STUDY FOR THE SERIES 66 EXAM

Several blogs ago, I discussed RILAs, or Registered Index-Linked Annuities.  Recall  that NASAA's Series 66 Test Specifications specifically list Index Annuities under Section II (K) (1) (1.3), meaning that the Series 66 Exam covers these alternative investments and has questions about them.  Today on the SEC website, I see that the SEC is paying close attention to the complex structure and details of RILAs in its SEC OIAD Report on Activities—Fiscal Year 2023.  Here is just one paragraph from this SEC publication in regard to RILAs. I intend to present more segments in future Series 66 blogs from this SEC Report on RILAs. " REGISTERED INDEX-LINKED ANNUITIES (RILAs)  "What Are RILAs and How Do They Work?  "RILAs are tax-deferred retirement savings vehicles that advertise potentially reduced market risk relative to investing directly in financial markets. Like many other retirement savings vehicles, money is first added to the overall vehicle and then the investor all

Taking the Series 66 in the near future? If so, be prepared to answer questions on and about Standard Deviation. How do I know this? I know this because NASAA's Series 66 Test Specifications indicate in Section I (A) (2) that you as a test candidate should be familiar with Standard Deviation. Here is a example of a question asking you to solve for standard deviation: PRACTICE QUESTION Professor Mayer has only five students in his finance class. On a weekly 10-question quiz dealing with unethical practices, the scores are 10, 8.5, 3, 6 and 7.5. Which of the following is the standard deviation for these scores? a.                     1.253 b.                     2.387 c.                      3.457 d.                     4.212 Bob Eder treats standard deviation in his  Study for the Series 66 Exam . Here is a sample of Bob Eder's treatment: EXAMPLE In  a college course on accounting, there are only five students. Their scores on a quiz on balance sheet ratios were—75, 84, 61, 92,