Two Licenses, Two Different Career Paths
The Series 7 and Series 65 are both important licenses in the financial services industry — but they serve very different purposes and open very different doors.
Series 7: General Securities Representative
The Series 7 is the foundational license for anyone who wants to buy and sell securities on behalf of clients. It's required for most traditional financial advisor roles at broker-dealers.
Series 65: Investment Adviser Representative
The Series 65 is required for anyone who wants to charge clients a fee for investment advice. Unlike the Series 7, you can register for the Series 65 on your own — no firm sponsorship required.
Which One Do You Need?
Get the Series 7 if...
You're joining a broker-dealer, want to earn commissions on investment transactions, or are entering a traditional financial advisor training program.
Get the Series 65 if...
You want to charge fees for investment advice, plan to start your own RIA, or want to offer advisory services independently.
Get Both if...
You want maximum flexibility — the ability to earn commissions on transactions AND charge fees for advice.
The licensing path that makes the most sense for most new advisors: Series 7 first (through your sponsoring firm), then Series 66 shortly after.