People wishing to enter the financial advising business can obtain a license before looking for a job. One of those tests is the Series 65 Exam and the license it gives you is the Registered Investment Advisor designation.
The exam itself is a 130 question multiple choice test. Contrary to what some think, there is no educational pre-requisite to take this test. A finance degree or other college degree is not required. A degree in finance or otherwise certainly helps in the job market though. Still, having some designations going in, and showing your willingness to succeed in the financial advising business can be enough.
The Series 65 exam centers around the primary investment vehicles that are out there: Bonds, Stocks, some funds. The risk associated with these investment types is also covered at great length. The test also includes analysis topics, such as: Balance sheet overview, P/E ratio and a few other formulas. Also some technical analysis areas like: Trading ranges, support and resistance levels of stocks, and trends.
Suitability and recommendations are key areas on the Series 65 exam as well. That is really what advising is all about when you think about it. What tax bracket an investor is in and are they suitable for tax free bonds. Age and income of the person, which could be used in determining length and credit rating of the investment or financial plan.
There are also rules and regulations on the exam. Most of these center around the Investment Advisors Act and Uniform Securities Act. These areas of the exam are mostly memorization and not difficult to get down.
The exam preparation time with material provided by American Investment Training is about 4 weeks or so. Taking the practice tests and carefully reading the answer explanations is a great way to "tone up" in the final 2 weeks. Passing grade for the Series 65 is 68.5%. You can register for the exam using the U-10 form that can be provided with the course. Once you register to take the exam, you will have 120 days to take the test with that registration. That is plenty of time to get ready. There is an exam fee of $110 to take the test.
If a student fails, they must wait 30 days to take the test again. The Series 65 Exam is given on computer by Prometric testing centers. There are hundreds of these centers, with locations in every state and select international locations. Once you have studied and have registered using the form, you will receive a confirmation with the 800# to reach any testing center in the country.
The Series 65 license looks very strong on a resume and is suitable for many many people. CPA's, Attorneys, Mortgage Brokers, Stockbrokers and estate planners see the advantage in obtaining this license. The job market in finance is tough sometimes, so why not improve your credentials?
Give yourself an edge over other candidates by passing the Series 65 exam.
Good Luck!
Nick Hunter is the President of American Investment Training, Inc. (AIT) http://www.aitraining.com. He has personally taught thousands of students in the securities industry for over 15 years. AIT produces home study training courses for the financial industry and to individuals looking for education and licenses.
