Series 99 : Operations Professional Exam

Short Course Summary

Achieve the FINRA Series 99 license to function as an Operations Professional, specializing in the critical back-office functions like trade settlement, regulatory reporting, margin, custody, and firm record-keeping compliance.

Long, Catchy & Professional Course Description

The Unsung Core: Master the Operations Professional License (Series 99)

The FINRA Series 99—the Operations Professional Exam—is the crucial qualification for professionals who manage the essential back-office functions of a securities firm. This certification validates your expertise in the complex regulatory requirements governing how trades are processed, cleared, settled, and how customer assets are safeguarded. It is the backbone of compliance and financial integrity for any broker-dealer.

An Operations Professional is tasked with ensuring the firm operates within the rules across multiple departments, making this exam a broad survey of critical operational knowledge. This comprehensive course prepares you by concentrating on the four major job functions tested by the FINRA exam:

• Function 1: Customer Account Activities (20%): Understand the rules for establishing and maintaining various customer account types (e.g., cash, margin, retirement), including required disclosures, communications, and the processes for handling asset transfers and account maintenance.

• Function 2: Trade and Settlement Activities (20%): Master the life cycle of a trade, from execution to clearance and final settlement. This involves understanding the settlement process for various security types, the use of clearing corporations, and rules governing trade reconciliation and failure-to-deliver.

• Function 3: Financial Regulatory, Reporting, and Operational Activities (40%): This is the largest and most critical section. You will gain deep knowledge of core operational compliance areas: Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules, CIP (Customer Identification Program), the complexities of margin accounting (Regulation T), segregation of customer funds, and the regulatory reporting required under the Exchange Act of 1934.

• Function 4: Supervisory and Management Activities (20%): Learn the requirements for maintaining a firm's books and records (Rule 17a-3, 17a-4), business continuity planning (BCP), and the necessary supervisory structures to ensure all operational personnel and activities comply with FINRA rules.

The Series 99 is a required corequisite to the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam; passing both is mandatory for registration. If your career is centered on ensuring the operational soundness, compliance, and efficiency of a broker-dealer, this course is your comprehensive guide to mastering the rules that keep the financial machine running smoothly.

What Will Students Learn In Your Course?

1. Master the regulatory requirements for opening, maintaining, and supervising all types of customer accounts.

2. Understand the mechanics of trade processing, clearance, settlement cycles, and associated risks.

3. Apply complex rules for margin (Reg T), AML, and the segregation/custody of customer assets.

4. Comply with FINRA/SEC record-keeping rules and financial reporting obligations for broker-dealers.

Requirements

• Candidates must pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam before or concurrently with the Series 99 exam to achieve full registration.

• Association with and sponsorship by a FINRA member firm is required to take the Series 99 exam.

Who Is This Course For?

• Professionals working in Operations, Settlement, Clearance, Treasury, Margin, or Compliance roles.

• Back-office supervisors, managers, and personnel needing to obtain the Operations Professional designation.

• Candidates who have passed the SIE exam and need to complete the specialized qualification for operational roles.