Series 24 vs Series 26: Which One Should You Take?
- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: 'FINRA Exam Mastery'
- Category: Finance
π Series 24 vs Series 26: Which One Should You Take?
If youβre planning to take on a supervisory role in the financial industry, choosing between the Series 24 and Series 26 exams is a key career decision. While both are supervisory-level licenses, they serve very different functions and are designed for different professional tracks.
This guide breaks down the Series 24 vs Series 26 exams β their scope, career outcomes, requirements, and which one is the right fit for your goals.
π What Is the Series 24?
Series 24 β General Securities Principal Exam
- Administered by FINRA
- Authorizes you to supervise all areas of a broker-dealer, including trading, underwriting, compliance, and retail sales
π― Roles You Can Supervise:
- General securities representatives (Series 7)
- Investment banking and trading activities
- Market making and corporate finance
- New account openings and branch operations
β Key Points:
- Requires Series 7 as a prerequisite
- Best for those aiming to oversee full-service broker-dealer operations
π What Is the Series 26?
Series 26 β Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Principal Exam
- Also administered by FINRA
- Authorizes you to supervise sales activities of mutual funds, variable annuities, and 529 plans
π― Roles You Can Supervise:
- Registered reps holding a Series 6 license
- Sales of packaged investment products only (not individual stocks or bonds)
- Insurance-affiliated firms or limited broker-dealers
β Key Points:
- Requires Series 6 or Series 7 as a prerequisite
- Best for managers in insurance firms or limited-scope firms focused on packaged products
π Side-by-Side Comparison
Feature | Series 24 | Series 26 |
---|---|---|
π License Name | General Securities Principal | Investment Company/Variable Contracts Principal |
π’ Scope of Supervision | Full-service broker-dealers | Limited to mutual funds and variable products |
π Prerequisite | Series 7 | Series 6 or Series 7 |
β±οΈ Exam Length | 150 minutes (150 questions) | 165 minutes (110 questions) |
π― Ideal Candidate | Broker-dealer managers | Insurance firm managers |
β Allows Supervision Of | Series 7 reps | Series 6 reps |
β Does Not Cover | N/A | General securities or trading operations |
π§ Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose Series 24 if you want to:
- Supervise a wide range of securities activities
- Advance in broker-dealer operations
- Work in corporate finance, trading, or compliance
- Choose Series 26 if you want to:
- Manage a team of Series 6 reps
- Focus on mutual funds, annuities, and 529 plans
- Stay within the insurance-affiliated financial sector
π Need help preparing for Series 24 or Series 26?
Get full exam prep, flashcards, practice tests, and expert-guided breakdowns at finra-exam-mastery.com β Pick your path, and weβll help you pass.