Series 6 vs Series 7: Which One Should You Take?
- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: 'FINRA Exam Mastery'
- Category: Finance
🎯 Series 6 vs Series 7: Which One Should You Take?
If you’re planning a career in financial services, you’ll likely face a key decision early on: Should you take the Series 6 or Series 7 exam? Both licenses are administered by FINRA and open the door to working with investment products — but they serve very different professional paths.
Here’s a complete breakdown to help you decide which exam aligns best with your goals.
📘 Series 6 – Investment Company & Variable Contracts Products Representative
Ideal For:
- Entry-level professionals
- Insurance agents expanding into securities
- Those focusing on mutual funds and annuities
What You’re Allowed to Sell:
✅ Mutual funds
✅ Variable annuities
✅ Unit investment trusts (UITs)
✅ 529 plans
❌ Does NOT allow stock, bond, or options trading
Exam Details:
- 50 scored questions (+5 unscored)
- 90-minute test duration
- Minimum passing score: 70%
- Must be sponsored by a FINRA-member firm
- Often taken alongside Series 63 for state registration
📘 Series 7 – General Securities Representative
Ideal For:
- Full-service financial advisors
- Stockbrokers and portfolio consultants
- Professionals offering a wide range of products
What You’re Allowed to Sell:
✅ Stocks and bonds
✅ Options and futures
✅ Mutual funds and ETFs
✅ Municipal securities and corporate debt
✅ Variable annuities and structured products
Exam Details:
- 125 scored questions (+10 unscored)
- 225-minute test duration
- Minimum passing score: 72%
- Considered one of the most comprehensive FINRA exams
- Usually paired with Series 66 to provide both state and federal registration coverage
⚖️ Key Differences
| Feature | Series 6 | Series 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Product Range | Limited | Broad (full suite of securities) |
| Career Focus | Insurance/investment products | Comprehensive financial advising |
| Difficulty | Moderate | High |
| Licensing Scope | Mutual funds & annuities | Stocks, bonds, options, funds |
| Time to Prepare | 2–3 weeks | 4–6 weeks |
🧠 Who Should Choose Which?
✅ Choose Series 6 if:
- You’re entering the industry through insurance
- You plan to focus on packaged investment products
- You want a quicker path to registration
✅ Choose Series 7 if:
- You want to offer full-service financial advice
- You plan to build a long-term career as a registered rep
- You aim to sell a wide variety of securities
🚀 Get Ready with the Right Tools
Whether you choose Series 6 or Series 7, smart preparation is the key to passing the exam and launching your career. Access full-length practice exams, study guides, and licensing strategies today at:
👉 finra-exam-mastery.com