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  1. I am not a resident of the United States, but would like to be qualified as a registered ...

    Even if you are not a resident of the United States, you may be eligible to take an abbreviated form of the Series 7 exam. You will have to be registered with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the United Kingdom or a securities regulatory agency in Canada, such as the Investment Dealers Association ...
  2. Can I bring food and drink into the CFA testing room?

    You are not permitted to bring in or consume any food or drink in the CFA testing room. The CFA Institute put this rule in place because many exam booklets were significantly damaged from spills in the past. Furthermore, in many testing centers, candidates share a table when writing.
  3. How do I find a testing facility in my area?

    Most internationally recognized certifications, such as the CFA®, have testing locations around the world. The following is a guideline for how to find listings of locations for each type of exam: CFA Program: Exams are held in both June and December for level I, and June only for levels ...
  4. Is it possible to take the Series 7 exam without being sponsored?

    Unfortunately, the answer is "No." The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or FINRA, (formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD)), requires an individual to be sponsored by a member firm, a self-regulatory organization (SRO), or an exchange in order to write the Series 7 exam.
  5. Conduct A Financial Intervention

    Find out what you can do to help someone who is finanically out of control.
  6. Tips For Keeping Your Financial Data Safe Online

    Find out how to protect your personal information from phishers, scammers and thieves.
  7. Plans The Small-Business Owner Can Establish

    Don't hesitate to adopt a smart plan for you and your employees.
  8. I have a small business, and I'm considering setting up an SEP IRA. What are leased ...

    Generally, a leased employee is the employee of an outside organization from which you lease the employee's services. For instance, you may use the services of a payroll clerk who is really employed by another organization; the other organization (the leasing organization) leases the services of its ...
  9. 8 Ways To Survive A Market Downturn

    Stay calm, play dead and keep your eyes open for attractive valuations.
  10. REX Agreements Climb As House Prices Decline

    These purchase options let you hedge against a decline in your home's value without having to sell the house.
  11. Invest In Your Education With An RESP

    All Canadians should know the benefits of these flexible education savings plans.
  12. My company has three partners but plans to hire more this year. Would we be better ...

    It depends.The SBO-401(k) plan is suitable if the plan covers only the business owners - in this case, the partners in the partnership. If the other employees who are not owners of the business meet the eligibility requirements, a savings incentive match plan for employees of small employers (SIMPLE), ...
  13. Land That Internship!

    These seven tips can have you on the road to financial internship bliss.
  14. How do I open a Swiss bank account, and what makes them so special?

    Surprisingly, opening a Swiss bank account is not that much different from opening a standard bank account because you have to fill out forms and provide documentation that proves who you are and what you do. However, due to some special circumstance regarding privacy, the level of scrutiny over providing ...
  15. Trending Toward Asset-Based Management

    Will charging fees instead of commission increase your client base?
  16. What is a trailing commission?

    Very simply, a trailing commission is money you pay an advisor each year that you own an investment. The purpose of the fee is to provide incentive for the advisor to review their customer's holdings and to provide advice. But when it comes down to it, it is essentially a reward for keeping you loyal ...
  17. Top 4 Most Competitive Financial Careers

    If your goals include a big paycheck and working for a Wall Street firm, then you need to learn how to meet employers' expectations.
  18. The Buy-Side Of The M&A Process

    With almost $2 trillion in sales yearly, find out how these mergers and acquisitions take place.
  19. What does the 'FIG' at an investment bank refer to?

    The 'FIG' at an investment bank usually refers to the financial institutions group - a group of professionals that provides investment banking and merger and acquisition expertise to financial institutions. In order to provide more tailored services, some investment banks further segment their areas ...
  20. Why does the majority of my mortgage payment start out as interest and gradually ...

    When you make a mortgage payment, the amount paid is a combination of an interest charge and principal repayment. Over the life of the mortgage, the portions of interest to principal will change.At first, your payment will be primarily interest, with a small amount of principal included.
  21. Bankruptcy Protection For Your Accounts

    Will the plan assets you've worked hard for be safe if you experience a personal financial crisis?
  22. Skipping-Out on Probate Costs

    Don't let bad estate planning lead to unnecessary costs and stress for your inheritors.
  23. I sold my house. Can I exclude the gain from my income?

    Generally, you are required to include the gain from the sale of your home in your taxable income. However, if the gain is from your primary home, you may exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 for married couples filing jointly) gain from income, if you meet certain requirements.
  24. Can someone who is not yet of legal age open a brokerage account?

    An underage person cannot open a brokerage account on his or her own. However, it is possible for an underage person to have a brokerage account with his or her own name attached to it, but in order for this to happen, a parent or guardian must also be involved with the account.There are a few different ...
  25. Digging Out Of Debt In 8 Steps

    The only way to get out of debt is to roll up your sleeves and start paying it off - one dollar at a time.
  26. Do You Need Casualty Insurance?

    Find out how different types of coverages can protect you and which policy is right for you.
  27. I passed my Series 7 exam, but I terminated employment at my sponsoring firm before ...

    Yes. Your exam is valid for a period of two years. Under normal circumstances, in order to have you become licensed or registered, your sponsoring firm would have filed Form U-4 (in addition to meeting other requirements such as bonding, fee payment, and a background check).However, since your employment ...
  28. If I do not have a U.S. Bachelor's Degree or equivalent, can I still qualify for ...

    CFA Institute indicates that a minimum of 4 years of qualifying work experience may allow an applicant without a Bachelor's degree to qualify. Details such as dates and places employed, as well as a description of job duties, must be given in full on the Registration & Enrollment Form.
  29. If I have passed the Series 7 exam, do I need to write the 6 and 63 exams as well?

    Not always. According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), (formerly National Association of Securities Dealers), if your Series 7 is still active, you can temporarily convert your license into a Series 6 without writing the Series 6 examination.
  30. Do I have to successfully complete the Series 7 exam before I can register for the ...

    There are no prerequisites to register for the Series 63 exam. However, once you have registered for the exam, you must schedule your exam within the 120-day window provided by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (formerly known as the National Association of Securities Dealers or NASD).
  31. Car Title Loans: Good Option For Fast Cash?

    These loans provide fast cash, but they could leave you deeper in debt - and without a car.
  32. Stop Scams In Their Tracks

    Find out how to protect yourself and your loved ones from financial fraudsters.
  33. 10 Breakout Ideas For Small Businesses

    If your business has hit a wall, we've got the answer to break through and increase sales and earnings.
  34. I own a small business. Can the SBO-401(k) work for me?

    The SBO-401(k) can only be adopted by businesses in which only the business's owners are eligible participants in the plan. The ideal candidate for the SBO-401(k) is an employer who has employees, they do not satisfy both criteria for being included in the plan.
  35. Analyzing A REX Agreement

    These contracts can be an effective way for homeowners to hedge against declining house prices.
  36. What To Expect When Applying For Life Insurance

    Before jumping into a policy, check out these tips on how to score the best plan for you.
  37. Is it possible to fund limited partnership interests with SEP contributions?

    Yes. The same rules that apply to investing Traditional and Roth IRA assets applies to SEP IRA assets. Therefore, providing the limited partnership investment is permitted under the Internal Revenue Code, and it can be held in the SEP IRA. Of course, the investment would have to be done with a custodian ...
  38. Are all bank accounts insured by the FDIC?

    The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency of the U.S. government that protects you against loss of deposit if your bank is FDIC insured. Banks are not mandated to be FDIC insured, but being insured has become a point of competition among banking institutions.
  39. How can I prevent commissions and fees from eating up my trading profits?

    First off, understand that there is no universal system regarding trading commissions charged by brokerage firms. Some charge rather steep fees for each trade, while others charge very little, depending on the level of service they provide. A discount brokerage firm might charge as little as $10 for ...
  40. Financial Planners: Practice What You Preach

    "Do as I say and not as I do" doesn't make for a great professional reputation.
  41. In an IPO, who is a greensheet distributed to and for what purpose?

    One of the most talked about documents that arises in the process of introducing a new issue is the greensheet. This is an internal marketing document prepared by the underwriter and intended for distribution to brokers and institutional sales desks of the underwriting firm (or underwriting collective).
  42. What does greenwashing mean?

    The term "greenwashing" was added to the Oxford English dictionary in 1999, where it is defined as "disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image." The word, a combination of green and whitewashing, was coined by suburban New York environmentalist ...
  43. What is the difference between a collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) and a collateralized ...

    Both collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and collateralized bond obligations (CBOs) are similar in that investors receive payments from a pool of underlying assets. The difference between these securities lies in the type of assets that provide cash flow to investors.
  44. 6 Tips On Selling Your Home In A Down Market

    Top tips to help when selling your home in a down real estate market.
  45. If I pay for a course to learn about trading can I write some of it off?

    There are some investing costs that can be written off each year, even if you aren't a day trader. The general rule in determining whether an investment expense is deductible is that the expense needs to be ordinary and necessary to produce or collect income, or in the management of property used to ...
  46. Relationship Money Matters

    Whether married, single or somewhere in between, you'll face unique financial challenges.
  47. Will You Break Even On Your Home?

    Calculate how much your property will need to appreciate to cover the costs of owning it.
  48. Save Without Sacrifice

    Don't sacrifice your life for your savings - get out there and have fun!
  49. Top 8 Estate Planning Mistakes

    Proper planning will help ensure that your wishes are honored and your heirs are well cared for.
  50. Let Life Insurance Riders Drive Your Coverage

    Find out how these additional benefits can help you customize your policy.
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  3. How To Monetize Your YouTube Channel

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    In spite of the rewards going public can bring, some companies prefer to remain private, and they are very successful in this.
  5. Is Cyber Monday The New Black Friday?

    Cyber Monday is becoming more popular than Black Friday. Here's why.
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