When must a firm disclose its business continuity plan?
Correct Answer: A
A broker-dealer must disclose business continuity plan information to customers at account opening. The disclosure must explain how the firm intends to respond to events that could significantly disrupt business operations, such as natural disasters, technology failures, loss of facilities, or other emergencies. The purpose is not to give customers every operational detail, but to provide meaningful information about how the firm plans to continue or resume critical business functions. Choice A is correct because account opening is the required timing. Choice B is incorrect because waiting until a disruption occurs would defeat the purpose of advance disclosure. Choice C is incorrect because the rule does not set a 60-day post-opening disclosure deadline. Choice D is incomplete because a firm must provide the disclosure at account opening and also make it available in other required ways, such as upon request. The SIE outline includes business continuity plans under books and records and privacy requirements, and lists FINRA Rule 4370, Business Continuity Plans and Emergency Contact Information. Reference: Section 3.2.4 Books and Records and Privacy Requirements; FINRA Rule 4370.
SIE Exam Question 22
Under FINRA rules, a registered representative is permitted to receive income from which of the following activities without notifying her employing firm?
Correct Answer: B
A registered representative generally must provide prior written notice to the employing firm before engaging in outside business activities for compensation. However, passive investments are not treated as outside business activities requiring notice in the same way because the representative is not actively working, providing services, or being compensated for an external business role. Choice B is correct. Playing in a band for compensation is an outside business activity because the representative is actively performing services for income outside the member firm. Teaching woodworking at a local high school is also an outside compensated activity and would require notice. Appearing as a guest speaker on investments may involve compensation, securities-related content, public communications, and potential conflicts; it would require firm review and notice. The SIE outline expressly includes outside business activities, private securities transactions, employee conduct, and reportable events. FINRA Rule 3270 is specifically listed as the outside business activities rule. The regulatory concern is that outside compensation and business roles can create conflicts, supervision issues, reputational risk, or unauthorized securities activity. Passive investment income does not present the same active outside employment concern. Reference: Section 4.2.2 Reportable Events; FINRA Rule 3270 Outside Business Activities of Registered Persons.
SIE Exam Question 23
For a joint tenants-in-common account with a husband and wife, which of the following statements is true of the broker-dealer's distribution of the account's assets upon the death of the husband?
Correct Answer: B
In a joint tenants-in-common account, each owner has a divisible ownership interest. Upon the death of one tenant-in-common, that owner's portion does not automatically pass to the surviving co-owner. Instead, the deceased owner's share becomes part of the deceased owner's estate and is distributed according to the will or applicable estate law. Choice B is correct. Choice A would be true of a joint tenants with right of survivorship account, where the surviving joint owner receives the deceased owner's interest automatically. Choice C is not the best answer because the question identifies the account registration as tenants in common, and transfer- on-death instructions do not override the basic rule stated in the answer choice without additional facts. Choice D is incorrect because the wife's ownership portion is already determined by the account registration; the deceased husband's portion goes to his estate. The SIE outline includes customer account registrations, including individual, joint, trust, custodial, partnership, corporate, and retirement accounts. This question tests the legal effect of the joint account registration. Reference: Section 3.2.2 Customer Account Registrations.
SIE Exam Question 24
Which of the following types of debt securities has the highest liquidity?
Correct Answer: B
SIE Exam Question 25
Under Industry rules, what is the maximum price that qualifies a security as a penny stock?