Series 65 Exam for Independent Advisors
- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: 'FINRA Exam Mastery'
- Category: Finance
🧭 Series 65 Exam for Independent Advisors
The Series 65 exam is the essential licensing step for professionals who want to become independent investment advisers and offer fee-based financial advice. Unlike broker-dealer licenses, Series 65 empowers you to build a practice focused on fiduciary responsibility, long-term client relationships, and independent portfolio management.
💼 Why Independent Advisors Choose Series 65
Independent financial professionals often operate outside the traditional broker-dealer model. Whether you’re launching your own Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) firm or joining an existing fee-only practice, Series 65 gives you the legal authority to provide personalized investment advice for compensation.
📘 What the Series 65 License Allows You to Do
- Act as an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR)
- Register with your state as a fee-based adviser
- Build a client-focused practice without selling commission-based products
- Offer investment planning, retirement advice, and portfolio strategies
- Operate independently or under an RIA structure
🧠 What’s on the Exam
The exam consists of 130 multiple-choice questions, with a 180-minute time limit and a required passing score of 72%. It focuses on four key topic areas:
- Economic Factors and Business Information
- Investment Vehicle Characteristics
- Client Investment Recommendations and Strategies
- Laws, Regulations, and Ethical Guidelines
These areas test your ability to provide sound advice while meeting strict fiduciary and regulatory standards.
📌 Why It’s Ideal for Independent Advisors
| Advantage | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| ✅ No sponsorship required | You can take the exam on your own without a firm. |
| ✅ No Series 7 required | Perfect for those not interested in selling securities. |
| ✅ Fee-based advice | Get paid for your advice, not product sales. |
| ✅ Broad flexibility | Serve clients across a wide range of planning needs. |
| ✅ State-level registration | Direct registration as an IAR in most U.S. states. |
🛠️ After You Pass: What’s Next?
Once you pass the Series 65 exam:
- You can register as an IAR with your state
- You may open your own RIA or affiliate with an existing one
- You’ll need to submit Form U4 and possibly Form ADV (if launching your own firm)
- You’ll be able to charge hourly, flat, or AUM-based fees for your services
🚀 Get Ready with Expert Preparation
At 👉 finra-exam-mastery.com, our Series 65 prep course is built for independent-minded professionals:
✔ Lifetime access
✔ Full coverage of all exam topics
✔ Practice exams and compliance-focused modules
✔ Designed by instructors with real-world advisory experience
Build your future as a trusted, independent financial advisor—start preparing today.