The Leading Business Education Network for Doctors, Financial Advisors and Health Industry Consultants

Series #65 VS Series #7

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

When I am approached by a prospective client, the question they always ask without fail is “Are you properly licensed?” This is actually the wrong question to ask. The right question should be, “Which license do you have?”

The Types of Licenses

Generally, there are two types of licenses for people who call themselves a “financial advisor.” People who passed the series #65 test and people who passed the series #7 test. The nature of these two licenses is as far apart as heaven and earth.

The Securities License

Series #7 is a securities license. People who have passed this test can legally be a stock-broker. They are actually prohibited by law to give financial advice, except incidental to the financial products they are selling.

A financial advisor with a series #7 license can receive third party payments like kickbacks, commissions etc in conjunction with the products they sell you. They are not required to put your interest first as they are not your fiduciary. Legally they abide by a much lenient “suitability standard.” That is, if they think the product is suitable for you, irrespective of the cost, they are legally off the hook.

All of Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and other Wall Street firms’ financial advisors are required to pass the series 7# license.

The Advisor License

Series #65 is an advisor license. People who have passed this test are legally called registered investment advisors or RIA representative. An RIA representative’s compensation is in the form of fees paid directly by the client. He or She is prohibited to receive any third party payment unless disclosed to and approved by the client first.

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Assessment

When searching for a financial advisor, it’s crucial to find out what licensure he or she has. Do not use a stock-broker as your financial advisor – unless you’re in the habit of letting you friendly neighborhood used car salesman hand pick your vehicle purchases.

More:

• Do You Have These Horrible Investments in Your Portfolio?
• Understanding the Failure to Recognize Mutual Fund Fees
• Are You A Top Performing Financial Advisor?
• Fiduciary Financial Advisor versus Non-Fiduciary FAs
• An Interview with Bennett Aikin AIF®
• Calling for CFP® Fiduciary Status, Real Education and Higher Duty
• Physician-Investors and the “F” Word
• The Uniform Prudent Investor Act versus Fiduciary Accountability

Conclusion

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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

• PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
• HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
• CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
• ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
• FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
• INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
• Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
• Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security
• Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

Filed under: Ethics, iMBA, Investing, Risk Management | Tagged: Financial Advisor Licenses, Financial BrokerLicenses, Michael Zhuang, Series 65, series 7 license |