Series 24 for Supervisory Roles Explained
- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: 'FINRA Exam Mastery'
- Category: Finance
๐งพ Series 24 for Supervisory Roles Explained
๐ What the Series 24 License Qualifies You to Do in Financial Supervision
The Series 24, or General Securities Principal Exam, is a FINRA licensing exam designed for professionals who want to supervise broker-dealer operations, including registered representatives and the activities they engage in. If you’re seeking a supervisory, compliance, or managerial role in a securities firm, the Series 24 is likely essential to your advancement.
๐ฏ 1. What Is the Series 24 Exam?
The Series 24 exam qualifies individuals to become General Securities Principals. This license is required for those who wish to oversee and manage activities related to:
- Sales of corporate securities, municipal securities, options, and investment company products
- Underwriting and trading
- Recruitment, training, and oversight of registered representatives
- Handling customer complaints and compliance
๐ Note: The Series 24 does not allow the holder to supervise municipal securities trading (Series 53 required) or options (Series 4 required) unless they also hold those licenses.
๐ 2. Who Needs the Series 24 License?
You need the Series 24 if you’re moving into a supervisory or principal role at a FINRA-member firm, such as:
- Branch Office Manager
- Compliance Officer
- Operations Manager
- Sales Supervisor
If you are responsible for approving advertising, reviewing trades, or monitoring sales activities, Series 24 is likely required.
๐ 3. Series 24 Exam Structure
Category | % of Exam |
---|---|
Supervision of Registration of Associated Persons | 9% |
Supervision of General Broker-Dealer Activities | 28% |
Supervision of Customer Account Activities | 15% |
Supervision of Trading and Market Making | 14% |
Supervision of Investment Banking | 9% |
Supervision of Advertising | 10% |
Financial Responsibility Rules | 15% |
Exam Specs:
- 150 multiple-choice questions
- 3 hours and 45 minutes
- Passing score: 70%
- Cost: $120
- Sponsorship required by a FINRA-member firm
๐ง 4. Core Topics to Master
- Regulatory framework: FINRA, SEC, MSRB, SIPC, and other regulatory bodies
- Firm supervision structures and responsibilities
- Supervisory procedures, written supervisory procedures (WSPs), and escalation policies
- Sales practices and conflicts of interest
- Trading violations, front-running, manipulative practices
- Communication rules, advertising review, and social media oversight
- Customer account rules, margin requirements, and suitability obligations
- Underwriting and syndicate processes
โ๏ธ 5. Ethical Responsibilities and Compliance
The Series 24 emphasizes your role as a gatekeeper of integrity within a firm. You’ll be responsible for ensuring:
- Sales reps adhere to suitability and disclosure rules
- Client interactions follow ethical practices
- Your firm is compliant with regulatory audits, filings, and documentation
๐ 6. Career Benefits of Series 24
โ
Advance to supervisory roles
โ
Boost your compliance and legal knowledge
โ
Stand out as a qualified manager in a highly regulated industry
โ
Build leadership credibility with regulators and firm leadership
๐ Need help preparing for the Series 24 exam?
Access expert study plans, flashcards, and practice exams at
๐ https://finra-exam-mastery.com
Lead with confidence. Supervise with clarity. Pass the Series 24.