“Guerrilla Marketing” is an amazing book that has sold more than 14 million copies and is authored by Grant Hicks and Jay Conrad Levinson. This book has become one of the best-selling series in the marketing industry ever in history; it is available in 39 languages and has become a required reading in many MBA programs around the world. With nine information-packed chapters, this book is a great addition to any marketing professional. At AB Training Center, we off this book at a great deal that that is complete with reviews and provides amazing feedback and discussions that gives students an incomparable edge in the marketing industry. This book is an incomparable resource for anyone and everyone that works in marketing, finance, banking, or any other industry where marketing is needed.
Students can obtain this book at an unbelievably low price, which is offered by Grant Hicks. Hicks is President of Hicks Financial, one of the leading authorities of marketing financial services in Canada. He is also one of the most engaging public speakers that provide attendees with a wealth of knowledge and information that they can immediately apply to their own marketing tools the second they leave the presentation. He is the co-author of “Guerilla Marketing”, and the book discusses every single aspect of marketing for financial advisors. With this book, marketers can learn how to do proper prospecting, client management, as well as how to effectively deal with referrals. The book also provides a large amount of information on how to establish and maintain your professional image. For anyone who is interested in marketing or is already working in the industry, this book is a must-read and is a powerful asset to have in your office.
In order to purchase this book, please contact the AB Training Center today.
A Certified Fund Specialist (CFS) is a very prestigious title to obtain for anyone who works in the financial industry. By becoming a CFS, you will have expertise in mutual funds and have a solid understanding of how these funds can be fully executed for each particular investment your clients may be interested in. Having such an extensive knowledge of mutual funds will set you apart from the crowd and make a much more marketable and in demand professional. You will need to take a class in order to receive your certified fund specialist designation, but for those of you with very busy schedules there are online classes you can take so you don’t have to worry about making a class on time or making up coursework in the event of an absence.
At AB Training Center, we offer a complete course designed to help you achieve your certified specialist designation. In this class, you will learn important criteria such as correlation coefficient, R-squared, alpha, beta, standard deviation, and more. You will develop a vast knowledge of everything pertaining to mutual funds and you will also be able to reap the full rewards that becoming a certified fund specialist has to offer. In just a short amount of time, you can work your way up to a higher level of professionalism and intelligence in the financial and mutual fund industries.
This course consists of six different modules, each one designed to help you develop a deeper understanding of specific topics like expenses, regulations, fund selection, tax-free bonds, market indicators, portfolios and several others. In order to successfully complete this course, you will need to pass three exams (each exam covers two modules), and complete a written case study. Each exam consists of fifty multiple-choice questions and should not take a student very long to master. The case study is based on a fact pattern which is provided by the IBF (The Institute of Business and Finance). Dedicating yourself to this course while you’re enrolled will help you pass the exams and the case study with ease.
If interested in enrolling in our Certified Fund Specialist course, please contact AB Training Center. We can quickly get you and enrolled and started on the fast track to receiving your CFS designation as early as today.
Popular movies throughout the decades have depicted the lifestyles of securities traders as extravagant, lavish, powerful, and even corrupt. Although individuals working in the financial industry may have access to making large sums of money and living in the most expensive neighborhoods in the world, stockbrokers have to work extremely hard in order to obtain such high salaries. In some films like Wall Street and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, securities traders are shown as greed-driven and willing to do anything to get to the top. Movies like this have created a bad reputation for stockbrokers, especially those who hold a Series 7 securities license because this designation allows for almost every individual security to be sold by traders. In The Pursuit of Happyness, stockbrokers are shown in a more positive light as the main character is homeless and trying to support his young son. This movie shows the fierce determination that securities professionals must convey in order to provide for themselves and for their families. As a result of these films, more people have developed an interest in becoming stockbrokers.
Gordon Gekko (played by Michael Douglas) in Wall Street
In both Wall Street and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Gordon Gekko is portrayed as the top manipulator in securities trading. He uses young brokers to do his dirty work and gather insider information by illegal means in order to make himself millions. Although he is sentenced eight years in prison, he is still the same deceitful person when he is released in the sequel. Gekko is shown as greedy, selfish, and mean, and the young men working for him realize that they have made a huge mistake by trusting him. The young brokers would need to have a Series 7 designation in order to make these sells for Gekko, and as a result, both men would be punishable by law. It may be true that obtaining high salaries and becoming a powerful force in any profession could make anyone corrupt, but it does not mean that is the case for every securities trader.
The Pursuit of Happyness shows the struggle of a man who has lost everything due to a poor business investment decision. When he loses all of his money, his wife leaves him. All he has left is his young son and the two are soon homeless. During the movie, the main character, Chris, is determined to get another job and make enough money to support his child. He gets an internship as a stockbroker and works hard to show his bosses that he is capable of being a huge asset to their firm. At the end of his internship, he is offered a full-time position as a securities trader and he and his young son celebrate. Securities professionals and Series 7 license holders are not shown as greedy, narcissistic individuals as in the other mentioned films. The Pursuit of Happyness shows that with hard work and a passion for your profession, you can become successful no matter how meager your beginnings may have been.
Securities trading will always be a top profession depicted in films and stockbrokers will remain to be scrutinized because of their high income potential, but that does not matter. What’s important is that each individual in the financial industry hold true to themselves and their beliefs. If stockbrokers do what is right without giving in to greed or corruption, the public opinion makes no difference. Not every person working on Wall Street has a desire to be extremely rich, powerful, or delusive. It all depends on the individual. However, one thing remains certain: securities trading will always remain to be a highly sought after career as a result of every film it’s represented in.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of your workload or if you feel like you need to better prioritize your time so you can get more work finished, consider enrolling in our upcoming audio conference. We’ll cover managing multiple projects and how to prioritize them to better use your skills and time.
Efficiency is truly different for each person. Some people can funtion better than others given certain tasks but, how? It’s not rocket science, its because people that have found a working style that suits themselves are inherently more efficient. In the Managing Multiple Priorities and Projects audio conference we’ll help you find the working style that works best for you along with:
How to gain control and time over your tasks
How to manage and change your own mindset
How to teach employees to work efficiently with you
How to handle working for multiple “bosses”
What to during unexpected situations
Tips for managing people who manage projects
Much more…
Teri Morning, SPHR, is your speaker. Teri has over 15 years organizational development and teaching experience in a variety of fields. Teri also has a Master’s in Human Resource Development with a specialization in Conflict Management. There are few people more qualified to present this audio conference than Teri.
According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), individuals wishing to work in the financial and securities industry must take the Securities Representative Examinations, in order to obtain appropriate licensing and credibility. The tests, administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), are intended to cushion prospective public investors; by ensuring that General Securities Representatives are competent to perform their work.
Admittedly, these comprehensive assessments are not easy and require months of preparation, and sponsorship from active stockbrokers or dealers in the market. Nonetheless, securities license exam training enables one to practice and prepare for the tests beforehand. Generally, there are about 25 licensing examinations available for prospective financial services advisors in the US, depending on the exact fields they may wish to engage in. Some of the advantages of early preparation for these tests include:
1. Familiarity
One of the advantages of training for securities exams is that it creates familiarity. Candidates get a feel of the real examinations, which are usually intense five to six hour sessions consisting of hundreds of multiple-choice questions. Therefore, it is imperative for institutions that offer securities license exams training, to give students adequate exam preparation materials. These include easy-to-understand study materials and sample tests, for both online and actual students taking part in the course. Experience has shown that students who take the sample securities test repeatedly are more likely to succeed than those who do not.
2. Basics
As mentioned before, there are over twenty securities-related fields that candidates may choose from. For instance, the Series 3: National Commodities Futures Examination prepares one to sell future contracts and options. The Series 7: General Securities License Examination prepares individuals to solicit and sell various corporate, municipal, and government securities, to prospective investors. Generally, most tests must incorporate the basics of each field, in order to measure candidates’ suitability and experience. Securities license exams training encompasses the fundamentals of these financial fields, to give candidates confidence before the main exams.
3. Anxiety
Pre-examination anxiety stems from two main factors: lack of sufficient preparation and natural anxiety. Natural anxiety before a critical test such as the securities license examination, which can determine ones career direction, is understandable. This kind of anxiety usually ends logically, once the candidate relaxes and begins taking the test. However, the former anxiety has no remedy, since the candidate is responsible for lack of preparation. In order to tackle such anxiety, individuals wishing to take securities license examinations should adequately prepare for the test. The best way to do this is by enrolling for securities license exams training at an appropriate institution.
4. Timing
FINRA security licensing tests are mostly conducted digitally. The organization requires prospective financial representatives to seat for the exams at various accredited centers across the country. Once candidates finish the test, they receive their scores immediately. It is imperative to develop a strategy for managing the limited time available for completing the multiple-choice questions. This will provide ample time for rechecking, and substantiating that the answers given are correct. Thus, candidates should preferably register for securities license exam training, in order to develop timing strategies for answering questions accurately, and glancing over the test to make any corrections.
5. Attitude
Success or failure in examinations heavily depends on ones attitude prior to the big day. First-rate preparation for securities licensing tests raises candidates’ confidence levels, giving them a positive outlook towards the exam. Lack of preparation on the other hand is recipe for tension and disaster during examination day.
Overall, the importance of thorough preparation for security licenses exams cannot be overstated. The results can determine the direction of one’s career in future. Therefore, it is critical for prospective candidates to register for securities license exam training. The coursework produces the six benefits outlined above, to ensure successful completion of examinations and consequent licensing by the government agency.
If you are trying to earn your Series 7 license you might be very nervous about testing. The Series 7 exam is one of the more lengthy and difficult exams that is administered by the FINRA and if you are coming up on your test date you should definitely study. Do not let the fact that the passing ratio for the test is 65 percent worry you when you are preparing for the test. You have to look past the passing ratio and learn how to prepare for your test before the test date so you can be one of the many who have passed their test on the first try. With so many prep classes available, learn how to pass the series 7 exam with online training and focus on studying the right information.
Find the Right Prep Classes That Are Proven to Improve Your Chances of Passing
There are so many different online training courses that you can choose from. If you are studying and have a full-time job, the most effective way to prepare for your test is to choose an online training center. Not all training programs are created equally. You should review the pass ratios of the students who have used each training program to choose a program that has the highest passing ratio.
Take Advantage of the Practice Tests
All of the training centers offering online prep classes for the Series 7 exam will also offer practice tests online. You can get familiar with the layout of the test and the terms that will be used. Trying to decipher the meaning of a test question because you do not understand the meaning of the terms will take up a lot of your time. If you take the practice tests, you will learn the meanings before you are in a real test situation.
Know The Weight of the Topics Covered
The exam focuses on several different topics. You should know the weight of all of the topics covered on the exam so you can assess where you are struggling and where you should spend more time studying. Make sure you are scoring in the 80′s consistently on your practice tests before you sit down to take the official exam.
There is nothing more frustrating than studying more than 90 hours for your exam and being told you did not pass. Online training can help you boost your scores and your test taking skills. The exams are designed to confuse you. Make sure you understand how the questions will be phrased and what topics will be covered by completing online prep classes.
The insurance and financial securities industry requires licensing for several reasons. Most importantly, it is for the protection of the customer and the prevention of scams run on vulnerable people. Licensing includes financial guidelines and ethical standards that are regulated by FINRA. There are quite a few licenses available covering all the specific areas in insurance and financial securities. Training is available for all these licenses. Securities license training is available and very accessible to help you move toward your financial services goals.
However, it is important to determine what license you need based on your area of expertise. Some securities licenses require you to be sponsored by your employer or potential employer in order to obtain your license. How do you get this training?
Training is offered in one of three ways. Online courses, self-study or a classroom setting are the three options available to you. The choice is based on your individual situation. If you are a person with a good amount of self-discipline and have few distractions, self-study is a great option. If you need some type of structure, the online class is an option. Or, if you need the structure from the classroom setting, this is the third option.
For companies that have several employees that require licensing, custom training is available. This would fall under the classroom setting. Training centers are also available for the classroom training.
The licenses being offered have pre-requisites for each license number. Those pre-requisites need to be reviewed to make that all your bases are covered before you obtain the training. The series of licenses are as follows:
- Series 3–4, 6-7, 9-11
- Series 24, 26–28
- Series 31-32, 37–38
- Series 51, 53, 55, 56
- Series 62-63, 65-66
- Series 79, 82, 99
Each series has a specific knowledge base in the financial securities arena. You can review the information online to find out more information in the area that interests you. You can also search the official FINRA site for even more detailed information.
The license requirement establishes all financial securities agents as authorized to do business in this arena. The regulations offer the public security and reassurance that there are standards to be followed when others are responsible for investing their money. The regulations and standards for licensing offer agents and brokers the guidelines that must be kept for them to work in the arena. This lets the public know that the law protects their investments.
For employer sponsorship, it is important to keep in mind that if the company is paying for the training, there may be terms of commitment once you receive your license. Should you break that commitment, you may be responsible for repayment to the company for the training.
The options available to obtain your securities license training are plentiful. They provide flexibility for those who need it as well as a study guide for the final exam. With these choices, you can move forward with your goal to obtain the license and further your career.
The financial industry is a vital pillar supporting the US as well as world economy. Trades worth trillions of dollars are transacted every day. There is need for supervisory regulation to ensure corporate clients and individuals do not lose investments in dubious schemes. This is why the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) was set up to address these challenges. A securities license is the key that will open the investments door. It is not a straightforward affair as there are factors which determine the type of license required. The following guide will take you through the importance of securing a securities license and how to get one.
Importance of Licensure
To begin with, you will be able to handle financial instruments as a broker or dealer. Without licensure it would be impossible to get an opening in the financial industry. The securities license shows that you have extensive knowledge of security markets operations, securities laws, as well as financial products. An individual with such knowledge is capable of handling investments properly. This means being able to analyze financial market fundamentals and investment risk factors. Some of the investment tools you will be handling include stocks, open-end funds, options, and bonds. There are many brokerages and security firms ready to employ individuals with the right skills in addition to licensing. Salaries for new entrants hover around $50,000 every year. The annual pay package if you stick around for several years can be as high as $175,000.
How to Get a Securities License
You can only get a securities license by way of sponsorship from a broker-dealer. In addition to the sponsorship, you will have to undergo rigorous preparation before sitting for the licensing exam. Even after acquiring the license, it is advisable to keep up to date with continuous education. The majority of employers fall into two broad categories, retail and independent. Licensing requirements differ with independent broker-dealers taking a more liberal approach. FINRA oversees the administration of exams and licensing procedures. There are three main licenses that every person working with financial instruments must obtain. These are the limited-investment securities license (series 6), the general securities representative license (series 7), and series 3 license. You should also take note that FINRA does not administer all licenses. The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) also offers some key licenses. These are the uniform securities agent license (series 63), series 65, and series 66 licenses. You must achieve a score of 70 percent in both FINRA and NASAA examinations to be licensed. However, the pass rate for series 63, 65 and 66 is a little bit higher. You will have to score 72 percent, 72 percent and 75 percent respectively to have any chance of receiving licensure. After passing the requisite exams, you have to register the securities license with an approved a broker-dealer.
Nervousness is a normal emotion for students that are about to take an exam. Everyone gets nervous in the moments before entering the exam and before taking the test – but it’s important to learn the methods that can be used to overcome this nervousness and get the best results from taking the exam. Nervousness can negatively affect the outcome of the exam, causing the student to increase their chances of failing.
Learning the tips and tricks that can be used to overcome the sense of nervousness before entering the exam can be a great way to increase the chances of passing. In the process of getting the license, the series 7 license exam can be a nerve wracking time for students, but using the following tips can be an effective way to increase the chances of passing.
Preparation is one of the most important parts of gaining the ability to pass the exam. Hoping that you will pass the exam will only get you so far, it’s important to take an active role in the information that must be learned before attempting to pass the exam. Preparatory classes for the exam are some of the most effective ways to ensure that the exam is passed, and the majority of people that have taken the exam and passed have undergone these training prep courses.
There are two types of exams that are available for students to take to prepare for the series 7 license exam; internet courses and in-class courses. Through the physical classes, students are offered benefits like unlimited practise tests that can increase the chances of the student passing the final exam for the series 7 license. Students that undergo multiple rounds of the practise tests can increase the chances of passing, learning the familiar terms and theories associated with the exam.
There are often multiple choices available when it comes to the exam and learning the theory behind the courses can help the student to find the answers to the questions of the exam. Taking the time to study for the exam is going to ensure that the student is able to get the positive performance needed in order to pass the exam.
Next, it’s important to consider the various topics that are found through the exam. Learning about the specific topics and types of questions that are being asked on the exam, including the different variations and types of questions can increase the chances of passing the exam.
The one aspect of the program that is going to enable the student to pass the exam is learning to study the material that is being presented. Taking the information and creating a daily study schedule for the information that has been presented can be an effective way to pass the exam – but it takes discipline to include the study sessions with the daily activities. Implementing a study schedule can reduce the cramming or last minute studying, increasing the chances that the information is going to be retained – and easily recalled at the time of the exam.
Using the above tips, you can increase the levels of confidence and effectively prepare for taking the series 7 license exam – increasing the chances of passing the exam and successfully completing the process of licensing. Using a study schedule, the practise tests that are available through the series 7 prep courses and learning the theory to improve the confidence of the potential driver can help to increase the chances of passing the exam. Taking all of this information into account, the student is able to overcome any of the obstacles that are going to cause the student to fail the exam.
It is essential that you pass the Series 7 License Exam before working in the financial sector as a buyer or seller of stocks, bonds and other investments. The exam is set by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and deals with a number of publicly traded products. A member of FINRA must sponsor you if you want to take this exam, although the state will sponsor a Registered Investment Advisor in some instances.
If you want to work with retail investors, this is just one license you must hold. Licensing requirements vary from one state to the next, but the Series 7 is one license held by registered brokers and dealers. This is a means of giving the public confidence in your services.
There are 260 questions on the exam. Your mark to pass is 72%, which is achieved by an average of 66% of applicants. Anything below 72% is considered a fail, while the average passing score is 73%. This leaves 10 experimental questions for practice. The current exam cost is $265, which is non-refundable. Confirm this sum when you apply.
Usually, applicants need to complete a U-4 in which they disclose previous work history, any criminal convictions, and other important details which could influence their ability to work as a financial advisor. Exams are held daily, so pay your fee and make an appointment. Sit yours over 6 hours in two time slots set back to back, featuring 125 questions each.
The multiple choice format is easy to use. Select one from a possibility of four answers. This means you can guess and still get the answer right. A reference book will be supplied in some testing centers and this contains things like clippings from financial publications. You can also use a non-programmable calculator which is frequently provided for you.
Questions refer to things like ethical trading, evaluating the profile of a client to assess his risks prior to investing, and the technical aspects of opening accounts, buying, selling and transferring assets. Answer questions pertinent to record keeping, communicating with the client, and advising him. Prove that you understand what it means to stand up to scrutiny by customers, regulatory bodies and the law.
You must know how to follow clients’ directions to buy or sell according to their specifications. With this licensing regulation in place, customers are protected against fraudulent or ignorant behavior in the financial industry.