Introduction to the Series 65 Exam

The Series 65, officially known as the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam, is designed to test an individual's knowledge and ability to advise clients in the area of investing and to discuss general financial concepts. If you have a basic understanding of finance, economics and investing, you will have a huge head start, but various laws and regulations are also covered, making studying much harder.

Who Needs the Series 65?

Many financial firms require registered representatives to provide investment advice. Series 65 test candidates' comprehension of financial concepts and qualifies them to give investment advice and charge a fee for doing so. Most state securities regulators have set the Series 65 as the minimum requirement to become an investment advisor representative (IAR).

Registered investment advisor firms (RIAs) require these representatives to interact with current and potential clients. So if you are currently looking for a career in a financial advisory position, Series 65 could be an asset to your résumé. If you don't have it yet, it could be a requirement that you get it once you get hired. The test is less difficult than the more comprehensive designations and certificates such as the certified financial planner (CFP) or chartered investment counselor (CIC).

Who Doesn't Need the Series 65?

If you are not charging a fee and you do not regularly provide advice on securities, then you most likely do not need to get your Series 65 license. This is rarely the case.

Other certificates and licenses can be deemed sufficient training in place of the Series 65 and exempt the holders from having to take this exam. For example, most states will exempt you from the Series 65 if you have the certified financial planner (CFP) certification, chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation, charter financial consultant (ChFC), personal financial specialist (PFS), or certified investment management analyst (CIMA). Note that the requirements will widely vary across certifications as well as states.

Also, if you hold a Series 7 and a Series 66 license, most states will accept this as adequate training and not require a Series 65 exam. On rare occasions, a representative can apply for exemption from the Series 65 exam and still become an investment advisor representative, but 15 to 20 years of experience in the field might be necessary. It is important to note that you must be in good standing with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which administers the exams, and it is always necessary to check with the state regulations to ensure you are eligible for exemption.

Eligibility

You do not need to be employed by or sponsored by a FINRA member firm in order to register and take the series 65 exam. It will affect what form you need to fill out upon registering: If you are sponsored, a Form U4 needs to be filled out and submitted; if you are not, you can register online. Both can be done on FINRA's website. This exam is one of the more basic exams and does not require any other prerequisites to be eligible.

Once registered, you have 120 days to take the exam before you need to register again; this is called your exam window. If you fail, you can retake the exam after waiting 30 days. But if you fail three times, you need to wait 180 days, after which you can register again. There is no limit to the number of exams a candidate can take.

The Series 65 Exam Content

The exam covers topics such as:

• Economics and Business Information (15%): Economic cycles, financial reporting, and types of risk
• Investment Vehicle Characteristics (25%): Types of investments, including fixed income, equity and other securities, and valuing these
• Client Investment Recommendations and Strategies (30%): Types of clients, tax considerations, developing a client profile and applying your understanding of risk, and portfolio theory
• Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines (30%): Federal Securities Acts, regulations, ethical behavior

The candidate answers 130 questions plus 10 pretest questions and has 180 minutes as a time limit. It is done electronically, and the score is presented right after the exam, with a breakdown of the scoring in each section. To pass, the candidate needs to score 92 correct answers out of 130.

The Bottom Line

The Series 65 exam is required for individuals who want to become IARs and offer fee-based financial advice. It tests knowledge of investment principles, regulations, and client strategies, covering topics like economics, portfolio management, and legal guidelines.