best finra series 79 exam prep

Completing the Series 79 exam is an essential first step towards becoming an investment banker. Much like the Series 7 exam, it’s an important top-off that measures your ability to advise or facilitate public and private offerings and sales.

Since it’s such an important job, the test to become a licensed insurance broker can be very difficult; you’ll need to put in some serious study time if you want to pass on your first try.

Similar to the prerequisite SIE exam, completing a Series 79 prep course will massively increase your chances of passing your investment banking representative qualification exams. There are many options available, making it difficult to choose the best Series 79 study guides.

That’s why I’ve thoroughly examined the best and most popular Series 79 study courses below. Take a look and find out which ones can best prepare you for a rewarding career as an insurance broker!


1. Securities Institute of America Series 79 Study Material

Securities Institute of America

My top pick is Securities Institute of America due to their multifaceted approach to test prep. Additionally, they offer a wide range of catalog options that ensure you don’t have to pay more than you’re comfortable.

Course Details

If you’ve taken an online course before, you should be well-accustomed to the content in a typical SIA course. Their FINRA Series 79 catalog includes a textbook, exam prep software, and a combo package that includes both.

The 300 page textbook is a great crash course in all the essential topics you’ll need to know in order to pass the exam and start working professionally as a registered representative. This includes:

  • Valuation analysis
  • Financial restructuring
  • Corporate transactions

It’s a decent educational resource on its own, but it works even better as a supplement to SIA’s online test prep course. This is compatible with Mac or PC and can even be accessed on most tablets and smartphones. It provides an appealing combination of video lectures with challenging practice questions; this ensures you fully understand the reasoning behind core concepts and can adequately answer questions related to them.

Securities Institute Series 79 Pros and Cons

  • Greenlight Guarantee: Securities Institute of America has a Greenlight Exam you’re supposed to take near the end of their online course. This is a realistic simulation of the full exam, so you can expect an identical score between both tests. In fact, SIA guarantees you’ll pass your Series 79 if you pass their Greenlight Exam, or you’ll get a full refund.
  • Written By Experts: SIA’s practice questions are challenging and provide a valuable resource to supplement knowledge gained from their videos and text passages. These materials are designed by experienced professionals in the finance industry, including Certified Financial Analysts.

  • No Bundle: Currently, you can choose to buy the textbook, the exam prep software, or both. However, there’s no bundle offer for purchasing a combination of the two; it’s just the same cost as purchasing each one separately, if not a dollar more expensive. Not a big deal, but it would be nice to offer some kind of incentive to purchase the whole set!

Bottom Line

Securities Institute of America should be your first choice when preparing for any FINRA exam. Their textbook is awesome, but it’s a good idea to use the exam prep software alongside it so you can take advantage of their pass guarantee.