If you are ready to take your SIE Exam prep to the next level, Varsity Tutors can help you prepare with an in-depth SIE class. Taking an SIE course could help you get more out of the time you had already planned on devoting to studying. You can get started with your own SIE prep program quickly by contacting us today!
We have become a leader in the SIE test prep space because we connect students like you with SIE tutors dedicated to helping you reach for your professional and academic potential. SIE test prep can be a difficult road to cross alone, so bring in the experts to help you pursue success!
Can You Place Me In A SIE Exam Class Near Me That Explains What The Test Is?
Naturally! SIE stands for Securities Industry Essentials, a standardized exam administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to measure a prospective financial professional's basic knowledge of the securities industry. It is considered an entry-level exam, so the only requirement to sitting for it is being 18 years of age or older. Many students take it to build their resumes and establish their commitment to a career in the financial field to potential employers, though a passing score only remains valid for four years.
How Can SIE Exam Classes Near Me Improve My Study Efficiency?
Attending private SIE Exam courses allows you to study anything you might need to. You never need to leave a topic behind until you are comfortable doing so, in contrast to many competing SIE Exam courses that follow set curricula regardless of an individual student's needs. Likewise, you can receive help whenever you need it since you are your instructor's sole student during your SIE test prep. In fact, many of the students who have worked with us in the past claim that the personal rapport they were able to establish with their instructor over the course of their SIE classes made it easier to ask questions whenever necessary.
The personal relationship you forge can also help your tutor design SIE prep sessions with your needs in mind. If you are a visual learner who needs to see something in order to understand it, your SIE Exam tutor might create flashcards highlighting the most important things you need to know. Alternatively, an auditory learner could benefit from oral repetitions of key points to help them stick in their mind. Both approaches are viable SIE Exam prep options, but large SIE Exam classes tend to pick one or the other to the detriment of students who would prefer a different method.
Your instructor may even incorporate your outside interests into your SIE tutoring sessions to make them more engaging. If you enjoy game shows such as Jeopardy!, your instructor might structure your SIE test prep in a similar way. Alternatively, you may use high-profile clients as examples to make practice problems more interesting. Research suggests that students who are actively engaged in their SIE test prep end up getting more out of it, so why not spice it up a little bit?
The most challenging part of SIE test prep may be how foreign some of the concepts can seem. Finance isn't covered at all by the average high school curriculum, and most college courses don't delve into the finer points of topics such as options and bonds. Thankfully, you may review these concepts during SIE tutoring sessions. Here are some of the topics you might want to go over during your SIE Exam prep:
SIE Topics (non-comprehensive)
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Department of the Treasury/IRS
- The Federal Reserve
- Market Participants and their Roles
- Types of Markets
- Monetary vs. fiscal policy
- Business Economic Factors
- International Economic Factors
- Offerings
- Equity Securities
- Debt Instruments
- Packaged Products
- Municipal Fund Securities
- Direct Participation Programs (DPPs)
- REITs
- Hedge Funds
- Exchange-traded Products (ETPs)
- Definition and Identification of Risk Types
- Orders and Strategies
- Investment Returns
- Corporate Actions
- Customer Account Registrations
- Anti-money Laundering (AML)
- Books and Records and Privacy Requirements
- Prohibited Activities
- Registration and Continuing Education
- Employee Conduct
- Reportable Events
What Can SIE Exam Courses Near Me Teach Me About The Structure Of The Test?
The SIE is broken into four sections: Knowledge of Capital Markets (16% of your total grade), Understanding Products and Their Risks (44%), Understanding Trading, Customer Accounts, and Prohibited Activities (31%), and Overview of Regulatory Framework (9%). Here is a closer look at how formal SIE prep can help you prepare for each section:
Section One: Knowledge of Capital Markets
This section covers topics such as the role played by various market participants, types of markets (primary, secondary, etc.), how to read economic indicators, Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and how they work, and regulatory filing requirements and exemptions. It's a very broad section, but a lot of it boils down to rote memorization. If something just won't stick in your mind for any reason, you may work with your tutor to come up with a mnemonic device as part of your SIE Exam prep.
Alternatively, you could take advantage of SIE test prep time to write down anything you're having a hard time with. Writing things down forces you to actively think about them, potentially making them easier to remember.
Section Two: Understanding Products and Their Risks
Section Two covers investment products such as mutual funds, options, stocks, hedge funds, and risk mitigation. You will be expected to both understand these concepts on a theoretical level and crunch the numbers to demonstrate how they work in practice. The latter involves math, so your tutor may provide practice problems during your SIE Exam test prep if your quantitative skills aren't up to snuff.
Risk is also a key concept on this section, as you need to understand the different types of risk (liquidity, political, credit, capital, etc.) as well as common strategies to mitigate an investor's exposure to risk (diversification, hedging, portfolio rebalancing). You probably have an intuitive understanding of what risk is, but may not express it in the financial terms used by the exam. If so, your instructor may dedicate some SIE prep time to getting you up to speed with the pertinent terminology.
Section Three: Understanding Trading, Customer Accounts, and Prohibited Activities
Topics covered in this section include the different types of orders, investment returns, the difference between trade delivery and settlement, corporate actions (mergers, acquisitions, etc.), and different account types. One of the most important concepts to understand is how to take a customer's financial needs into consideration when recommending products to them. Your SIE tutor may act as different types of customers to give you some practical experience you can eventually draw on with real clients.
This section also includes the ethical components of finance, including the prohibitions on market manipulation and insider trading and the penalties associated with each. You need to be able to cite a lot of specific Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and FINRA regulations here, so the rote memorization techniques discussed for the first section may come in handy again once your SIE Exam prep makes it here.
Section Four: Overview of Regulatory Framework
If you felt that the previous sections of the test didn't have enough rules to memorize, you'll love the fourth section. It covers additional FINRA and SEC regulations, plus those imposed by self-regulatory organizations (SROs). The relatively light weight of this section may make students gloss over it in their SIE test prep, but these are important concepts. If you don't understand anything, make sure to ask your instructor before your testing date.
Likewise, the fourth section includes rules for how to perform various types of paperwork. If you're the type of person who needs to learn by doing, your instructor may provide sample problems for you to complete during your SIE test prep. If you would prefer for your instructor to walk you through the process, a comprehensive tutorial may be incorporated into your SIE preparation as well.
Will SIE Test Preparation Near Me Cover The Formatting Of The Test?
Yes! The SIE consists of 85 multiple-choice questions administered over a testing session lasting an hour and 15 minutes. Only 75 of the questions are scored but the experimental items are unmarked, so you'll just have to do your best on all of them. There is no penalty for guessing on the test, so you should plan to at least attempt every question. Of course, wanting to answer every question and actually having the time to do so can be completely different things.
Thankfully, time management strategies may be incorporated into your SIE test preparation. For example, you might learn how to eliminate obviously incorrect answer choices during an SIE course so that you can take a guess and move on. You might also learn how to leverage the exam against itself by using the information in one item to answer another.
You also have two resources available to you during the exam: a basic scientific calculator and a dry-erase board you may use as scrap paper. Unfortunately, you probably won't have enough time to use these resources for every question. Your instructor may demonstrate how to use these tools during your SIE Exam tutoring sessions to help you utilize them efficiently and effectively.
The SIE Exam is administered on a computer, providing a different test-taking experience from the pencil-and-paper format you are probably accustomed to. If you're a little apprehensive about an unfamiliar process, you may take practice tests during your SIE preparation to develop a familiarity with how it works. You may also learn relaxation techniques during your SIE prep if you have dealt with test anxiety in the past.
What Are The Benefits Of Booking SIE Preparation Through Varsity Tutors?
We try our best to refer every student to an SIE course that meets their scheduling needs. We believe that nobody should allow an SIE class to dictate their lives and design our services with the value of your time in mind.
For instance, our proprietary Live Learning Platform facilitates digital SIE test prep. You may meet with your instructor on our online classroom, giving you the advantages associated with face-to-face SIE prep without the corresponding headache. Our platform also has powerful features such as a virtual whiteboard and video chat functionality to bring your SIE test prep to life! We like to think it's one of the differentiators that help us stand out in a crowded industry.
Passing the SIE Exam would be a major accomplishment (the minimum passing score is 70), but it does not certify you as a financial professional. In order to earn a license, you must pass the SIE and another FINRA qualification exam based on the duties of the position you are gunning for. Here are some of the other qualification exams you may pursue after passing the SIE:
Qualification Exam Choices After Passing the SIE
- Series 6 - Investment Company Representative (IR)
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative (GS)
- Series 22 - DPP Representative (DR)
- Series 57 - Securities Trader (TD)
- Series 79 - Investment Banking Representative (IB)
- Series 82 - Private Securities Offerings Representative (PR)
- Series 86 and 87 -Research Analyst (RS)
- Series 99 - Operations Professional (OS)
Note that many of these tests have prerequisites that go beyond passing the SIE, such as a sponsorship from a FINRA member firm or passing an additional exam. That said, you have to start somewhere. The SIE could be the launching pad that helps your fiance career get off of the ground!
Are you interested in a career in the securities industry? If so, you may have already decided to take the SIE. This is an important exam but it can also be challenging to prepare for without any guidance. Varsity Tutors can help you create a more effective and efficient study plan with SIE prep guidance from expert educators. If you think that you would benefit from this style of SIE test preparation, then consider contacting us today. We'd love to help you pursue your test goals with confidence!
Melissa: SIE test prep instructor
I have 20 years of real world experience in business. I can teach the following licenses: SIE, Series 7, Series 63, and Series 66. I am a current licensed senior broker at a large firm. I have assisted with in-person training to pass these licenses and have worked teaching adults my entire career. Cannot wait to work with you!
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Arlington - Bachelor in Arts, Anthropology
- Capella University - Masters in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 7
- Series 66
- Series 63
- +1 subjects
Barrett: SIE test prep instructor
...winning is largely a function of how it's defined, I consider my own success to be helping my students along a journey to attaining their respective goals. But that journey begins with a first step, at times a humbling step. As a coach and mentor, I value my role as your trusted resource in helping you take those initial steps on your journey to passing the securities exam(s) and onward to a bright future!
Education & Certification
- Florida International University - Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural Mechanical College - Doctor of Laws, Law Enforcement Administration
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 79
- Series 7
- Series 26
- +20 subjects
Evan: SIE test prep instructor
...Summa Cum Laude (top 5% of my class) from Northwestern University with a degree in economics. I subsequently passed all 3 levels of the CFA examination process. I have worked in Investment Banking (Barclays Investment Bank) where I performed complex financial analyses before subsequently working in Private Equity. Most recently, I served as a Director of Finance for a Private Equity owned enterprise. I have helped many students in statistics, economics, managerial accounting, financial accounting...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 66
- Series 7
- Series 63
- +27 subjects
Brett: SIE test prep instructor
...torch to the next generation. My method is an immersive experience that creates a much more straightforward presentation of the material and results in deeper comprehension. From there, we test repeatedly in a consequence-free environment designed to both reveal areas needing to be strengthened as well as developing your confidence to make you comfortable with the format of the exam questions by showing you how to approach them and see through the tricky wording. That...
Education & Certification
- Belmont University Cum Laude - Bachelor of Science, General Studies
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 24
- Series 79
- Series 53
- +18 subjects
Braden: SIE test prep instructor
...am a recent Chemical Engineering graduate with a minor in economics from the University of Oklahoma living in Overland Park, Kansas. I have a passion for teaching college, high school, and middle schoolers math from Algebra to College Calculus, chemistry, and physics. In high school I took a variety of AP Tests: AP Chemistry-5, AP Physics 1-4, AP Calculus AB-5 AP US History-4, AP English Composition-4. I hope we are a great fit, and I...
Education & Certification
- University of Oklahoma Norman Campus - Chemical Engineer, Chemical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative Exam (Stockbroker)
- Series 66
- Differential Equations
- +64 subjects
Ben: SIE test prep instructor
...about learning, and I believe any subject (yes, even the "boring" ones) if given proper care and attention can bring a profound sense of achievement and meaning to our lives. While I tutor a wide variety of subjects, I am most passionate about Mathematics, Business, Writing, and History. In my spare time, I enjoy rock climbing, watching CrashCourse videos on YouTube, designing mobile applications, hiking with my amazing pup Betty, and having picnics downtown with...
Education & Certification
- Lee University - Bachelor of Science, Health Services Administration
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 63
- Series 6
- Graduate Level Biology
- +45 subjects
Education & Certification
- Malone University - Bachelor in Arts, Organizational Leadership
- Baldwin-Wallace College - Masters in Business Administration, Accounting
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 6
- ChFC - Chartered Financial Consultant
- FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- +25 subjects
Jennifer: SIE test prep instructor
...Administration. I have over 20 Years of sales, leadership, mentoring and coaching in the Financial Services field-which includes -Mortgage Branch Management, VP of Membership, Top Mortgage Production Sales Performer, Financial Advisor, Life & Health Agent and Medicare Health Agent. I focus on explaining real-life business experience examples so students understand how certification questions relate to situations they may encounter in the future. I enjoy sharing my tips and tools on how keep your "mind-over-matter" when...
Education & Certification
- Eastern Illinois University - Bachelor of Science, Family and Consumer Sciences
- Eastern Illinois University - Master of Science, Family and Consumer Sciences
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 6
- Insurance License
- Real Estate License
- +3 subjects
Lonie: SIE test prep instructor
...teach as a primary source of income; I teach because I enjoy helping others enough to do it in my spare time. People don't care what you know until they know that you care. I'm supposed to write something here about my own achievements. I have an impressive resume by most peoples' standards. But my achievements don't amount to anything unless they translate into helping YOU pass your exam. Let's just leave it at that.
Education & Certification
- Bowling Green State University-Main Campus - Bachelor of Science, German
- West Virginia University - Bachelor of Science, Statistics
- Xavier University - Master of Science, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 7
- Series 6
- Series 63
- +21 subjects
Jessica: SIE test prep instructor
Avid public speaker and advocate for financial literacy. I am a full-time financial advisor that uses my free time to help others gain the knowledge necessary to learn more about business and finance or make their own way in the financial services industry.
Education & Certification
- SUNY College at Oneonta - Bachelor of Science, Economics
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- Series 10
- Insurance License
- +79 subjects
Kevin: SIE test prep instructor
...life" professional experience and have traveled extensively, I am able to provide you real life examples to help understand the value of learning the topics I tutor you with. I specialize in tutoring a broad range of subjects with a focus on math, science, history, government, geography, accounting, finance and related business topics. One of my goals for each tutoring session is to keep the student engaged and challenged yet not overwhelmed. I use a...
Education & Certification
- Truman State University - Bachelor of Science, Accounting
- Washington University in St Louis - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 30
- Series 79
- CPA
- +41 subjects
Dennis: SIE test prep instructor
...the NY brokerage firm Bear Stearns at 17 years old and earned some licenses along the way (7, 63, 55 and 24 supervisory principal). Life is easiest when armed with a variety of skill sets. So learn a little of everything but specialize in something that you feel like learning, even if there will be no test or recognition. Your education is really for yourself and those you will affect from now on.
Education & Certification
- Wesleyan University - Bachelor in Arts, Mathematical Statistics and Probability
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 24
- Series 55
- Series 7
- +49 subjects
Valentina: SIE test prep instructor
...7, Series 66, and of course, in SIE since it is a pre-requisite for Series 7. I have also been FINRA licensed in Series 63 and Series 65. The exams are very challenging, but there is nothing there that you will not be able to comprehend and nail from the first attempt. Therefore, I am standing by to help you with these challenging exams. Additionally, I have been teaching as a licensed teacher for several...
Education & Certification
- Colorado Mesa University - Bachelor of Science, Computer and Information Sciences, General
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- Series 66
- Series 65
- +4 subjects
Education & Certification
- Tulane University of Louisiana - Bachelor of Economics, Finance
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative Exam (Stockbroker)
- Series 63
- ACT Reading
- +16 subjects
Raman: SIE test prep instructor
...to help you achieve your goal of successfully passing the Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, Series 66, State Life & Health Insurance License, the CFP curriculum and the exam, ChFC curriculum and anything related to the finance and financial services industry. Reading material and memorizing it is one thing, understanding how to strategically take these exams and understanding the concept is where my skills will help you successfully achieve your goal of passing your...
Education & Certification
- University of Houston-Downtown - Bachelor in Business Administration, Finance
- Rice University - Certificate, Financial Planning
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- CFP
- FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- RICP - Retirement Income Certified Professional
- +25 subjects
Donald: SIE test prep instructor
...The Naval Academy is an Engineering school and all students are required to take dozens of credits of technical STEM courses to include thermodynamics, electrical engineering, cyber security, physics, chemistry, calculus, and computer systems engineering. Not only was I pushed academically but I was pushed as a leader. You are expected to develop your own leadership style and practice it every day. I held numerous instructor and leadership positions while at the Naval Academy and...
Education & Certification
- United States Naval Academy - Bachelor of Science, History
- Louisiana State University-Shreveport - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- RICP - Retirement Income Certified Professional
- Series 7
- Series 65
- +35 subjects
Joseph: SIE test prep instructor
...love to teach and inspire my student to attain their goals and objectives. I am very compassionate and patient with my students, especially those studying for FINRA and State Insurance Licensing exams. I have created unique study plans and practice exam questions that have assisted my students to pass their exams without any doubt about their capabilities. I'm happy to help you succeed in all FINRA and State Insurance Exams tutoring. Your passing grade is...
Education & Certification
- Yeshiva University - Bachelor of Science, Economics
- Western Governors University - Masters in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 86
- Series 57
- Series 63
- +48 subjects
Brendan Daniel : SIE test prep instructor
...CFA candidate and portfolio manager for my digital asset hedge fund. I focus on the fund's DeFi investment strategy, blockchain research, and protocol risk management. For students, (and interns), I have taught solidity, python, CFA level 1 and 2 material, Series 7, 63, and 65. I have also taught financial modeling, smart contract development, data analysis, and machine learning model development in python. (CFA material includes micro/macro economics, financial statement analysis, equity/fixed income valuation, derivatives,...
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- Series 10
- Series 16
- Series 86
- +62 subjects
Education & Certification
- Carnegie Mellon University - Masters in Business Administration, Business Statistics
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- Series 7
- Series 63
- +25 subjects
John: SIE test prep instructor
...various equity and equity derivative products on behalf of hedge funds. Part of my background includes analyzing market trends, managing portfolio risk, and developing optimal trading strategies from both a fundamental and technical perspective. In addition to my professional experience, I am highly analytical, detail-oriented, and have a strong product knowledge through my CFA candidacy and academic pursuits. I am excited to continue my learning and provide some of the knowledge I've gained throughout my...
Education & Certification
- Marist College - Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Management
- Marist College - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Subject Expertise
- SIE
- CFA
- Series 57
- Series 63
- +20 subjects