Exam Alert: SEC Issues Bulletin Regarding Diminished Financial Capacity

On June 1, 2015, the SEC issued an investor bulletin about “diminished financial capacity”, which refers to when an individual becomes unable to manage their finances. They recommend a number of steps for individuals to take to prepare for such a condition. Continue reading

Exam AlertOn June 1, 2015, the SEC issued an investor bulletin about “diminished financial capacity”, which refers to when an individual becomes unable to manage their finances. They recommend a number of steps for individuals to take to prepare for such a condition. These steps include:

  • Organize important documents and keep them safe and accessible
  • Give your financial professionals emergency contacts
  • Keep your information and contacts updated
  • Report financial fraud and abuse

Some other options to consider include:

  • Authorizing a durable power of attorney
  • Getting someone you trust involved

Source: Investor Bulletin and Consumer Advisory: Planning for Diminished Capacity and Illness

This alert applies to the Series 6, Series 7, Series 52, Series 65, and Series 66.

Study Question of the Month – February

This month’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 7, 52, and 65. –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.***

 Study Question

Question (Relevant to the Series 7Series 52, and Series 65) 

Jenny lives in Minnesota. She is comparing a Washington state municipal bond that pays 5% to similar corporate bonds. She has a federal tax rate of 20% and a State rate of 4%. What yield will the corporate bond have to pay to be equivalent to the municipal bond?

Answers:

A. 4%

B. 5%

C. 6.25%

D. 6.58%

Correct Answer: C. 6.25%

Rationale: Because Jenny lives in Minnesota, the interest on her municipal bond will be tax-exempt at the federal level, but not at the state level. To calculate the tax-equivalent yield of a municipal bond, simply take the rate of the municipal bond and divide it by 1 minus the tax rate. So the tax equivalent yield = .05/(1-.20) = .0625 or 6.25%.

Congratulations! This month’s winner is Ruth K.

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

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.***

 Study Question

Question (Relevant to the Series 7Series 24, Series 26, Series 27, Series 51, Series 52, Series 53Series 62Series 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.

MSRB Rule Changes: Series 51, 52, and 53

The MSRB has added two new rules effective July 9, 2014. They are Rule G-47 (Time of Trade Disclosure) and Rule G-48 (Transactions with Sophisticated Municipal Market Professionals). MSRB has also amended Rule G-3 (Classification of Principals and Representatives) and Rule G-19 (Suitability), effective September 30, 2014. These four changes coordinate MSRB rules with FINRA rules and remove regulatory redundancies. Continue reading

The MSRB has added two new rules effective July 9, 2014. They are Rule G-47 (Time of Trade Disclosure) and Rule G-48 (Transactions with Sophisticated Municipal Market Professionals). MSRB has also amended Rule G-3 (Classification of Principals and Representatives) and Rule G-19 (Suitability), effective September 30, 2014. These four changes coordinate MSRB rules with FINRA rules and remove regulatory redundancies.

MSRB Rule G-3.  MSRB narrows the definition of Limited Representative – Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products (Series 6). Under FINRA rules, a Series 6 license only allows individuals to be involved in the purchase and sale of funds and variable products. The new MSRB rule will now be consistent with the FINRA rules. Representatives who want to participate in broader activities, such as underwriting, research and investment advice must now take and pass the Municipal Securities Representative Qualification Examination (Series 52).

Amended Rule G-3 also eliminates the designation of Municipal Securities Financial and Operations Principal (FINOP). Since municipal securities dealers that require a FINOP are also FINRA members and since FINRA has similar FINOP requirements, Rule G-3 eliminates the redundancy by removing its separate FINOP designation.

MSRB Rule G-19.  MSRB’s amended suitability rule conforms to FINRA’s own recent changes to its rule. Specifically, the amended rule recognizes three components to a broker-dealer’s suitability obligations. First, a broker-dealer must understand the complexity and risks of a security or investment strategy and consciously decide its suitability for at least some investors. Second, it must reasonably believe that a recommendation is suitable for a particular customer based on the customer’s personal and investment profile. Third, when a broker-dealer has control over a customer account, it must reasonably believe that a series of recommended securities transactions are not excessive.

MSRB Rule G-47.  This new rule requires broker-dealers to disclose to its customers all material information about a transaction and the security at or prior to the time of trade. Information is considered “material” if a reasonable investor is likely to consider it important in making an investment decision. Disclosures must include a complete description of the security and any facts important to assessing the potential risks of the investment.

MSRB Rule G-48.  Rule G-48 exempts broker-dealers from any obligation to disclose material information to customers who are sophisticated municipal market professionals (SMMPSs). It also exempts broker-dealers from informing an SMMP that the price of a secondary market agency transaction is fair and reasonable, as long as the broker-dealer has not recommended the transaction or exercised discretion as to its execution. Finally, Rule G-48 exempts broker-dealers from the obligation to perform a customer-specific suitability analysis for an SMMP.

Study Question of the Week: August 14, 2014 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 7, 51, 52, 53, 62, 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 51, Series 52, Series 53Series 62, Series 82, and Series 99): 

When money is regularly put into an escrow account in order to redeem the bonds before maturity this is called:

Answers: 

A. A sinking fund redemption

B. Advance refunding

C. Defeasement

D. A make whole provision

Correct Answer: A. A sinking fund redemption

Rationale: A sinking fund redemption requires the issuer to set money aside regularly in a reserve account for the redemption of the bonds before maturity.

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

Study Question of the Week: July 9, 2014 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 7, 51, 52, 53, 62, 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 7Series 51Series 52Series 53, Series 62, Series 79, Series 82, and Series 99): 

When new bonds are issued with the purpose of using the proceeds to pay off older bonds, it is called?

Answers:

A. Refunding

B. Defeasement

C. A sinking fund redemption

D. A bond SWAP

Correct Answer: A. Refunding

Rationale: A bond refunding is the replacement of existing bonds with new “refunding“ bonds. The issuer of refunding bonds often seeks to lower its interest payments by paying off its previously issued (refunded) bonds with newly issued bonds that pay interest at a lower rate. Another reason to refund existing bonds may be to release the issuer from legal covenants or restrictions in the original indenture.

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

Study Question of the Week: July 2, 2014 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 7, Series 51, Series 52, Series 53, and Series 62. –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 7Series 51Series 52Series 53, and Series 62): 

A flat bond is a bond that:

Answers:

A. Has a fixed interest rate

B. Is quoted in terms of its yield-to-maturity

C. Has no call provision

D. Does not trade with accrued interest

Correct Answer: D. Does not trade with accrued interest

Rationale: Bonds are quoted at a flat price, also called a clean price, meaning that accrued interest is not factored into the quotation. Bonds generally trade at a “dirty” price, with accrued interest factored in. Sometimes bonds trade flat, however, meaning that the bond carries no accrued interest. Bonds in default and zero coupon bonds are two examples of bonds that trade flat.

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

Study Question of the Week: June 25, 2014 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 7, Series 51, Series 52, Series 53, Series 62, Series 79, Series 82, and Series 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 51Series 52, Series 53, Series 62, Series 79, Series 82, and Series 99): 

Why would a bond issuer decide to issue an advance refunding bond?

Answers:

A. Because interest rates have risen

B. To lock into the current lower interest rates

C. Because the CPI has gone up

D. To try to increase the yield on their bond issue

Correct Answer: B. To lock into the current lower interest rates

Rationale: A bond refunding is the replacement of existing bonds with new “refunding“ bonds. The issuer of refunding bonds seeks to lower its interest payments by paying off its previously issued (refunded) bonds with newly issued bonds that pay a lower interest rate. An advance refunding bond refers to one in which more than 90 days must elapse before the refunded bond can be retired. An issuer typically uses advance refunding when interest rates have dropped significantly, but the next call date is not in the near future. An advance refunding bond allows the issuer to lock in the lower interest rates now without risking that they rise before the call date arrives.

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

Study Question of the Week: June 18, 2014 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 7, Series 52, and Series 65. –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 7Series 52, and Series 65): 

Jenny lives in Minnesota. She is comparing a Washington state municipal bond that pays 5% to similar corporate bonds. She has a federal tax rate of 20% and a State rate of 4%. What yield will the corporate bond have to pay to be equivalent to the municipal bond?

Answers:

A. 4%

B. 5%

C. 6.25%

D. 6.58%

Correct Answer: C. 6.25%

Rationale: Because Jenny lives in Minnesota, the interest on her municipal bond will be tax-exempt at the federal level, but not at the state level. To calculate the tax-equivalent yield of a municipal bond, simply take the rate of the municipal bond and divide it by 1 minus the tax rate. So the tax equivalent yield = .05/(1-.20) = .0625 or 6.25%.

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

Study Question of the Week: June 12, 2014 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 7, Series 52, Series 62, Series 65, 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 52Series 62, Series 65Series 79, and Series 82): 

All of the following is true of the Securities Act of 1933 except?

Answers: 

A. One of its purpose is to prohibit fraud and deceit in the marketing of securities

B. It requires that all securities are registered with the federal government prior to offering them for sale

C. The Act requires that a company’s financial statements are certified by independent accountants

D. It regulates how securities are issued and first sold to the public

Correct Answer: B. It requires that all securities are registered with the federal government prior to offering them for sale

Rationale: The Securities Exchange Act of 1933 has two main purposes: (1) to require that companies publicly disclose all relevant financial information about their securities prior to offering them for sale, and (2) to prohibit fraud and deceit in the marketing of securities. The Act requires that most securities be registered with the
federal government prior to their sale, but there are securities that are exempt from registration. The Act regulates how securities are issued and first sold to the public.

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