Career Guides for Getting Licensed
Plain-language answers about sponsorship, exam costs and what comes next, each with links to the official FINRA and NASAA pages.
Do You Need a Sponsor to Take the Series 7?
Yes, the Series 7 requires association with and sponsorship by a FINRA member firm. The SIE does not. See who can sit for which exam.
What to Do After You Pass the SIE
The SIE alone does not register you. See the next exam, how long a SIE pass stays valid, and the state exams that may come after.
What It Costs to Get Licensed as a Financial Advisor
Official exam fees for the SIE, Series 7, 63, 65 and 66, plus FINRA's cancellation and reschedule fees. Other costs are noted, not guessed.
Can You Be a Financial Advisor Part-Time?
What the exam and registration steps involve, why you must tell your firm about outside work, and what one firm says about part-time hours.
Running a finance club or career office? Free exam-prep kit for schools