Finra and state securities regulators have delayed the launch of online testing for securities licenses.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. and the North American Securities Administrators Association were to start online testing on May 24, and sign-ups were to have begun Monday.
Pilot testing of the system began in late April and has now been extended, Finra said in an update on its website.
“As a result, additional time is necessary before we can make online appointment scheduling available to all test candidates and firms,” Finra said. “We will continue to refine the implementation of this online service and will communicate an anticipated launch date in the near future.”
Finra and the states were moving toward online testing in response to social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the system is up and running, candidates will be able to take the following qualification exams: Securities Industry Essentials and Series 6, 7, 63, 65 and 66. The exams will be administered by Prometric.
Finra, NASAA and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board will extend through June 30 all enrollment windows that have expired or will expire between March 16 and June.
Testing experts say the move to remote examinations is a change that likely will remain in place even after the pandemic passes.
[More: CFP Board postpones July exam]
Meanwhile, LPL attracted a five-advisor team managing $380 million in Kansas, while a veteran with stripes from Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Fidelity has joined Prime Capital Financial.
At Goldman Sachs’ RIA conference, Dynasty’s Shirl Penney said an AI clone trained on his emails and speeches could be the first of “hundreds of digital employees.”
The top-ranked RIA by total AUM continues to scale its wealth management arm, bringing its Pennsylvania presence to five offices.
The Reddit trading community's formal comment letter against the proposal is drawing widespread attention across finance and tech circles.
Chicago Partners Wealth Advisors is helping shape the platform's product roadmap after switching from a legacy system.
As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management
Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline