Can You Be a Financial Advisor Part-Time?

The steps do not mention hours

You can take the SIE without any firm. A qualification exam such as the Series 7 requires association with and sponsorship by a FINRA member firm, and state exams such as the Series 63, 65 and 66 are set by state rules, so confirm yours with your state securities regulator.

Whether a given firm will take on someone who works part-time is that firm's decision.

Your current job and the firm

Under FINRA Rule 3270, a registered person may not be an employee, independent contractor, sole proprietor, officer, director or partner of another person, or be compensated by anyone else for business outside the firm relationship, without giving the firm prior written notice in the form the firm specifies. The rule has further provisions, so read it in full and ask the firm's compliance team how it applies to you.

What one firm says about the time

Parsonex, the firm behind this site, says on its own page for prospective advisors: "Plan on 10 to 15 hours a week while you're part-time." That is the firm's statement about its own program, not a rule or a standard for the industry.

A low-commitment first step

The SIE is open to anyone 18 or older without a firm, so it can be taken before any decision about a job or a firm.

Keep going

• SIE practice questions
• Series 7 practice questions
• Series 65 practice questions
• Series 66 practice questions
• Do you need a sponsor to take the Series 7?
• What it costs to get licensed