What Registrations and Licenses Does a Financial Advisor Need?

Financial advisors partner with individuals, families and businesses to meet their financial goals, while building partnerships and collaborating with others in the community.

People trust financial advisors to follow regulations and use investment vehicles correctly. That’s why financial advisors must meet specific requirements, including taking exams to obtain registrations and licenses.

While licensing and registration exams might sound intimidating, they don’t have to be when you have the right support. Edward Jones supports new financial advisors from day one by providing a structured plan with a dedicated support person who will monitor your progress and provide study materials, guided webinars, and even compensation during the study period.

What background and experience do I need to be hired as a financial advisor with Edward Jones?

At Edward Jones, clients come first. This belief guides everything we do. We partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society.

It’s important we find people who share our client-first values, so our application and interview process are thorough. But for the right individual, it’s just the beginning of our commitment to your success.

If you’re considering becoming an Edward Jones financial advisor, you should have at least one of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work-related experience with a track record of success
• Financial services and/or sales experience
• Financial services licensing or certification
• Professional and/or military career progression

You don’t need to know about financial advising to start, but you do need to have a history of increasing professional responsibility, a commitment to building lasting relationships, and a strong desire for performance-based compensation.

In addition to experience and education, there are certain skills that help financial advisors achieve success in their careers.

Financial advisors should be self-motivated and committed to their work. The ability to listen to people and be empathetic is also important. These skills will help you provide great service to your clients as you put together individualized strategies to help them achieve their goals.

Critical thinking and decision-making skills are good to have. It’s also important to be confident as you guide your clients through making big decisions that will impact their future.

What registrations and licenses will I need to maintain?

Financial advisors are required to have the following licenses:

• The General Securities Registered Representative Examination, which includes the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) and Series 7
• The Uniform Combined State Law Examination (Series 66)
• State insurance licensing requirements

Other registrations that financial advisors may have include Series 6, Series 63 and Series 65 licenses.

Edward Jones offers financial advisors educational support throughout their career, starting right at the beginning with the licensing exam. We provide exam preparation support with dedicated time to study so you can be confident when you sit for your registration and licensing exams.

SIE and Series 7

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) administers exams and maintains registrations for the financial services industry. The SIE and Series 7 assess the competency of an entry-level registered representative to perform their job as a general securities representative.

The SIE and Series 7 measure the degree to which each candidate possesses the knowledge needed to perform the critical functions of a general securities representative.

Questions on this test also cover knowledge of product information, documentation and processes to set up accounts.

To be eligible to take the Series 7, you must be sponsored by a FINRA member firm. The Series 6 license is similar to the Series 7 but focuses on a smaller range of investment products.

You must pass the Series 7 exam before moving onto the Uniform Combined State Law Examination to obtain your Series 66 registration.

Series 66

The Series 66 combines Series 63, the state law test for broker-dealer representatives, and the Series 65, which covers working in the financial services industry.

The Series 66 registration is administered and maintained by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA). This exam covers aspects of investment products, strategies and management as well as industry laws and regulations.

If you’re an experienced financial advisor coming to Edward Jones to continue your career, you must have a Series 7 and Series 63/65 or Series 66 registrations within three months of your hire. If you don’t have your insurance license, it will also be required.

For new financial advisors, Edward Jones will support you with exam prep, study resources and hourly compensation while you prepare to take your exams.

Continued education is required by both Edward Jones and regulatory authorities. There is also required training to maintain registrations and licenses. A financial advisor’s registrations and licenses, provided they’re appropriately maintained, are valid if the advisor is employed with a financial services organization.

How to prepare for the registration and licensing exams

Preparing for exams is challenging and requires dedication. As an Edward Jones financial advisor trainee, you’ll have the support of our organization to help you succeed. Trainees commit a minimum of 45 hours, preparing 6 days a week over the study period for the exam.

To help financial advisors prepare for and pass exams to obtain the SIE, Series 7 and Series 66, Edward Jones’ award-winning training program provides study guides and trainers to answer questions and help trainees work through the material.

Preparatory classes — live and available on demand — help new financial advisors digest the exam material. Your study strategies will be personalized to you by an Edward Jones Study Specialist who will monitor your progress and help you adhere to the study calendar to make sure you’re prepared for registration and licensing exams.

It’s important for new financial advisors to reflect on how they best learn and set aside the appropriate time to learn this required material.

Am I a full-time Edward Jones employee while working toward registration and licensing?

During onboarding, you’ll become a full-time associate of Edward Jones and will receive hourly compensation on a bi-weekly basis. This will allow you to focus on training and development as you study for your registrations and licenses and begin learning to build your business.

Our award-winning training program* will teach you to set up a successful Edward Jones office and financial services career. We’ll connect you with other Edward Jones team members, including fellow financial advisors, so you can create a support network and learn from their experiences.

Next Steps to Start Your Career as a Financial Advisor

As an Edward Jones financial advisor, we help you locate and set up your office, including providing a branch office administrator to help run the day-to-day operations of your business.

Starting out is both exciting and challenging. But just as we have been since you were hired, Edward Jones is here to support you. New financial advisors are eligible to receive a supplemental salary for up to four years as you build your business. Salary will decrease as your new asset compensation and commissions increase over the four years.

Throughout your Edward Jones career, you’ll receive ongoing training and education. We support and foster continuous improvement within our team so you can better help your clients meet their financial goals.

As a financial advisor you’ll bring your skills and experience together with our training to create opportunities for your community. Getting to this point is a journey, but Edward Jones is there to support you every step of the way. To learn more about becoming an Edward Jones financial advisor, visit our careers page.

Interested in the Edward Jones Financial Advisor Opportunity?

Learn more about starting a career as a financial advisor or start searching for opportunities now. If you’re already licensed as a financial advisor, learn how we’re built to take your practice to the next level.

*Training Magazine Training Apex Award 2000-2024, published January-March each year, data as of September of prior year, an application fee was required for consideration.