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FINRA · Series 7 · Cheat sheet

General Securities Representative Exam (Series 7) cheat sheet

A one-page summary of the four Series 7 job functions.

Seeking business

  • Retail communications need principal approval before use
  • Cold calls only 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time; honor do-not-call lists
  • Correspondence goes to 25 or fewer retail investors in 30 days

Opening accounts

  • Verify identity (CIP) and gather the investment profile
  • Margin accounts need a signed margin agreement
  • Options accounts need principal approval and the ODD

Recommendations

  • Call breakeven = strike + premium; put breakeven = strike − premium
  • Reg T initial margin 50%; long maintenance 25%; short maintenance 30%
  • Suitability: reasonable-basis, customer-specific and quantitative

Transactions

  • Regular-way settlement is T+1; cash settlement is same day
  • Confirmations go out by settlement
  • Mark orders solicited, unsolicited or discretionary

Test yourself on Series 7

Reading a summary is the easy part. Take the free 10-question diagnostic to see which of these domains you actually have, then drill the rest.