and no more than 50% of its shares may be held by five or fewer individuals during the last half of any taxable year

D. Derive at least 90% of its gross income from its real estate sources

Correct Answer: D. Derive at least 90% of its gross income from its real estate sources

Rationale: A Real Estate Investment Trust is a company that owns and operates income-producing real estate, such as office buildings, apartments, malls, hotels and resorts. They differ from other real estate companies in that they are required to operate the properties they develop after they have built them, rather than selling them off. Most REITs specialize in a single type of real estate.

To qualify as a REIT, it must:

Invest at least 75% of its assets into real estate or cash
Distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to shareholders annually in the form of dividends
Be a corporation, trust, or association that would be taxable as a domestic corporation except for its status as a REIT.
Be managed by a board of directors and have ‘unit’ shares that are fully transferable
Have a minimum of 100 shareholders after its first year of operation, and no more than 50% of its shares may be held by five or fewer individuals during the last half of any taxable year
Derive at least 75% of its gross income from its real estate sources
Derive at least 95% of its gross income from those real estate sources mentioned above and dividends and interest from other sources
Have no more than 25% of its assets in securities of taxable REIT subsidiaries

By annually distributing at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders, REIT income is not taxed at the entity level. This is huge benefit to the REIT. However, because this income has never been taxed, dividend distributions to shareholders are not considered “qualified dividends,“ instead REIT dividends are generally taxed as ordinary income at the investor’s top marginal rate.

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

Testimonial Tuesday: August 19, 2014 Edition

“After following Solomon’s six week study outline and making flashcards for my weakest areas, I was averaging in the high 80’s on the Solomon practice exams. That gave me the confidence I needed to walk into the test center…” Continue reading

“I was very apprehensive about the Series 24 exam prior to taking it. Everyone I knew who had taken it informed me that it was an incredibly difficult test, with questions that were meant to trick you. After following Solomon’s six week study outline and making flashcards for my weakest areas, I was averaging in the high 80’s on the Solomon practice exams. That gave me the confidence I needed to walk into the test center feeling prepared, and the knowledge I needed to walk out of the test center having scored an 88. I am now recommending the Solomon Series 24 materials to everyone at the office!” – Janie R., Austin, TX

Read more reviews here: Solomon Exam Prep Reviews

Exam Alert: FINRA to Change Series 24 Exam

On July 29, 2014, FINRA filed a proposed revision to the content and structure of the Series 24 General Securities Principal exam. This will update the Series 24 to include new rules and laws, including the adoption of rules from the consolidated FINRA rulebook. The new Series 24 exam outline will be categorized by function, rather than by the current sections. In addition, in the new Series 24 each function will include specific tasks describing activities associated with performing that function, similar to the revised Series 7 and Series 6 exam outlines.

The question distribution will change as well. However, the total number of questions (150), amount of time available to complete the exam (3 hours 45 minutes), and passing score (70%) will remain the same. Also, the Series 24 will continue to include 10 additional, unidentified and unscored “pre-test questions” which means the Series 24 will continue to consist of 160 questions, 150 of which will be scored. The 10 unscored pre-test questions will continue to be randomly distributed throughout the examination.

Unless the SEC objects, FINRA’s proposed revision to its Series 24 exam will be implemented on October 13, 2014.

Source: Proposed Rule Change to Revise the Series 24 Examination Program

This alert applies to the Series 24.

Study Question of the Week: June 4, 2014 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 7, Series 24, Series 62, 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.

Study ? of the Week

Question (Relevant to the Series 7, Series 24, Series 62, Series 79, and Series 82):

Under Rule 144, which of the following persons would be subject to holding period limits on a re-sale?

Answers:

A. A C.E.O who holds 10,000 shares of the publicly traded company he runs

B. A C.E.O who purchased 10,000 shares of restricted securities two years ago of the company that he runs

C. A person who is not an affiliate purchased 10,000 shares in a private placement 1 year ago

D. A person who is not an affiliate purchased 10,000 shares of a company’s stock 2 months ago from an affiliate of the company

Correct Answer: D. A person who is not an affiliate purchased 10,000 shares of a company’s stock 2 months ago from an affiliate of the company

Rationale: If a person purchases shares from an affiliate, the shares are considered restricted, even if they were not restricted in the affiliates’ hands and therefore subject to holding period limits. Holding period limits are 6 months for reporting companies and 1 year for non-reportng companies.

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