Finra Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Examination 2024 PDF

Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Examination CONTENT OUTLINE © 2024 FINRA PURPOSE OF THE EXAM The Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam assesses a candidate’s basic knowledge of the securities industry. The exam focuses on industry terminology, sec...

Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Examination CONTENT OUTLINE © 2024 FINRA PURPOSE OF THE EXAM The Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam assesses a candidate’s basic knowledge of the securities industry. The exam focuses on industry terminology, securities products, the structure and function of the markets, regulatory agencies and their functions, and regulated and prohibited practices. For more information about the SIE, see FINRA Rule 1210.03. STRUCTURE OF THE EXAM The exam consists of 75 multiple-choice items, and each item consists of four answer choices. The allocation of test items is as follows: Percentage of Section Description Number of Items Exam Items 1 Knowledge of Capital Markets 16% 12 2 Understanding Products and Their Risks 44% 33 Understanding Trading, Customer Accounts and 3 31% 23 Prohibited Activities 4 Overview of the Regulatory Framework 9% 7 TOTAL 100% 75 Much of the content on the SIE outline is based on common securities industry knowledge and general concepts. This knowledge is often not based on any one rule or regulation. Examples include basic characteristics of investment products such as the relationship between the price and yield of a bond and the rights of a common stockholder. Alternately, some knowledge is based on specific rules and regulations. Examples include the reporting requirements for a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) and the Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer (Form U4) filing requirements. The exam will assess candidates on both rule- and non-rule-based industry knowledge. Several federal laws and regulations serve as the foundation for some of the knowledge contained in this outline. The content upon which the outline is based includes but is not limited to rules and regulations under the following Acts: The Securities Act of 1933 The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 The Investment Company Act of 1940 The Investment Adviser Act of 1940 ADMINISTRATION OF THE EXAM The exam is administered via computer. A tutorial on how to take the exam is provided prior to taking the exam. Each candidate’s exam includes 10 additional, unidentified pretest items that do not contribute toward the candidate's score. The pretest items are randomly distributed throughout the exam. Therefore, each candidate’s exam consists of a total of 85 items (75 scored and 10 unscored). There is no penalty for guessing. Therefore, candidates should attempt to answer all items. Candidates will be allowed 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete the SIE exam. All candidate test scores are placed on a common scale using a statistical adjustment process known as equating. Equating scores to a common scale accounts for the slight variations in difficulty that may exist among the different sets of exam items that candidates receive. This allows for a fair comparison of scores and ensures that every candidate is held to the same passing standard regardless of which set of exam items they received. Candidates are not permitted to bring reference materials to their testing session. Severe penalties are imposed on candidates who cheat or attempt to cheat on FINRA-administered exams. Please visit www.finra.org for additional details. 2 Section 1: Knowledge of Capital Markets 1.1 Regulatory Entities, Agencies and Market Participants 1.1.1 The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) The high-level purpose and mission of securities regulation Definition, jurisdiction and authority of the SEC 1.1.2 Self-regulatory Organizations (SROs) Purpose and mission of an SRO Jurisdiction and authority of SROs (e.g., CBOE, FINRA, MSRB) 1.1.3 Other Regulators and Agencies Department of the Treasury/IRS State regulators (e.g., NASAA) The Federal Reserve Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) 1.1.4 Market Participants and their Roles Investors (e.g., accredited, institutional, retail) Broker-Dealers (e.g., introducing, clearing, prime brokers) Investment advisers Municipal advisors Issuers and underwriters Traders and market makers Custodians and trustees Transfer agents Depositories and clearing corporations (e.g., Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), Options Clearing Corporation (OCC)) 1.2 Market Structure 1.2.1 Types of Markets The primary market The secondary market (e.g., electronic, over-the-counter (OTC), physical) The third market The fourth market 1.3 Economic Factors 1.3.1 The Federal Reserve Board’s Impact on Business Activity and Market Stability Monetary vs. fiscal policy Open market activities and impact on economy Different rates (e.g., interest rate, discount rate, federal funds rate) 1.3.2 Business Economic Factors Purpose of financial statements (e.g., balance sheet, income statement) Business cycle (e.g., contraction, trough, expansion, peak) Indicators (e.g., leading, lagging, coincident, inflation) Basic effects on bond and equity markets (e.g., cyclical, defensive, growth) 3  Principal economic theories (e.g., Keynesian, Monetarist) 1.3.3 International Economic Factors U.S. balance of payments Gross domestic product (GDP), gross national product (GNP) Exchange rates 1.4 Offerings Roles of participants (e.g., investment bankers, underwriting syndicate, municipal advisors) Types of offerings  Public vs. private securities offering  Initial public offering (IPO), secondary offering and follow-on offering  Methods of distribution (e.g., best efforts, firm commitment) Shelf registrations and distributions (e.g., definition, purpose) Types and purpose of offering documents and delivery requirements (e.g., official statement, program disclosure document, prospectus) Regulatory filing requirements and exemptions (e.g., SEC, blue-sky laws) Rules FINRA Rules 2266 – SIPC Information 2269 – Disclosure of Participation or Interest in Primary or Secondary Distribution 5250 – Payments for Market Making MSRB Rules G-11 – Primary Offering Practices G-32 – Disclosures in Connection with Primary Offerings G-34 – CUSIP Numbers, New Issue and Market Information Requirements SEC Rules and Regulations Securities Act of 1933 Section 7 – Information Required in a Registration Statement Section 8 – Taking Effect of Registration Statements and Amendments Thereto Section 10 – Information Required in Prospectus Section 23 – Unlawful Representations 215 – Accredited Investor 431 – Summary Prospectuses Schedule A – Schedule of Information Required in Registration Statement Schedule B – Schedule of Information Required in Registration Statement Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Section 3(a) – Definitions and Application of Title Section 12 — Registration Requirements for Securities Section 15 – Registration and Regulation of Brokers and Dealers Section 15A – Registered Securities Associations Regulation D – Rules Governing the Limited Offer and Sale of Securities Without Registration Under the Securities Act of 1933 144 – Persons Deemed Not to Be Engaged in a Distribution and Therefore Not Underwriters 144A – Private Resales of Securities to Institutions 145 – Reclassification of Securities, Mergers, Consolidations and Acquisitions of Assets 147 – "Part of an Issue," "Person Resident," and "Doing Business Within" for Purposes of Section 3(a)(11) 164 – Post-filing Free Writing Prospectuses in Connection with Certain Registered Offerings 4 Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 (SIPA) 5 Section 2: Understanding Products and Their Risks 2.1 Products 2.1.1 Equity Securities Types of equities  Common stock  Preferred stock  Rights  Warrants  American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) Knowledge of: Ownership (e.g., order of liquidation, limited liability) Voting rights Convertible Control and restrictions (e.g., SEC Rule 144) 2.1.2 Debt Instruments Treasury securities (e.g., bills, notes, receipts, bonds) Agency (e.g., asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities) Corporate bonds Municipal securities  General obligation (GO) bonds  Revenue bonds  Others (e.g., special type bonds, taxable municipal securities, short-term obligations) Others (e.g., money market instruments, certificate of deposit (CD), bankers’ acceptance, commercial paper) Knowledge of: Varying maturities Generate income (e.g., interest) Coupon value Par value Yield Ratings and rating agencies Callable and convertible features Short-term vs. long-term characteristics Relationship between price and interest rate Negotiated vs. competitive offerings via underwriters and syndicates Auction 2.1.3 Options Types of options  Puts and calls  Equity vs. index Knowledge of: Hedging or speculation Expiration date Strike price Premium 6  Underlying or cash settlement In-the-money, out-of-the money Covered vs. uncovered American vs. European Exercise and assignment Varying strategies (e.g., long, short) Special disclosures (e.g., Options Disclosure Document (ODD)) Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) for listed options 2.1.4 Packaged Products Investment companies  Types of investment companies − Closed-end funds − Open-end funds − Unit investment trusts (UITs) − Variable contracts/annuities Knowledge of: Loads Share classes Net asset value (NAV) Disclosures Costs and fees Breakpoints Right of accumulation (ROA) Letter of intent (LOI) Net transactions Surrender charges Sales charges 2.1.5 Municipal Fund Securities 529 Plans  Prepaid tuition  Savings plans Local government investment pools (LGIPs) ABLE accounts Knowledge of: Municipal fund securities Owner vs. beneficiary Restricted use of plan assets Tax advantages Direct or adviser sold 2.1.6 Direct Participation Programs (DPPs) Types of DPPs  Limited partnerships  Tenants in common (TIC) 7  Knowledge of: Pass-through tax treatment Unlisted Generally illiquid 2.1.7 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Types of REITs  Private  Registered, non-listed  Listed Knowledge of: Real estate equity or debt Tax-advantaged income without double taxation 2.1.8 Hedge Funds Knowledge of: Minimum investment Partnership structure Private equity Generally illiquid 2.1.9 Exchange-traded Products (ETPs) Types of ETPs  Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)  Exchange-traded notes (ETNs) Knowledge of: Alternative investments to mutual funds Fee considerations Active vs. passive 2.2 Investment Risks Definition and Identification of Risk Types  Capital  Credit  Currency  Inflationary/purchasing power  Interest rate/reinvestment  Liquidity  Market/systematic  Non-systematic  Political  Prepayment Strategies for Mitigation of Risk  Diversification  Portfolio rebalancing  Hedging 8 Rules FINRA Rules 2261 – Disclosure of Financial Condition 2262 – Disclosure of Financial Relationship with Issuer 2310 – Direct Participation Programs 2330 – Members’ Responsibilities Regarding Deferred Variable Annuities 2342 – “Breakpoint” Sales 2360 – Options MSRB Rules D-12 – Definition of Municipal Fund Securities G-17 – Conduct of Municipal Securities and Municipal Advisory Activities G-30 – Pricing and Commissions G-45 – Reporting of Information on Municipal Fund Securities CBOE Rule Rule 1.1 – Definitions SEC Rules and Regulations Securities Exchange Act of 1934 3a11-1 – Definition of the Term "Equity Security" 10b-18 – Purchases of Certain Equity Securities by the Issuer and Others Investment Company Act of 1940 Section 3(a) – Definitions - “Investment Company” Section 4 – Classification of Investment Companies Section 5 – Subclassification of Management Companies 12b-1 – Distribution of Shares by Registered Open-end Management Investment Company 9 Section 3: Understanding Trading, Customer Accounts and Prohibited Activities 3.1 Trading, Settlement and Corporate Actions 3.1.1 Orders and Strategies Types of orders (e.g., market, stop, limit, good-til-canceled (GTC), discretionary vs. non-discretionary, solicited vs. unsolicited) Buy and sell, bid-ask Trade capacity (e.g., principal, agency) Long and short, naked and covered Bearish and bullish 3.1.2 Investment Returns Components of return (e.g., interest, dividends, realized/unrealized gains, return on capital) Different types of dividends (e.g., cash, stock) Dividend payment dates (e.g., record date, ex-dividend date, payable date) Concepts of measurement (e.g., yield, yield to maturity (YTM), yield to call (YTC), total return, basis points) Cost basis requirements Benchmarks and indices 3.1.3 Trade Settlement Settlement time frames for various products (e.g., T, T + 1) Physical vs. book entry (e.g., delivery and settlement) 3.1.4 Corporate Actions Types of corporate actions (e.g., splits, reverse splits, buybacks, tender offers, exchange offers, rights offerings, mergers and acquisitions (M&A)) Impact of stock splits and reverse stock splits on market price and cost basis Adjustments to securities subject to corporate actions Delivery of notices and corporate action deadlines Proxies and proxy voting 3.2 Customer Accounts and Compliance Considerations 3.2.1 Account Types and Characteristics Cash Margin Options Discretionary vs. non-discretionary Fee-based vs. commission Educational accounts 3.2.2 Customer Account Registrations Individual Joint Corporate/institutional Trust (e.g., revocable, irrevocable) Custodial (e.g., UTMA) Partnerships Retirement (e.g., individual retirement account (IRA), qualified plans) ◦ Types and characteristics 10  ◦ Required minimum distributions ◦ Contributions 3.2.3 Anti-money Laundering (AML) Definition of money laundering Stages of money laundering (e.g., structuring, layering, placement) AML compliance program Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) Currency Transaction Report (CTR) FinCEN Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDNs) List 3.2.4 Books and Records and Privacy Requirements Books and records retention requirements Confirmations and account statements Holding of customer mail Business continuity plans (BCP) Customer protection and custody of assets Privacy requirements (e.g., Regulation S-P) ◦ Nonpublic personal information ◦ Confidentiality of information ◦ Privacy notifications ◦ Safeguard requirements 3.2.5 Communications with the Public and General Best Interest Obligations and Suitability Requirements Communications with the public and telemarketing ◦ Classifications and general requirements ◦ Do-not-call list Best interest obligations and suitability requirements ◦ Know-your-customer (KYC) ◦ General requirements (e.g., what constitutes a recommendation) 3.3 Prohibited Activities 3.3.1 Market Manipulation Definition of market manipulation Types of market manipulation (e.g., market rumors, pump and dump, front running, excessive trading, marking the close, marking the open, backing away, freeriding) 3.3.2 Insider Trading Definition of insider trading Definition of material nonpublic information Identifying involved parties Penalties (e.g., fines, expulsion, incarceration) 3.3.3 Other Prohibited Activities Restrictions preventing associated persons from purchasing initial public offerings (IPOs) Use of manipulative, deceptive or other fraudulent devices Improper use of customers’ securities or funds ◦ Borrowing from customers ◦ Sharing in customer accounts 11  Financial exploitation of seniors Activities of unregistered persons ◦ Prohibition against paying commissions to unregistered persons ◦ Prohibition against solicitation of customers and taking orders Falsifying or withholding documents ◦ Signatures of convenience ◦ Responding to regulatory requests Prohibited activities related to maintenance of books and records (e.g., falsifying records and improper maintenance/retention of records) Rules FINRA Rules 2010 – Standards of Commercial Honor and Principles of Trade 2020 – Use of Manipulative, Deceptive or Other Fraudulent Devices 2040 – Payments to Unregistered Persons 2090 – Know Your Customer 2111 – Suitability 2120 – Commissions, Mark Ups and Charges 2150 – Improper Use of Customers’ Securities or Funds; Prohibition Against Guarantees and Sharing in Accounts 2165 – Financial Exploitation of Specified Adults 2210 – Communications with the Public 2231 – Customer Account Statements 2251 – Forwarding of Proxy and Other Issuer-related Materials 2264 – Margin Disclosure Statement 2232 – Customer Confirmations 3150 – Holding of Customer Mail 3210 – Accounts at Other Broker-Dealers and Financial Institutions 3230 – Telemarketing 3240 – Borrowing from or Lending to Customers 3250 – Designation of Accounts 3260 – Discretionary Accounts 3310 – Anti-money Laundering Compliance Program 4210 – Margin Requirements 4370 – Business Continuity Plans and Emergency Contact Information 4511 – General Requirements 4512 – Customer Account Information 4514 – Authorization Records for Negotiable Instruments Drawn From a Customer's Account 5130 – Restrictions on the Purchase and Sale of Initial Equity Public Offerings 5210 – Publication of Transactions and Quotations 5220 – Offers at Stated Prices 5230 – Payments Involving Publications that Influence the Market Price of a Security 5240 – Anti-intimidation/Coordination 5270 – Front Running of Block Transactions 5280 – Trading Ahead of Research Reports 5290 – Order Entry and Execution Practices 5310 – Best Execution and Interpositioning 5320 – Prohibition Against Trading Ahead of Customer Orders 6438 – Displaying Priced Quotations in Multiple Quotation Mediums MSRB Rules G-8 – Books and Records to be Made by Brokers, Dealers, Municipal Securities Dealers, and Municipal Advisors 12  G-9 – Preservation of Records G-13 – Quotations G-14 – Reports of Sales or Purchases G-15 – Confirmation, Clearance, Settlement and Other Uniform Practice Requirements with Respect to Transactions with Customers G-18 – Best Execution G-21 – Advertising G-25 – Improper Use of Assets G-39 – Telemarketing G-41 – Anti-money Laundering Compliance Program G-47 – Time of Trade Disclosure SEC Rules and Regulations Regulation M Regulation S-P – Privacy of Consumer Financial Information and Safeguarding Personal Information Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Section 10 – Regulation of the Use of Manipulative and Deceptive Devices Section 11(d) – Trading by Members of Exchanges, Brokers and Dealers – “Prohibition on Extension of Credit by Broker-Dealer” Section 14 – Proxies Section 15 – Rules Relating to Over-the-Counter Markets Section 20A – Liability to Contemporaneous Traders for Insider Trading Section 21A – Civil Penalties for Insider Trading 10b-1 – Prohibition of Use of Manipulative or Deceptive Devices or Contrivances with Respect to Certain Securities Exempted from Registration 10b-3 – Employment of Manipulative and Deceptive Devices by Brokers or Dealers 10b-5 – Employment of Manipulative and Deceptive Devices 10b5-1 – Trading on Material Nonpublic Information in Insider Trading Cases 10b5-2 – Duties of Trust or Confidence in Misappropriation Insider Trading Cases 10b-10 – Confirmation of Transactions 15c1-2 – Fraud and Misrepresentation 15c1-3 – Misrepresentation by Brokers, Dealers and Municipal Securities Dealers as to Registration 15c2-12 – Municipal Securities Disclosure 15l-1 – Regulation Best Interest 17a-3 – Records to be Made by Certain Exchange Members, Brokers and Dealers 17a-4 – Records to be Preserved by Certain Exchange Members, Brokers and Dealers 17a-14 – Form CRS, for Preparation, Filing and Delivery of Form CRS Investment Company Act of 1940 17a-6 – Exemption for Transactions with Portfolio Affiliates 17a-7 – Exemption of Certain Purchase or Sale Transactions Between an Investment Company and Certain Affiliated Persons Thereof Insider Trading & Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of 1988 (ITSFEA) Federal Reserve Board Regulation T Federal Trade Commission Telemarketing Sales Rule USA PATRIOT Act Section 314 – Cooperative Efforts to Deter Money Laundering Section 326 – Verification of Identification Section 352 – Anti-Money Laundering Programs 13 Section 4: Overview of the Regulatory Framework 4.1 SRO Regulatory Requirements for Associated Persons 4.1.1 Registration and Continuing Education SRO qualification and registration requirements ◦ Definition of registered vs. non-registered person ◦ Permitted activities of registered and non-registered persons ◦ Ineligibility for membership or association ◦ Background checks ◦ Fingerprinting ◦ Statutory disqualification ◦ Failing to register an associated person State registration requirements (e.g., blue-sky laws) Continuing Education (CE) requirement ◦ Firm Element ◦ Regulatory Element 4.2 Employee Conduct and Reportable Events 4.2.1 Employee Conduct Form U4 and Form U5 (e.g., purpose, when to update forms) Consequences of filing misleading information or omitting information Customer complaints Potential red flags 4.2.2 Reportable Events Outside business activities Private securities transactions Reporting of political contributions and consequences for exceeding dollar contribution thresholds Dollar and value limits for gifts and gratuities and non-cash compensation Business entertainment Felony, financial-related misdemeanors, liens, bankruptcy Rules FINRA By-Laws Article I – Definitions Article III – Qualifications of Members and Associated Persons Article IV – Membership Article V – Registered Representatives and Associated Persons Article VI – Dues, Assessments, and Other Charges Article XII – Disciplinary Proceedings Article XV – Limitations of Power FINRA Rules 0100 Series – General Standards 1000 Series – Member Application and Associated Person Registration 1122 – Filing of Misleading Information as to Membership or Registration 1240 – Continuing Education 2060 – Use of Information Obtained in Fiduciary Capacity 2263 – Arbitration Disclosure to Associated Persons Signing or Acknowledging Form U4 14  2267 – Investor Education and Protection 2310(c) – Non-cash Compensation 2320(g)(4) – Non-cash Compensation 2341(l)(5) – Non-cash Compensation 3110(e) – Responsibility of Member to Investigate Applicants for Registration 3220 – Influencing or Rewarding the Employees of Others 3270 – Outside Business Activities of Registered Persons 3280 – Private Securities Transactions of an Associated Person 4513 – Written Customer Complaints 4330 – Customer Protection – Permissible Use of Customers' Securities 4530 – Reporting Requirements 5110(h) – Non-cash Compensation 8312 – FINRA’s BrokerCheck Disclosure CBOE Rule 7.10 – Fingerprint-based Background Checks of Exchange Directors, Officers, Employees and Others MSRB Rules G-2 – Standards of Professional Qualifications G-3 – Professional Qualification Requirements G-7 – Information Concerning Associated Persons G-10 – Delivery of Investment Brochure G-20 – Gifts, Gratuities and Non-cash Compensations G-37 – Political Contributions and Prohibitions on Municipal Securities Business SEC Rules and Regulations Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Section 3(a)(39) – Definitions and Application of Title (Statutory Disqualification) 17f-2 – Fingerprinting of Securities Industry Personnel 15