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The Daily Insight

How hard is the Series 86

Author

Rachel Hickman

Published Feb 12, 2026

Simply put, the Series 86 is the hardest FINRA exam that we tutor at Professional Exam Tutoring. The exam is extremely analytical – which makes sense, since it’s for analysts – heavily quantitative.

How long does it take to study for Series 86?

An estimated 80 to 100 hours of study time is recommended to pass the test. The Series 86 portion of the exam includes two tracks: information and data collection, and analysis, modeling and valuation.

How many questions is the Series 86?

The Series 86 exam is 100 questions in length. Despite a more truncated exam than the Series 7 Top-Off Exam, 80% of it comprises analysis, modeling, and valuation.

What does the Series 86 allow you to do?

The Series 86 and 87 exams measure the degree to which each candidate possesses the knowledge needed to perform the critical functions of a research analyst, including preparation of written or electronic communications that analyze equity securities and/or companies and industry sectors.

How long is the Series 86 exam?

Candidates will be allowed 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete the Series 86 exam, and 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete the Series 87 exam.

How do you beat Series 86?

Series 86 (Part I): This exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and 10 pretest questions, testing an individual’s knowledge of the field. Candidates have four-and-a-half hours to complete the Series 86. 1 A score of 73% or better is required for passing.

Is the Series 7 Hard?

Is the Series 7 Exam Difficult? Clocking in at 125 questions to be answered in three hours and 45 minutes, the Series 7 exam is considered the most difficult of all the securities licensing exams. The minimum passing score is 72, which may not seem that difficult.

What does a supervisory analyst do?

A supervisory analyst is qualified to review and approve: Research reports on debt and equity securities. Discussion of broad-based indices. Commentaries on economic, political or market conditions.

What is a FINRA firm?

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is an independent, nongovernmental organization that writes and enforces the rules governing registered brokers and broker-dealer firms in the United States. … FINRA provides resources, such as BrokerCheck, that help to protect investors.

What is required for a Series 7 license?

To take the Series 7 exam, you must be sponsored by a FINRA member firm or a self-regulatory organization (SRO). Firms apply for candidates to take the exam by filing a Uniform Application for Security Industry Registration or Transfer (Form U4).

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How long does it take to study for the Series 63?

How much time does it take to study for the Series 63 exam? Most candidates spend 30–40 hours studying for the FINRA Series 63. Best practices suggest that you spread those hours over about 10 days.

Does equity research need series7?

This means that finance professionals involved in sales and trading and equity research, asset management, investment banking advisory services and even operations are often required to take the Series 7.

What is Series 57 exam?

The Series 57 exam is designed to assess the competency of entry-level Securities Traders. The Series 57 exam seeks to measure the degree to which each candidate possesses the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform the critical functions of a Securities Trader.

What is the Series 63 pass rate?

99% of candidates who pass our Series 63 benchmark exam on the first try pass the actual exam. 98% Candidates who average between 65% – 70% on their first 350 Series 63 practice questions that pass the exam. Get even more instruction with the All Access Pass.

What is the Series 99?

The Series 99 license, also known as the Investment Banking Representative Examination (IB), allows representatives to register with FINRA to offer advice or facilitate any of the following: debt or equity offerings (public or private), mergers or acquisitions, tender offers, financial restructuring, asset sales, and …

What is a Series 82?

The Series 82 exam measures the degree to which each candidate possesses the knowledge needed to perform the critical functions of a private securities offerings representative, including solicitation and sale of private placement securities products as part of a primary offering.

Is there math on the Series 7?

The exam is approximately 30% math (e.g. options, margin and convertible bonds). … Other candidates “fear” the math – that’s okay too. Candidates who are stronger on the qualitative concepts and regulations and count on many of those questions on the exam.

What is the hardest series exam?

The Series 7 exam is by far the longest and most difficult of all the securities exams. It lasts for 225 minutes and covers all aspects of stock and bond quotes and trading; put and call options; spreads and straddles; ethics; margin, and other account holder requirements; and other pertinent regulations.

How long should you study for the Series 7?

You need to spend 80-100 hours studying for the FINRA Series 7 exam if you have a finance background and about 150 if you don’t.

What does the Series 66 cover?

The Series 66 is an exam and license that is meant to qualify individuals as investment advisor representatives or securities agents. The Series 66, also known as the Uniform Combined State Law Examination, covers topics relevant to providing investment advice and effecting securities transactions for clients.

Is Robinhood FINRA approved?

In December 2019, Robinhood settled with FINRA, where it consented to findings that, from October 2016 through November 2017, the company violated numerous FINRA rules by not exercising reasonable diligence to ascertain that the broker-dealers to which it routed customer orders for payment for order flow provided the “ …

Is an RIA a FINRA member firm?

FINRA. … It does not regulate RIAs, but if an RIA firm’s business includes broker-dealer services, it would fall under FINRA as well as the SEC or state RIA compliance.

Is Robinhood a broker dealer firm?

Robinhood is an online discount brokerage that offers a commission-free investing and trading platform. The company gets the vast majority of revenue from payment for order flow.

How much do supervisory analysts make?

The national average salary for a Supervisory Analyst is $80,443 in United States. Filter by location to see Supervisory Analyst salaries in your area.

What is the Series 27?

The Series 27 is a securities license that entitles the holder to prepare and manage the books and recordkeeping of a member firm. … In order to get a Series 27 license, a professional must pass the Series 27 or the Financial and Operations Principal Qualification exam.

How much money can I make with a Series 7 license?

Job TitleRangeAverageRegistered Client AssociateRange:$43k – $71kAverage:$53,644Certified Financial Planner (CFP)Range:$50k – $124kAverage:$71,400Financial PlannerRange:$43k – $100kAverage:$63,358Compliance OfficerRange:$51k – $105kAverage:$75,631

Is a Series 7 license worth it?

Typically, the Series 7 is the better choice if you’re interested in selling individual securities either now or in the future. Plus, once the Series 7 is completed, no additional exam is required.

What jobs can you get with a Series 7?

A Series 7 license can be the launching point for many careers in financial services. You could start as a registered representative, an entry-level position, then work your way up to being a personal financial advisor who helps people create financial plans.

Is Series 66 harder than 7?

While the hardest questions from the Series 66 overlaps with the Series 63’s hardest questions, the Series 66 contains even more content that makes it a challenge. There is a lot of content that overlaps with the Series 7, for instance. … These topics, and more, lead to a fairly challenging exam.

Is Series 65 or 66 Harder?

Is It Harder to Pass the Series 65 or Series 66 Exams? While the pass/fail rate for these exams is not publicly available, many consider the Series 66 exam more difficult than the Series 65 because it is longer. The Series 65 contains 130 questions and the Series 66 has only 100.

Is Series 79 easy?

The Series 79 exam is more difficult than the Securities Industry Essentials exam. The SIE exam is commonly considered an introductory exam while the Series 79 involves concepts that may be more complex required by those who need a higher degree of skills in the investment banking industry.