This free Series 6 study guide is the core of your Series 6 study materials — it walks through every topic on the FINRA Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative exam, organized into the same four functions FINRA uses to build the test.[2]
And it’s interactive, not a wall of text: every module has built-in checkpoint quizzes, flashcards, and practice questions, so you learn by doing — not just reading.
Read it module by module, test yourself at each checkpoint, then round out your free Series 6 study resources with our practice exam and flashcards.
Series 6 Exam Snapshot
| Detail | Series 6 exam |
|---|---|
| Questions | 55 total (50 scored + 5 unscored) |
| Time limit | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% (35 of 50 scored) |
| First-time pass rate | 58% |
| Co-requisite | SIE exam + firm sponsorship |
| What it licenses | Mutual funds, variable annuities, variable life, UITs, 529s |
The exam is weighted heavily toward one function — recommendations and information is half the test — so spend your time accordingly:[2]
Module 1 · Finding Business for the Broker-Dealer
Function 1 — 24% of the exam (about 12 questions). A registered representative is often handed clients by their firm, but they also prospect for new customers and spot new opportunities for existing ones. This module covers the rules that govern how you reach out to the public and how new securities come to market.
1.1 Communicating With the Public
FINRA treats communication with the public as a core part of the job and regulates it heavily under .[3]Every communication must be fair, balanced, and in good faith — you may not omit a material fact or qualification that could affect a client’s decision, and you may not exaggerate, cherry-pick only the positives, or mislead. Burying a key disclosure in a footnote is a classic example of a misleading communication.
FINRA sorts communication into three categories, and the approval and filing rules differ for each. The dividing line is the audience:
| Category | Who it reaches | Principal approval |
|---|---|---|
| Institutional communication | Only institutional investors (banks, insurers, RIAs, large entities) | Not always required — but the firm must supervise & train |
| Retail communication | More than 25 retail investors in any 30-day period | Required before first use (with limited exceptions) |
| Correspondence | 25 or fewer retail investors in 30 days | Review/supervision required; not always pre-approval |
Other communication types worth knowing: public appearances (seminars, webinars, interviews — treated as retail communication, and any recommendation needs a reasonable basis with conflicts disclosed); the , an unaffiliated third-party article the firm can’t alter; and research reports, which carry strict objectivity rules (rating systems must be explained, analyst pay can’t be tied to investment-banking revenue, and ownership or banking relationships must be disclosed).[9]
Generic advertising under SEC Rule 135a may describe the types of securities and services a firm offers but must never name a specific security.[12]
Two special-disclosure situations show up often on the Series 6:
- Variable products. Communications about variable annuities and variable life must make the product type clear, can never imply the product or its separate account is a mutual fund, and must not present it as short-term or liquid (early withdrawals carry charges and tax penalties). Hypothetical illustrations are capped at a 12% gross assumed rate and must also show a 0% rate.
- Bank networking arrangements (FINRA Rule 3160).[4]When a firm sells from a bank’s premises, customers must be told — in writing and orally — that the products are “Not FDIC insured · No bank guarantee · May lose value.”
Recordkeeping: retail communication and IPRs must be kept on file for three years from last use. Established firms (registered 1+ year) generally file mutual fund, UIT, and variable-contract retail communication with FINRA within 10 business days of first use — but anything containing a ranking or comparison must be pre-filed 10 days before use unless the ranking comes from an independent service.[10]
1.2 The Primary Market & Describing Products to Customers
New business often comes from new issues on the primary market — where a corporation, municipality, or the federal government raises capital by selling securities for the first time (the secondary market is where investors later trade those securities among themselves). The cornerstone law is the Securities Act of 1933, passed after the 1929 crash to protect investors through disclosure.[5] It requires non-exempt issuers to file a registration statement (an S-1) with the SEC and deliver a to buyers.

- 1
Issuer + underwriter file the S-1
The issuer (raising capital) and the underwriter (usually a broker-dealer) file a registration statement with the SEC.
- 2
Cooling-off period (min. 20 days)
The SEC reviews the filing. The security is 'in registration.' Reps may send a red herring, publish a tombstone ad, and collect indications of interest — but cannot sell, take orders, or accept money.
- 3
Registration becomes effective
The final price and remaining details are added; the final prospectus is complete.
- 4
Public offering
Orders can now be taken. The prospectus must reach the buyer no later than confirmation.
Two underwriting commitments are tested. In the underwriter buys the whole issue as principal and resells at the , keeping the spread and bearing the risk of unsold shares. In the underwriter is only an agent and takes no inventory risk:
| Type | Underwriter acts as | Who bears the risk | Variations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firm commitment | Principal (buys the issue) | Underwriter (unsold shares) | — |
| Best efforts | Agent (facilitates only) | Issuer (may not raise its target) | All-or-none (AON); Mini-max (floor & ceiling) |
During the cooling-off period, keep straight what is and isn’t allowed — a favorite exam trap:
| Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Distribute a preliminary prospectus (red herring) | Sell or offer the security for sale |
| Publish a tombstone advertisement | Distribute the final prospectus |
| Collect indications of interest | Take orders or accept money / postdated checks |
Not every issue must register. Exempt issuers include the U.S. government, municipalities, banks (but not bank-holding companies), and nonprofit, religious, and educational organizations. Other offerings are exempt by the nature of the transaction:
| Exemption | Key limits | Disclosure document |
|---|---|---|
| Reg A — Tier 1 | Up to $20M / 12 months; no investor limits | Offering circular (notice of sale) |
| Reg A — Tier 2 | Up to $75M / 12 months; non-accredited investors capped at 10% of income or net worth | Offering circular + audited financials |
| Rule 147 (intrastate) | Issuer & all buyers in one state; 80% in-state test; 6-month resale limit | State-level disclosure |
| Reg D (private placement) | Unlimited accredited investors + up to 35 non-accredited; Form D filed | Private placement memorandum |
An qualifies by meeting any one test: $200,000 income ($300,000 joint) for the last two years, $1 million net worth excluding a primary residence, insider status with the issuer, or holding a qualifying professional license (Series 7, 65, or 82).[7][11] Finally, state-level require registration by qualification (state only), coordination (state + SEC together), or notice filing (for federal covered securities).
Checkpoint · Module 1
Question 1 of 10
Which of the following entities must receive a copy of retail communications to be used by a member firm in connection with the offering of investment company shares?
Module 2 · Opening & Evaluating Customer Accounts
Function 2 — 16% of the exam (about 8 questions). Once you’ve found a customer, you have to open the right account, verify who they are, protect their information, build their financial profile, and get supervisory sign-off. This module covers account registration types, margin and retirement accounts, the rules that secure customer information, third-party trading authority, and the suitability standard behind every account.
2.1 Account Registration Types & Transfers
The account’s registration says who owns it — and that controls what happens to the assets when an owner dies. Know how each ownership type treats death and the (TOD) designation:
| Registration | On an owner's death | TOD allowed? |
|---|---|---|
| Individual (single owner) | Passes via the estate/TOD | Yes |
| JTWROS (equal shares) | Share passes to surviving owner(s) | Yes |
| Tenants in common (TIC) | Share passes to the deceased's estate; shares can be unequal | No |
| Tenants by entirety (married only) | Works like JTWROS; both must agree to sell/pledge | Yes |
Business and entity accounts turn on liability and taxation:
| Entity | Owner liability | Taxation |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | Unlimited (personal assets at risk) | On the owner's return |
| General partnership | Unlimited for all partners | Pass-through to partners |
| Limited partnership | General: unlimited; Limited: investment only | Pass-through |
| LLC / S corporation | Limited (investors protected) | Pass-through to owners |
| C corporation | Limited (investors protected) | Entity pays tax; dividends to holders |
Fiduciary accounts (trusts, guardianships) are run by someone acting for a beneficiary’s benefit. Trusts are revocable (changeable by the grantor) or irrevocable (locked once created).
Accounts for minors are custodial under UTMA/UGMA — one adult custodian, one minor beneficiary (the Series 6 defaults to UTMA).
When ownership truly changes, you generally open a new account and journal the assets over; a name change or a new authorized person on an entity account just needs a letter of authorization (LOA).
Moving an account to another firm runs through : the carrying firm validates within 1 business day and the transfer completes within 3.
2.2 Margin Accounts
A margin account lets a customer borrow from the broker-dealer to buy securities, amplifying both gains and losses. The customer pledges securities as collateral (); the firm may re-pledge them to a bank (rehypothecation) under Regulation U. Two deposit floors apply on the first purchase — the customer posts the greater of them:[17]
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Reg T initial requirement | 50% of the purchase's market value |
| FINRA minimum (first purchase) | $2,000 (or 100% of the price if it's less) |
| FINRA maintenance | Equity must stay 25% of market value (else a maintenance call) |
Retirement accounts and UTMA/UGMA custodial accounts cannot be margin accounts. The customer must sign the credit agreement and hypothecation agreement; the loan-consent form is optional. A risk-disclosure document goes out at opening and annually.

2.3 Retirement Accounts
Retirement plans are qualified (IRS-approved, ERISA-governed, pretax deductible contributions, must be a trust) or nonqualified (after-tax contributions, may discriminate). Both grow tax-deferred.[16]
| Feature | Traditional IRA | Roth IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Contributions | May be tax-deductible | After-tax (never deductible) |
| Qualified withdrawals | Taxed as ordinary income | Tax-free (age + 5-year hold) |
| Early-withdrawal penalty | 10% before (exceptions apply) | 10% on earnings before /5-yr |
| RMDs | Begin at age 73 | None during the owner's life |
The annual IRA contribution limit is indexed (currently $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up at 50+) and requires earned income; excess contributions draw a 6% penalty.
A rollover (funds touched, must be redeposited within 60 days) is allowed only once every 12 months; a direct transfer (assets move custodian-to-custodian, never touched) is unlimited. Municipal bonds, life insurance, and collectibles are not suitable IRA holdings.
Employer plans you should recognize: 401(k) and profit-sharing (defined contribution), defined benefit pensions, and SEP-IRAs; ERISA governs private-sector plans (participation at age 21 + 1 year/1,000 hours; employees are always immediately vested in their own contributions).[18]
2.4 Securing Customer Information & Authorizations
Before opening an account you must verify identity under the firm’s Customer Identification Program (CIP), required by the USA PATRIOT Act, and screen against terrorist lists.[19] The four minimum data points:
| Required | Notes |
|---|---|
| Name | Individual or legal entity |
| Date of birth | Individuals only |
| Physical address | Residential or business (P.O. box alone is not acceptable) |
| Taxpayer ID | SSN, or entity TIN; non-U.S. persons need a passport/other ID |
FINRA’s Know Your Customer rule (2090) requires reasonable diligence on every account.[14] Regulation S-P (Gramm-Leach-Bliley) protects nonpublic personal information (SSN, account numbers — not public facts like an alma mater): give a privacy notice at opening and annually, and a simple way to opt out of sharing with nonaffiliated third parties.[15] A third party can trade an account two ways:
| Authority | What it grants |
|---|---|
| Discretionary authority | Rep decides asset / action / amount (the 'three A's'); each order marked discretionary; principal approval |
| Limited POA (LPOA) | Place trades only — no withdrawals |
| Full POA (FPOA) | Trade + deposit/withdraw + change account info; 'durable' survives incapacity, ends at death |
2.5 Suitability & Opening the Account
Every recommendation must meet FINRA’s suitability standard (Rule 2111) and Reg BI — so you gather both financial (income, net worth, balance sheet) and nonfinancial (age, dependents, risk tolerance, time horizon, tax status) information, then match products to the customer’s primary objective:[13]
| Objective | Typical suitable products |
|---|---|
| Capital preservation / safety | Money-market funds, CDs, government securities, fixed annuities |
| Current income | Bonds & bond funds, preferred/blue-chip stocks; munis for high tax brackets |
| Growth (capital appreciation) | Common stock & equity mutual funds |
| Tax-free income | Municipal bonds & muni bond funds, Roth IRAs |
| Liquidity | Exchange-listed/Nasdaq securities, mutual funds (annuities are NOT liquid) |
| Speculation | Sector funds, high-yield bonds, options, precious metals |
To open the account the customer completes a new account form — but the customer does not sign it; a principal/manager signs to approve it. Update it when circumstances change and at least every 36 months, and have the customer verify the information within 30 days of opening.
If a customer won’t share enough to judge suitability, you may accept unsolicited trades but make no recommendations. An employee of another member firm needs their employer’s written consent to open the account.
Checkpoint · Module 2
Question 1 of 10
The best account for a married couple who both need access to the account and want to maintain control if one of them should pass away would be which of these?
Module 3 · Information, Recommendations & Records
Function 3 — 50% of the exam (about 25 questions). This is the most important module by far. It’s the deep product knowledge the Series 6 is built on: investment strategies and analysis, every security you can discuss, the packaged products you actually sell (mutual funds, variable annuities, variable life), how they’re priced and charged, their risks and required disclosures, and the taxation and records that follow.
Spend most of your study time here.
3.1 Investment Strategies & Analysis
Asset allocation spreads money across asset classes (stocks, bonds, cash). Strategic allocation is a passive, long-term target mix (a common model: 100 − age = % in stocks); tactical allocation actively shifts the mix to chase short-term market conditions. (Markowitz) lowers risk by combining non-correlated assets; CAPM estimates required return from beta (volatility vs. the market, which is 1.0), and alpha is return above/below what beta predicted.
| Risk type | Meaning | Diversify it away? |
|---|---|---|
| Systematic (market) risk | Affects the whole market — market, interest-rate, inflation, reinvestment, call, currency | No |
| Nonsystematic (business) risk | Specific to one company/industry — business, credit, liquidity | Yes |
Fundamental analysis works top-down (economy → industry → company), studying financial statements (the balance sheet: assets − liabilities = net worth). Industries react to the business cycle — whose order is expansion → peak → contraction → trough:
Order: Expansion → Peak → Contraction → Trough
| Industry | Behavior | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Cyclical | Rises/falls WITH the economy | Autos, steel, heavy equipment |
| Defensive | Steady regardless of the cycle | Utilities, food, pharma, tobacco |
| Countercyclical | Moves OPPOSITE the economy | Gold / gold miners |
| Growth | Grows faster than the economy; reinvests profits (few dividends) | Tech, biotech |
3.2 Equity & Debt Securities
Equity is ownership. Common stock offers growth + voting + dividends but sits last in line at liquidation. Preferred stock is a fixed-income-like equity — a fixed stated dividend, no voting (for the exam), priced inversely to interest rates like a bond, and paid before common in both dividends and liquidation:
| Feature | Common stock | Preferred stock |
|---|---|---|
| Income | Variable dividends (if declared) | Fixed stated dividend |
| Voting rights | Yes | No (exam assumption) |
| Growth potential | High | Limited (interest-rate sensitive) |
| Liquidation priority | Last | Ahead of common, behind creditors |
Preferred-stock flavors: cumulative (skipped dividends accrue and must be paid first), convertible (exchangeable into common), callable (issuer can buy it back — likely when rates fall), and participating (shares extra profit). Debt securities are loans paying semiannual interest at a $1,000 par; corporate debentures are unsecured (subordinated debentures rank lowest).
| Security | Key facts |
|---|---|
| T-bills | Mature 1 year; sold at a discount; very liquid |
| T-notes / T-bonds | 2–10 yr / 10–30 yr; semiannual interest |
| TIPS | Principal adjusts with CPI (inflation protection) |
| GNMA (Ginnie Mae) | Government-backed mortgage pass-through; prepayment risk |
| Municipal bonds | Interest federally tax-free — best for high tax brackets |
| Money market (BA, commercial paper, jumbo CD) | 270 days; high-quality; liquid; inflation risk |

3.3 Investment Companies & Mutual Funds
The Investment Company Act of 1940 defines three types; the Series 6 tests UITs and management companies (open- and closed-end).[25] A Series 6 rep can sell open-end (mutual) fund shares and closed-end funds only on the primary offering — never closed-end shares on the secondary market.
| Type | Shares | How it trades / prices |
|---|---|---|
| Open-end (mutual fund) | Unlimited new shares; redeemable | Bought/redeemed from the fund at NAV-based price (forward priced) |
| Closed-end fund | Fixed one-time offering | Trades on the secondary market at supply/demand (premium or discount to NAV) |
| UIT | Fixed 'units,' redeemable | Fixed unredeemed portfolio; no active manager; trust, not a 'fund' |

Investors get a statutory (full) prospectus no later than the sale; a summary prospectus and a statement of additional information (within 3 days of request) are also available. Fund categories run from growth (capital appreciation, few dividends) and value to income, index (low cost, tracks a benchmark), sector (≥ 25% in one area; the 80% Names Rule), balanced, and target-date funds (auto-conservative near a retirement year — ~90% of defined-contribution menus).[21] is recalculated at least daily.
3.4 Mutual Fund Pricing, Share Classes & Charges
A buyer pays the = NAV + sales charge; sales charge % = (POP − NAV) ÷ POP, and the Series 6 max load is 8.5%. Orders price at the next NAV (forward pricing). The share class tells you how the load is charged:[24]
| Class | Charge | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| A shares | Front-end load (paid at purchase); breakpoints available | Large, long-term investors |
| B shares | Back-end load (CDSC) that declines to 0, then convert to A | Smaller long-term investors |
| C shares | Level load (~1% 12b-1 + 1-yr CDSC) | Short time horizons |
Breakpoints are volume discounts on Class A loads. A letter of intent (covers a 13-month window, can be backdated 90 days) and rights of accumulation (no time limit; counts prior appreciation) both help reach one.
A (max 0.75%) covers distribution — over 0.25% and the fund can’t call itself “no-load.” The expense ratio (annual operating costs ÷ assets) excludes sales loads.
Dollar-cost averaging — investing a fixed dollar amount on a schedule — buys more shares when prices are low, so the average cost per share ends up below the average price per share.
3.5 Variable Annuities & Variable Life Insurance
These are the headline Series 6 products — and selling them needs both an insurance and a securities license, plus a prospectus, because the money goes into a of mutual-fund-like subaccounts where the investor bears the market risk.[22]
| Fixed | Index | Variable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who bears investment risk | Insurer | Shared (floor + cap) | Annuitant |
| Is it a security? | No | No | Yes (prospectus required) |
| License to sell | Insurance | Insurance | Insurance + securities |
| Inflation protection | No (purchasing-power risk) | Some | Yes (market-linked) |
A variable annuity has two phases: the accumulation phase (you buy accumulation units whose value varies) and, on annuitizing, the payout phase (a fixed number of annuity units whose value still varies with the separate account). Monthly checks rise or fall versus the : beat the AIR → bigger check; lag it → smaller.
- 1
Accumulation phase
The investor pays in (lump sum or periodically). Money buys accumulation units in the separate account and grows tax-deferred — the investor bears the market risk.
- 2
Annuitization
The investor elects a payout option. Accumulation units convert to a fixed number of annuity units.
- 3
Payout phase
The investor receives lifetime income. Each annuity unit's value still varies with the separate account vs. the AIR, so the monthly check rises or falls.
Payout options trade income size for survivor protection:
| Option | Pays | Beneficiary? |
|---|---|---|
| Life only (straight life) | Biggest check; stops at death | None |
| Life with period certain | Guarantees a minimum # of years | Yes (for the certain period) |
| Joint with last survivor | Smallest check; covers two lives | Surviving spouse |
| Unit refund | Guarantees the contract value is paid out | Yes (lump sum) |
A swaps contracts tax-free (FINRA Rule 2330 governs deferred-VA recommendations and exchanges).[20] VAs are nonqualified, tax-deferred, and only supplemental retirement income — unsuitable as a substitute for an IRA, for someone needing a future lump sum, or for the risk-averse. Variable life insurance works the same way but guarantees a minimum death benefit; its death benefit and cash value float with the separate account, and hypothetical illustrations cap at a 12% gross return (and must also show 0%).
3.6 Investment Risk & Required Disclosures
Match risk to the customer. Beyond the systematic/nonsystematic split, know purchasing-power (inflation) risk — worst for fixed-income retirees — interest-rate risk, reinvestment and call risk, and credit (default) risk, judged by ratings:
| Grade | Standard & Poor's | Moody's |
|---|---|---|
| Investment grade | AAA, AA, A, BBB | Aaa, Aa, A, Baa |
| Speculative ('junk') | BB and below | Ba and below |
Required disclosures before recommending: illiquid investments, options (the OCC’s options disclosure document before any options trading), and deferred sales charges / surrender fees (Class B CDSCs, annuity surrender charges). FINRA also discourages funding investments by borrowing against a home.
3.7 Taxation, Records & Confirmations
A capital gain/loss is only realized when you sell. Long-term (held > 1 year) is taxed below ordinary income; short-term is taxed as ordinary income. Net capital losses offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year, with the rest carried forward.[23] Watch these tested rules:
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Wash sale | Loss disallowed if you rebuy the same/similar security within 30 days (before or after) |
| Qualified dividends | Taxed at the lower capital-gains rate; nonqualified at ordinary rates |
| Gifted securities | Keep the donor's cost basis & holding period |
| Inherited securities | Cost basis steps up to value on date of death; treated as long-term |
| Subchapter M (conduit) | Distribute 90% of net investment income and the fund is taxed only on what it keeps |
Reinvested dividends/capital gains are still taxable, and reinvestment is priced at NAV (not POP). Finally, a trade confirmation (trade, settlement date, money due) must reach the customer no later than settlement, and broker-dealers keep confirmations and most customer records for three years (some longer) under SEC Rule 17a-4 and FINRA Rule 4510.
Checkpoint · Module 3
Question 1 of 10
Which of the following explains that including noncorrelated assets in a portfolio can reduce certain risks?
Module 4 · Processing & Confirming Transactions
Function 4 — 10% of the exam (about 5 questions). The smallest module: how quotes and the secondary market work, how trades are processed, settled, and confirmed (and what’s prohibited), and how customer complaints and disputes get escalated and resolved.
4.1 The Secondary Market & Quotes
A firm acts as a broker (agent — fills orders for a commission, no inventory) or a dealer/market maker (principal — trades from its own inventory for a markup/markdown), but never both on the same trade. On a quote, the bid is where customers sell and the ask is where customers buy. Trades happen in round lots of 100 shares (anything less is an odd lot).
| Market | What trades there |
|---|---|
| Exchange (auction) | Listed securities, priced by auction (e.g., NYSE) |
| OTC (negotiated) | Unlisted securities, dealer-to-dealer by negotiation |
| Third market | Exchange-listed securities traded OTC by market makers |
| Fourth market | Institution-to-institution, direct via ECNs (no broker-dealer) |
Every order owes the customer (Rule 5310).[26] Prohibited: interpositioning (a needless middle broker that adds cost), guaranteeing a customer against loss, and sharing in a customer’s account except in an approved, proportionate joint account.
4.2 Processing, Settling & Confirming Trades
The order ticket records buy/sell, security, shares, account, account type, whether the order is solicited/unsolicited/discretionary, and time stamps — and only a principal can approve a correction. The rep then checks the execution report against the ticket before confirming to the customer.
| Type | Settles |
|---|---|
| Regular way (stocks, corporate & muni bonds) | T+1 (next business day; shortened from T+2 in May 2024) |
| U.S. government securities & options | T+1 |
| Cash settlement | Same day |
| Mutual funds | At the next NAV (forward priced; primary-market purchase) |
On the the stock opens lower and open buy-limit / sell-stop orders are reduced by the dividend (unless marked DNR — do not reduce). Stock splits/dividends adjust open orders to keep the total value constant. A trade reported in error is still binding on the customer unless it was executed outside their instructions; error reports go to a principal in writing and are kept three years.
4.3 Complaints, Arbitration & Discipline
A written customer complaint (letter, email, text, social post) has regulatory standing and must go to a principal — never the rep named in it — and be kept four years, with complaints reported to FINRA quarterly. Disputes escalate through a clear ladder:[28]
| Method | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Mediation | Voluntary, non-binding; a mediator helps the parties settle |
| Arbitration (Code of Arbitration) | Binding, no appeal; customers sign a predispute clause; simplified ( $50,000) is decided on documents; 6-year eligibility window |
| Code of Procedure | FINRA's disciplinary process for rule violations (fines, suspension, bar/expulsion); appeals go to the NAC, then the SEC |
Reps register via Form U4 and terminate via Form U5 (the firm files it within 30 days); most associated persons who handle cash, securities, or sales must be fingerprinted. A customer can always take a firm to arbitration, but a firm needs a signed predispute agreement to compel a customer.
Checkpoint · Module 4
Question 1 of 10
Listed securities primarily trade in which of the following venues?
How to Use This Study Guide
A study guide is a map, not the whole territory — use it alongside your prep provider’s textbook and our practice tools, not on its own:
- 1
Read a module here
Work through one function at a time so related concepts reinforce each other.
- 2
Take the checkpoint
The 5-question check at the end of each module exposes what didn't stick.
- 3
Drill the gaps
Send your weak domain straight into the free practice exam and flashcards.
- 4
Bookmark & space it out
Come back over several days. Short, spaced sessions beat one long cram.
Series 6 Concept Questions
Common Series 6 concepts FINRA tests on the exam. Tap any card for a short, exam-ready answer backed by the official regulator — then test yourself on them as flashcards.
Series 6 Glossary
Quick definitions for the terms you’ll see most on the Series 6 exam:
- 1035 exchange
- A tax-free swap of one insurance/annuity contract for another (annuity→annuity, life→life, life→annuity — never annuity→life).
- 12b-1 fee
- An annual asset-based fee (max 0.75%, +0.25% service) for distribution/marketing. A fund charging over 0.25% can't call itself 'no-load.'
- ACATS
- Automated Customer Account Transfer Service — the standardized system for moving an account between broker-dealers (validate in 1 business day, transfer within 3).
- Accredited investor
- An investor who meets income ($200K / $300K joint), net-worth ($1M excluding home), insider, or professional-credential tests and so needs fewer protections.
- Arbitration
- FINRA's binding dispute-resolution process (Code of Arbitration). Customers sign a predispute arbitration clause at account opening; decisions can't be appealed.
- Assumed interest rate (AIR)
- A conservative performance benchmark for a variable annuity payout. If the separate account beats the AIR, next month's check rises; if it lags, the check falls.
- Best efforts underwriting
- The underwriter acts only as an agent and is not obligated to buy unsold shares — the issuer carries the risk that the offering falls short.
- Best execution
- FINRA Rule 5310 — a firm must seek the most favorable terms reasonably available for a customer's order. Adding a needless middle broker (interpositioning) is prohibited.
- Blue-sky laws
- State securities laws requiring registration of securities, broker-dealers, and reps — satisfied by qualification, coordination, or notice filing.
- Breakpoint
- A volume discount on a front-end (Class A) sales charge — the more you invest, the lower the % charge. A letter of intent (13 months) or rights of accumulation can reach one.
- Cooling-off period
- The minimum 20-day window after a registration statement is filed, during which the SEC reviews it and the security is 'in registration.'
- Correspondence
- Written communication sent to 25 or fewer retail investors within 30 days.
- Discretionary authority
- Written authorization letting a rep decide the asset, the action (buy/sell), or the amount on a customer's behalf — the 'three A's' of discretion.
- Ex-dividend date (ex-date)
- The first day a buyer is NOT entitled to the declared dividend; the stock opens lower by the dividend amount, and open buy-limit/sell-stop orders are reduced (unless marked DNR).
- Firm commitment underwriting
- The underwriter buys the entire issue from the issuer (acting as principal) and resells it to the public, bearing the risk of unsold shares.
- Hypothecation
- Pledging a customer's securities as collateral for a margin loan. Rehypothecation is the broker re-pledging them to a bank for its own loan.
- Institutional communication
- Written communication sent only to institutional investors (banks, insurers, RIAs, large entities); not for retail forwarding.
- JTWROS
- Joint Tenants With Rights of Survivorship — a joint account where a deceased owner's share passes automatically to the surviving owner(s).
- Net asset value (NAV)
- A fund's per-share value , calculated at least once daily. Mutual fund orders price at the NEXT NAV (forward pricing).
- Preliminary prospectus (red herring)
- An early prospectus circulated during the cooling-off period to gauge interest. It has no final price and cannot be used to take orders.
- Private placement (Reg D)
- An exempt offering sold to accredited investors plus up to 35 non-accredited investors, with no cap on capital raised.
- Prospectus
- The full disclosure document a securities issuer must give investors. It must be delivered no later than at the time the transaction is confirmed.
- Public offering price (POP)
- The price the public pays: in a firm-commitment new issue it's the offering price; for a mutual fund it's NAV + sales charge (sales charge ; Series 6 max load 8.5%).
- Qualified retirement plan
- An IRS-approved, ERISA-governed plan with pretax (deductible) contributions, tax-deferred growth, and taxed withdrawals — and it must be a trust.
- Regular-way settlement
- Standard settlement = T+1 (one business day after the trade) for stocks/corporate/muni bonds since May 2024; cash settlement is same-day.
- Required minimum distribution (RMD)
- The minimum amount that must be withdrawn from a traditional IRA/qualified plan each year starting at age 73 (SECURE 2.0; was 72).
- Retail communication
- Any communication distributed to more than 25 retail investors in a 30-day period; generally needs principal approval before use.
- Separate account
- Where a variable annuity/variable life premium is invested (in mutual-fund-like subaccounts). It makes the product a SECURITY — the investor bears the market risk.
- Systematic risk
- Market-wide risk that diversification can't remove (market, interest-rate, inflation/purchasing-power, reinvestment, call, currency risk).
- Tenants in common (TIC)
- A joint account where a deceased owner's share passes to their estate (not the other owners). Ownership can be unequal; no TOD allowed.
- Tombstone advertisement
- A bare-bones ad allowed during the cooling-off period that announces a new issue without soliciting orders.
- Wash sale
- Claiming a tax loss while buying back the same/substantially identical security within 30 days before or after — the loss is disallowed.
Free Series 6 Study Materials & Resources
Everything you need to pass the Series 6 is free here — no paywall, no sign-up. This guide is the foundation; pair it with the rest of our free Series 6 study materials and resources for active recall, timed practice, and last-minute review:
- Series 6 Practice Exam — full-length, timed, FINRA-style questions with explanations.
- Series 6 Flashcards — active-recall decks for the high-yield facts.
Series 6 Study Guide FAQ
The Series 6 exam has 55 multiple-choice questions: 50 are scored and 5 are unscored pretest questions. You have 90 minutes, and you must answer 70% of the scored questions (35 of 50) correctly to pass.
It's a moderately difficult entry-level exam — the first-time pass rate is roughly 58%. Most candidates need about 40–60 hours of study, less if they've already passed other FINRA exams. The heaviest section is recommendations and information, which is 50% of the test.
Yes. The Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam is a co-requisite, and you also need to be sponsored by a FINRA member firm before you can sit for the Series 6.
Packaged investment products: mutual funds, variable annuities, variable life insurance, unit investment trusts (UITs), and municipal fund securities such as 529 plans. It does not allow you to sell individual stocks, bonds, or ETFs.
Read it alongside your prep provider's textbook, module by module. After each module, take the checkpoint quiz to find gaps, then drill that domain with our free practice exam and flashcards. Bookmark the page and come back to the sections you flagged before exam day.
Yes — the full guide, the checkpoints, the glossary, the practice exam, and the flashcards are 100% free with no account required.
References
- 1.FINRA. “Series 6 – Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative Exam.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 2.FINRA. “Series 6 Content Outline (PDF).” FINRA.org. ↑
- 3.FINRA. “Rule 2210 — Communications with the Public.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 4.FINRA. “Rule 3160 — Networking Arrangements Between Members and Financial Institutions.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 5.U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “The Laws That Govern the Securities Industry — Securities Act of 1933.” SEC.gov. ↑
- 6.U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Regulation A.” SEC.gov. ↑
- 7.U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Regulation D Offerings.” SEC.gov. ↑
- 8.U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Intrastate Offerings (Rule 147).” SEC.gov. ↑
- 9.FINRA. “Rule 2241 — Research Analysts and Research Reports.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 10.FINRA. “Rule 2212 — Use of Investment Companies Rankings in Retail Communications.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 11.U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Accredited Investor.” SEC.gov. ↑
- 12.Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. “17 CFR § 230.135a — Generic Advertising.” eCFR.gov. ↑
- 13.FINRA. “Rule 2111 — Suitability.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 14.FINRA. “Rule 2090 — Know Your Customer.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 15.FINRA. “Customer Information Protection (Regulation S-P).” FINRA.org. ↑
- 16.Internal Revenue Service. “Retirement Topics — IRA Contribution Limits.” IRS.gov. ↑
- 17.Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. “12 CFR Part 220 — Credit by Brokers and Dealers (Regulation T).” eCFR.gov. ↑
- 18.U.S. Department of Labor. “Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).” DOL.gov. ↑
- 19.FINRA. “Customer Identification Program Notice (USA PATRIOT Act).” FINRA.org. ↑
- 20.FINRA. “Rule 2330 — Members' Responsibilities Regarding Deferred Variable Annuities.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 21.U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Mutual Funds and ETFs — A Guide for Investors.” Investor.gov. ↑
- 22.U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Variable Annuities — What You Should Know.” Investor.gov. ↑
- 23.Internal Revenue Service. “Topic No. 409 — Capital Gains and Losses.” IRS.gov. ↑
- 24.FINRA. “Mutual Fund Breakpoints.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 25.FINRA. “Investment Company Act of 1940 — Key Topics.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 26.FINRA. “Rule 5310 — Best Execution and Interpositioning.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 27.U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Insider Trading.” SEC.gov. ↑
- 28.FINRA. “Arbitration and Mediation.” FINRA.org. ↑
- 29.U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Investor Bulletin: Trade Settlement (T+1).” Investor.gov. ↑
Sources for the concept answers
Every answer in the Series 6 concept questions above is drawn from an official primary source:
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Mutual Funds.” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Net Asset Value (NAV).” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Closed-End Fund.” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Unit Investment Trust (UIT).” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Money Market Funds.” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Expense Ratio.” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Prospectus.” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Dividend.” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Dollar Cost Averaging.” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Annuity.” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- FINRA. “Variable Annuities.” FINRA.org, accessed 9 June 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. “Roth IRAs.” IRS.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. “Traditional IRAs.” IRS.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. “401(k) Plans.” IRS.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “529 Plans.” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “The Role of the SEC.” Investor.gov, accessed 9 June 2026.
- FINRA. “About FINRA.” FINRA.org, accessed 9 June 2026.

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