SIE Flashcards
In a 529 plan, can an individual be both the donor and the beneficiary?
Yes, if the person is of legal age.
What is the maximum loss for a buyer of a stock option?
The premium paid
How are IRA’s funded?
After tax deductions
A brokerage firm creates an in-house, non-cash incentive program. This is permitted if it’s tied to the RR’s sale of which of the following products?
All securities products that are sold by the RR
A corporation has a 7% cumulative preferred stock issue outstanding. The company paid a $5 dividend three years ago, $6 two years ago, and $7 last year. If the company wants to pay a common stock dividend in the current year, the cumulative preferred stockholders must first receive a dividend of: (How is it calculated)
$10 (Any dividend that’s not paid (in arrears) must be made up prior to a common dividend being paid. Adding up dividends missed cummulatively)
Which of the following activities is NOT performed by a transfer agent?
Handling lost, destroyed, or stolen certificates
Acting as proxy agent
Maintaining the issuer’s ownership register for each issuance of securities
Acting as the company’s paying agent for interest payments on bonds and for cash or stock dividends on equities
Maintaining the issuer’s ownership register for each issuance of securities
Industrial production is considered what type of economic indicator?
Coincident
A person pleaded guilty to a charge of counterfeiting and bribery five years ago. He has now been released from prison and is applying for an investment banking position with your firm. What is true regarding his eligibility for current employment in the securities industry?
He’s subject to statutory disqualification and is not currently eligible to be hired. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor related to securities, or any felony during the last 10 years, is subject to statutory disqualification. A guilty plea is the equivalent of a conviction.
What is a restricted list?
List that must be told to employees by firm of securities that a bank’s employees are prohibited from buying or selling, either themselves or via any other person or third party
Why do no-load mutual funds have lower expense ratios than mutual funds with a sales load?
No-load funds cannot assess a 12b-1 fee that exceeds 25 basis points.
What is reinvesmtment risk?
Reinvestment risk is the result of not being able to reinvest funds at the same rate after a bond matures or is called.
What does a temporary hold on a customer’s account apply to on the account?
It applies to either the entire account or specific disbursements
The main difference between a registered exchange-traded REIT and a registered nontraded REIT is:
The amount of liquidity each of the securities has
A mutual fund charges a maximum front-end load of 5.50% for purchases of less than $100,000 and 3.50% for purchases of $100,000 but less than $250,000. An individual invests $75,000 in the fund and signs a letter of intent. Prior to the expiration date of the letter, the individual invests another $75,000. What is the total sales charge the individual should pay?
$5,250
How do you find the POP (Public offering price)
To find the POP, the net asset value is divided by the complement of the sales charge
The payout on a variable annuity is based on a:
Fixed number of annuity units with a fluctuating value per unit
A change in what requires the broker-dealer to send a notice to the customer?
A notice must be sent to a customer within 30 days if the account is updated due to a change in the name, address, or investment objectives of the customer.
May a brokerage firm place a temporary hold on a securities transaction?
Yes, for the account of a specified adult under Rule2165.
The payout on a variable annuity is based on a:
Fixed number of annuity units with a fluctuating value per unit
What are Moral obligation bonds
Moral obligation bonds are municipal revenue bonds that are payable by the state if revenues from the project do not satisfy debt service payments.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury is responsible for:
Collecting taxes
What type of communication must be approved by a principal?
A principal must approve retail communications prior to use.
What is a benefit of a 529 plan?
Change of beneficiaries allowed
The interest rate that fluctuates the most is the:
Federal funds rate
How do you find the current yield on a bond?
Annual interest divided by current price of bond
What is a primary offering?
In a primary offering (distribution), all of the proceeds of the offering are directed to the issuer of the securities.
What type of bond will provide safety of principal as well as capital appreciation?
A convertible bond
What is the regular trade settlement day for Secondary market trades in U.S. Government bonds, notes, and bills?
Secondary market trades in U.S. Government bonds, notes, and bills settle one business day after the trade date.(T+1)
The federal securities regulation that requires disclosure by issuers offering securities to the public is:
The Securities Act of 1933
When does a breakpoint sale occur?
A breakpoint sale occurs when an RR solicits or recommends a purchase just below a breakpoint level.
A broker-dealer is underwriting an initial public offering (IPO) for a company that will be exchange-listed. How long must The broker-dealer continue to deliver prospectuses:
For 25 days after the deal has closed
What type of account May a brokerage firm place a temporary hold on the transfer of securities?
Account of a senior investor.
When do Treasury notes pay interest?
Semiannually, and the investor receives the principal (par value) repayment at maturity with the interest
What is true regarding the Uniform Trust Minor Act?
Securities must be held in the name of the brokerage firm
Tax is charged on minor
What is the difference between Class A shares and Class B shares?
Class A shares have a front-end sales charge, while Class B shares have a contingent deferred sales charge
What is a Form 10k
A Form 10-K is an annual filing that provides details of a company’s financial information. Forms 10-K are often sent to broker-dealers and forward them to their customers.
What happens if an employee gets tickets for an event but does not attend an event? What limitations?
A gift. $100 limit.
Broker-dealers must provide a privacy notice to every consumer when?
When an account is opened
A broker-dealer’s customer is attempting to raise money for a new business venture. The customer’s registered representative (RR) agrees to assist by referring other clients and, in return, the RR will receive free services from the new business venture. This arrangement is
(Selling away) Acceptable if the firm was provided prior written notice and it maintains records of all transactions on the firm’s books
How do you find the SALES CHARGE of a net-asset-value of $11.72 and an offering price of $12.67?
Offering price - NAV = Difference
Difference ÷ Offering price = Sales Charge
The sales charge for the fund is calculated by dividing the difference between the offering price and the NAV ($12.67 - $11.72 = $0.95) by the offering price ($0.95 divided by $12.67 equals 7 1/2 %).
Under what circumstances is the 10% penalty tax is waived for IRA withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2.
Used to pay qualified higher-education expenses
Used to pay acquisition costs for a first-time homebuyer, which can include the account owner, the owner’s spouse, and any child, grandchild, or ancestor of the owner or spouse. However, this does not include the purchase of a vacation home.
How do you find the breakeven point for a put?
stock’s purchase price - put premium= Breakeven
What is a characteristic of direct participation programs (DPPs)?
Steady returns and non-correlated investments
Who can a registered person of a broker-dealer borrow funds from a customer without approval of her firm
Immediate family members.
The customer is a financial institution that’s regularly involved in the business of extending credit or providing loans.
What is a limit order
A limit order is to sell, which can only be executed at a specified price or higher.
What is the beta?
Beta measures a security’s volatility in relation to the market.
The time at which an employee is eligible to receive at least some of the retirement benefits that have been contributed to the plan by the employer is referred to as
Vested
What is dollar cost averaging?
Dollar-cost averaging involves investing the same amount of money, in the same securities, over a long period.
A 529 plan may be offered by who?
Directly or by an adviser
Who is prohibited against IPO purchases by restricted persons?
Member firms and any employee of the member firm.
An immediate family member of an employee
Portfolio managers as well as anyone whom they materially support.
If a bond is currently selling for less than par value, then what is higher? The Current yield or Nominal yield?
The current yield is higher than the nominal yield
Prior to the maturity of a variable-rate demand obligation, an investor has the right to receive the:
Par value plus accrued interest
How are stock index options exercised?
Settled by cash instead of the delivery of securities.
ERISA stipulates that employers with qualified plans are not permitted to exclude employees who fall into what three stipulations?
age 21 or older,
have worked full-time (1,000 hours minimum) during the year,
be employed for at least one year
What is sector rotation?
Sector rotation is the switching from one industry (sector) into another as the economy changes.
How is the growth and distribution handled in a 529 A Able plan?
tax-deferred growth
tax-free distrubtions
How are 529 Able plans funded
ABLE accounts are funded with after-tax contributions.
Whats one basis point equal?
One basis point is equal to .001%, or 1/100th of 1%.
What is the rate that is charged between member banks?
fed funds rate.
What is the age contribution limit for a Coverdell and when must they use/trade it by?
Contributions can be made until age 18 and must be used by age 30.
What’s required on Form U5?
The reason for termination
Who must a B-D give a copy of a RR’s U5 form?
The Registered representatives who the U5 belong to
Where can shares of a REIT be traded at?
REITs may be traded either on an exchange or over-the-counter (OTC)
What is required of a corproration who wishes to open a cash brokerage account?
A corporate resolution
When an ETF is purchased, what is the transaction cost paid by the client?
A commission
What is a prime rate?
The prime rate is the rate that commercial banks charge their best corporate clients.
How long are complaints held for and what is required of them after they are filed?
4 years and A memo must be prepared describing any action taken in response to the complaint.
When executing customer orders, best execution rules require the broker-dealer must
Use reasonable diligence to obtain the best price possible
A Regulation D (Private Placement) offering may be sold to a maximum of how many nonaccredited investors?
35 nonaccredited investors
How soon must a broker-dealer verify each customer’s identity according to the Customer Identification Program (CIP)?
Within a reasonable period
What can the Federal Reserve do during a recession?
Federal Reserve can try to increase economic activity by buying bonds (remove bonds from the market and insert cash reserves)
What is arbitrage?
Simultaneously buying and selling a security on different exchanges in order to take advantage of a price difference
What is the immediate impact if an issuer’s convertible bonds are converted into stock?
Increase to the number of outstanding shares.
A disciplinary action concerning a registered representative (RR) is reported by the firm through what?
Form U4
What is the job of a transfer agent?
Transfer agents are responsible for transfering (issuing) securities and also transfering (paying) bond interest and/or dividends
manages and keeps track of registered shareholders
What is the job of a custodian?
Custodians provide for safekeeping of securities,
Who is Regular T set by?
Regulation T is set by the FRB and requires payment from a customer in two business days following regular-way settlement.
What is NOT a benefit of investing in a real estate investment trust
Passive losses. Unlike DPPs, real estate investment trusts (REITs) do not generate passive losses.
What type of maturity bonds have the most amount of interest-rate risk?
The one with the longest maturity and lowest coupon.
Which measure of economic activity is calculated by summing the value of goods and services that have been produced minus the value of the goods and services needed to produce them?
GDP
During periods of deflation, the FRB will likely and why?
The FRB will attempt to move into a period of easy money. Easing money (making it available) may be accomplished by purchasing securities in the open market.
What is Stabilization?
Stabilization is used to prevent the price of a new issue (e.g., IPO) from falling. It is buying shares back in the secondary market, to keep the price from falling. Broker-dealers are only allowed to stabilize at or below the public offering price
What is a best-efforts underwriting?
A type of offering in which whatever is not sold is returned to the issuing corporation.
What is a private securities transaction?
Private security transaction; person executing a transaction outside of the scope of his firm’s business.
What is the rule if you are engaged in a private security transaction and not paid?
Youre required to provide written notice to his firm.
What is the rule if you are compensated for a private security transaction?
You must receive his firm’s written approval and the transactions must be recorded on the firm’s books and records.
When must a Broker-Dealer provide a privacy notice?
When the account is opened and before any non public info is given out
What is the minimum denomination for negotiable CD?
The minimum denomination for negotiable CDs is $100,000.
What is the purchase price of a NO-LOAD fund determined by?
The net asset value as computed at the end of the business day
What is found on Brockercheck?
active registration employment history specific disclosures concerning customer disputes, disciplinary events, criminal matters financial matters.
When do equity options and mutual funds settle?
Next trade day (T+1)
Which investment company does NOT charge a management fee?
A unit investment trust. A portfolio is fixed and there is no investment adviser since unit investment trusts are supervised, not managed.
When does an arbitration involve a mix of individuals who represent the public and financial industry?
disputes that involve public customers
How do you find the NEW PRICE of a stock after a split?
ORIGINAL security price before the split ÷ the split ratio.
A person who invests in a variable annuity would be MOST concerned with the performance of the insurance company’s
Separate account
When does a cash trade settle?
On the trade date
What is market risk?
Market risk represents the potential losses due to market fluctuations in the prices of securities.
When are Broker-dealers required to send balance sheets to customers
Every 6 months. Semianually.
What are the three types of investment companies?
(1) face-amount certificate companies
(2) unit investment trusts
(3) management companies (i.e., open-end and closed-end funds).
What is a Pink Marketplace?
The Pink Marketplace lists market makers and their bid and asked quotations for over-the-counter stocks (i.e., OTC equities). These OTC equities are not listed on either the NYSE or Nasdaq.
What is a warrant?
A stock warrant represents the right to purchase a company’s stock at a specific price and at a specific date. Issued directly by corporation to investor.
What is the MSRB’s Investor Education Rule?
Firms must notify a customer about the availability of educational material on an annual basis.
disclose that the regulated entity is registered with the MSRB and the SEC
the MSRB’s website address
availability of a brochure
During periods of easy money when interest rates are declining, yield curves tend to:
Yields on shorter maturities will be less than yields on longer maturities. Yield curves tend to slope upward from the shorter to the longer maturities.
If a person who’s associated with a FINRA member firm has been indicted for any felony or any misdemeanor that involves the purchase or sale of a security, fraud, extortion, forgery, or counterfeiting what happens?
The event must be reported to FINRA and they MAY REMAIN at the firm with no statutory disqualifation because they have not been convicted.
What is capital risk?
Risk of losing all or part of your capital on an investment
What is opportunity risk?
Risk that the investment that’s chosen will yield less than the yield of another investment that’s not chosen.
If the economy is experiencing rising inflation, this will generally lead the increase in interest rates to cause bonds to?
This increase in rates will cause outstanding bond prices to decrease.
What qualified withdrawal expenses are not subject to federal taxes?
Higher education expenses
What does the SIPC provide coverage for?
$500,000 per separate customer, with a maximum coverage of $250,000 of cash. SIPC doesn’t provide protection for futures positions.
What is the difference between 529A and 529?
529A accounts are not required to be used for qualified education expenses.
What happens to an investors security after a stock dividend?
An investor will own more shares of the company and their value per share will fall.