Test Questions Flashcards

1
Q

The financial statements of the Acme Manufacturing Corporation contain the following information:

Current assets: $20 million

Fixed assets: $52 million (of which $8 million represents the book value of a mechanical lathe)

Current liabilities: $6 million

Long-term debt: $19 million of 5% debentures due 2049, callable at 102

Common stock: $18 million (1.8 million shares of $10 par)

Paid-in capital: $7 million

Retained earnings: $22 million

Acme decides to call in $5 million of the debentures. This will result in all of the following except:

A)
a decrease to net worth.
B)
a decrease to working capital.
C)
a decrease to current liabilities.
D)
a decrease to long-term debt.
A

C) a decrease to current liabilities.

-Does not decrease current liabilities

“The key fact is that the call price is 102, a premium over the par value. That means for each $1,000 of long-term debt taken off the books, Acme has to spend $1,020. This has no effect on the current liabilities. However, the current assets (cash) decrease leading to a decrease in working capital, as well as net worth. When $5 million of debt is called in, the remaining long-term debt is reduced to $15 million.”

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2
Q

On January 18, your customer sold 500 shares of MNO for a loss of $5 per share. If on March 1 she bought 3 MNO calls, how much of the loss could she declare for tax purposes?

A)
None
B)
$2,500
C)
$1,500
D)
$1,000
A

B) $2,500

-More than 30 days, can declare entire loss

“Because the purchase of the calls took place more than 30 days after the sale, the transaction is not a wash sale. She may therefore declare the entire $2,500 as a loss.”

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3
Q

Your customer wants to know what portion of earnings one of the companies held in her portfolio has available to pay interest expense on bonds the company currently has outstanding. You would be able to find this information

A)
on the firm's most recent balance sheet.
B)
on a firm's income statement by subtracting preferred dividends from EBIT.
C)
by contacting the IRS.
D)
on the firm's income statement indicated as earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT).
A

D) on the firm’s income statement indicated as earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT).

“EBIT is the amount of money a company has retained before paying taxes and interest on outstanding debt issues. This can be found by looking at the income statement for the company.”

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4
Q

A 38-year-old investor places $25,000 into a single premium deferred variable annuity. Twenty years later, with the account valued at $72,000, the investor surrenders the policy. If the investor is in the 25% marginal income tax bracket, the total tax liability is

A)
$11,750.
B)
$25,200.
C)
$18,000.
D)
$16,450.
A

d) $16,450

> basically 35% tax on deferred growth
25% income tax + 10% penalty
Younger than 59.5

“Only the deferred growth is taxable. In this case, it is the difference between the surrender value of $72,000 and the cost basis of $25,000. That $47,000 is taxed at the marginal rate of 25%. Furthermore, because the investor is younger than 59½ (38 + 20 = 58), there is the additional 10% penalty tax. Effectively, this is a 35% tax on $47,000.”

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5
Q

A 38-year-old investor places $25,000 into a single premium qualified deferred variable annuity. Twenty years later, with the account valued at $72,000, the investor withdraws $50,000. If the investor is in the 25% marginal income tax bracket, the total tax liability is

A)
$16,450.
B)
$12.500.
C)
$17,500.
D)
$11,750.
A

c) $17,500

> because QUALIFIED annuity, entire withdrawal taxable

“Because this is a qualified annuity, the entire withdrawal is taxable. In this case, it is all $50,000. That $50,000 is taxed at the marginal rate of 25%. Furthermore, because the investor is younger than 59½ (38 + 20 = 58), there is the additional 10% penalty tax. Effectively, this is a 35% tax on $50,000.”

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6
Q

Having a five-year-old child, a couple wants to begin saving for her college education. They can currently budget $350 per month toward the goal. They know that college costs 13 years in the future need to be factored, but they are not too comfortable with market risk. Which would best align with their profile?

A)
Variable annuity plan
 B)
Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA)
 C)
Money market mutual fund
 D)
529 prepaid tuition plan
A

D) 529 prepaid tuition plan

> They want to contribute more than Coverdell ESA would allow

Coverdell ESAs and Section 529 plans are the only choices here specifically associated with saving for education. Because the Coverdell ESA can only accept $2,000 per child, per year, and the couple can currently invest more than twice that amount, the 529 plan is the better choice. Additionally, being concerned about inflation and not comfortable with market risk, investing in a 529 prepaid tuition plan enables them to purchase tomorrow’s tuition at today’s prices

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7
Q

A municipal bond, issued with a covenant that states, “If revenue collections are not sufficient to meet debt service requirements, the issue will be backed by the full faith and credit of the municipality,” is known as

A)
a moral obligation bond.
 B)
a double-barreled bond.
 C)
a contingent liability bond.
 D)
a Section 8 bond.
A

B) double barreled bond

When a municipal bond is backed by both a source of revenue and the taxing ability of the issuer, this is referred to as a double-barreled bond.

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8
Q

A client of your member firm dies. In correct order, you should

freeze the account.
accept orders from the executor.
obtain the death certificate and other legal documents.
cancel all open orders.

A)
II, III, IV, I
 B)
I, IV, III, II
 C)
IV, I, III, II
 D)
III, IV, I, II
A

C)
IV, I, III, II

Explanation
Upon the death of a client, all open orders must be canceled. The account is then frozen until proper legal documentation is received. Once that has occurred, the executor may begin conducting activity in the account.

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9
Q

A direct participation program shows the following operations results:

Revenues: $3 million
Operating expense: $1 million
Interest expense: $200,000
Management fees: $200,000
Depreciation: $3 million
The profit or loss for the year is
A)
a profit of $2.7 million.
 B)
a loss of $3 million.
 C)
a profit of $1.6 million.
 D)
a loss of $1.4 million.
A

D) loss of 1.4 mil
>depreciation included

“Explanation
Taxable income for a partnership is determined as follows:

Gross revenue: $3 million

less operating expense: $1.2 million

equals net revenue: $1.8 million

less interest: $200,000

less depreciation: $3 million

equals taxable loss: $1.4 million

LO 11.g”

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10
Q

T/F: When equity is between the initial (50% of long market value [LMV]) requirement and the maintenance requirement (25% of LMV), an account is described as restricted.

A

True

When equity between initial and maintenance, account is restricted

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11
Q

A 38-year-old investor places $25,000 into a qualified single premium deferred variable annuity. Twenty years later, with the account valued at $72,000, the investor surrenders the policy. If the investor is in the 25% marginal income tax bracket, the total tax liability is

A)
$11,750.
B)
$18,000.
C)
$16,450.
D)
$25,200.
A

D) $25,200

> because qalified annuity, entire withdrawl is taxable

“Because this is a qualified annuity, the entire withdrawal is taxable. The surrender value of $72,000 has a cost basis of $0.00. That $72,000 is taxed at the marginal rate of 25%. Furthermore, because the investor is younger than 59½ (38 + 20 = 58), there is the additional 10% penalty tax. Effectively, this is a 35% tax on $72,000.”

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12
Q

T/F: For qualified annuities, the entire withdrawl is taxable

A

True

etire thing taxable

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13
Q

T/F: When withdrawing from a single premium deferred variable annuity, the entire withdrawl is taxable

A

True

> qualified annuities are fully taxed at withdrawl

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14
Q

T/F: when withdrawing from a deferred variable annuity, growth is taxable but cost basis is not

A

False
entire withdrawl is taxed

> deferred variable annuity is qualified so whole thing taxable

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15
Q

The Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) is a trade reporting system used to report certain bond trades to the public. Trade details must be reported to FINRA via TRACE no later than

A)
15 minutes after the order entry.
 B)
10 seconds after the trade execution.
 C)
10 seconds after the order entry.
 D)
15 minutes after the trade execution.
A

D) 15 min after execution

Explanation
Trade details must be reported to FINRA using the TRACE reporting system as soon as practical but not later than 15 minutes after execution. Once FINRA receives the trade information, it will be reported to the public immediately. The MSRB’s Real-Time Transaction Reporting System (RTRS) also has a 15-minute reporting time

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16
Q

Which of the following would not be covered under the antifraud provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934?

A)
Municipal bonds
B)
Fixed annuities
C)
National exchange-listed securities
D)
Nasdaq-listed securities
A

B) Fixed annuities

Explanation
While all securities are subject to the antifraud provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, fixed annuities are insurance company products not deemed to be securities. Variable annuities would be covered.

17
Q

The Investment Company Act of 1940 has a number of rules relating to variable life insurance policies. All of these are included except

A)
the maximum allowable sales charge is 8.5% of the premium payment.
B)
the free-look provision for 45 days after execution of the application.
C)
the variable life contract exchange provision is good for a minimum of 24 months.
D)
the minimum cash value loan provision after 3 years.

A

A)

Explanation
The 8.5% maximum sales charge is the FINRA rule relating to mutual funds. The Investment Company Act of 1940 requires that sales charges on a fixed-premium variable life contract may not exceed 9% of the payments to be made over the life of the contract. The contract’s life, for purposes of this charge, is a maximum of 20 years.

LO 9.e

18
Q

A 38-year-old investor places $25,000 into a single premium deferred variable annuity. Twenty years later, with the account valued at $72,000, the investor surrenders the policy. If the investor is in the 25% marginal income tax bracket, the total tax liability is

A)
$18,000.
B)
$25,200.
C)
$16,450.
D)
$11,750.
A

C) 16,450
>only taxed on deferred growth
>extra 10% cuz not 59.5

Explanation
Only the deferred growth is taxable. In this case, it is the difference between the surrender value of $72,000 and the cost basis of $25,000. That $47,000 is taxed at the marginal rate of 25%. Furthermore, because the investor is younger than 59½ (38 + 20 = 58), there is the additional 10% penalty tax. Effectively, this is a 35% tax on $47,000.

LO 9.d

19
Q

A 71-year-old client calls her registered representative and asks him to wire $10,000 to an offshore account. The rep asks the reason and she responds that she won money in a lottery and this is to pay the taxes. The registered representative is concerned that this might be a case of senior exploitation and should

A)
get the wire instructions and escalate this to his supervisor.
B)
contact the client's trusted contact person on this account and inform them of the request.
C)
refuse to wire the money.
D)
wire the money as instructed.
A

B) contact trusted contact person on the account

Explanation
Being 65 or older qualifies this client for the designation of specified adult. As such, the firm should attempt to obtain the name of a person who will act as the account’s trusted contact person. Whenever the registered representative suspects something unusual, it is always prudent to reach out to that contact person.

LO 1.d

20
Q

T/F: Bond anticiaption notes are money market instruments

A

True
>short term money market
>interest paid at maturity

21
Q

T/F: intererst on bond anticipation notes (BANs) is paid at maturity

A

True

Paid at maturity

22
Q

If an investor purchases a bond anticipation note (BAN) that matures in one year, when will the investor collect the interest?

A)
Quarterly
B)
At maturity
C)
Monthly
D)
Semiannually
A

B) At maturity

Explanation
BANs are short-term money market instruments. Interest is paid at maturity.

23
Q

You received a signed broker-to-broker transfer initiation form (TIF) from an established customer desiring to transfer a specifically designated part of his account to your firm, which is eligible to use the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS). Your firm is obligated to submit the transfer instruction to the carrying member by establishing the instruction in the ACATS

A)
within 3 business days.
B)
Immediately.
C)
within 1 business day.
D)
within 2 business days.
A

B) Immediately

Explanation
FINRA’s Uniform Practice Code requires that the receiving member firms immediately forward the TIF to the firm currently carrying the account. A customer may transfer all or part of the securities held in the account.

24
Q

T/F: Level 1 shows inside bids and offers

A

True

inside bids and offers

25
Q

Which of the following can you find on the Level 1 service of Nasdaq?

A)
Firm bids and offers
B)
The names of firms making markets
C)
Inside bids and offers
D)
Markups
A

C) Inside bids and offers

Explanation
No Nasdaq service displays markups. Levels 2 and 3 display firm bids and offers and the names of the market makers. Level 1 only indicates the highest bid and the lowest offer, known as an inside quote.

26
Q

T/F: Level 1 only indicates the highest bid and the lowest offer, known as an inside quote.

A

True

only highest bid
lowest offer

27
Q

One of your customers has $135,000 in her cash account. She also has a long margin account with a market value of $17,000, a debit balance of $10,800 and no SMA. The customer wants to open a custodial account for her niece and transfer money from the cash and the margin accounts into that account. How much can be transferred into the niece’s account?

A)
$6,200
B)
$135,000
C)
$141,200
D)
$15,000
A

B) $135,000

Custodial accounts for minors can only be opened as cash accounts.
Clearly, the $135,000 in the cash account is no problem. Do not be concerned about the $15,000 annual gift limit because the question is not dealing with gift taxes.
If the margin account had SMA, it could be withdrawn and the cash put into the child’s account.
Without SMA and with the account being restricted (below the 50% Regulation T requirement), it is only the money in the cash account that can be transferred.

28
Q

The public offering price for a mutual fund, as quoted in the financial press, reflects

A)
the average sales charge for the preceding three months.
B)
no sales charge because the offering price depends on the quantity purchased.
C)
the minimum sales charge the fund distributor collects.
D)
the maximum sales charge the fund distributor collects.

A

D) max sales charge fund distributor collects

Explanation
The public offering price for a quoted mutual fund includes the maximum sales charge the fund distributor can assess.

LO 8.c

29
Q

Regarding index options, is the settlement value at expiration based on the closing value of the index the day they are recieved or the value of the index at the time the exersise instructions are recieved

A

Closng index value on day eersise instructions are tendered

Exercise settlement value is based on the closing index value on the day exercise instructions are tendered.

30
Q

Which of the following statements regarding index options are true?

Exercise is settled in cash.

Exercise settlement value is based on the value of the index at the time exercise instructions are received.

Exercise settlement value is based on the closing index value on the day exercise instructions are tendered.

Exercise settlement is T+2.

A)
II and III
B)
II and IV
C)
I and III
D)
I and II
A

C) 1 and 3

Explanation
All index option exercises are settled in cash. The amount a writer owes the holder is known as the intrinsic value of the option, and the settlement value is based on the closing index value on the day exercise instructions are tendered. Exercise settlement is the next business day.

LO 10.g

31
Q

If a customer wishes to change a day order to a good-til-canceled (GTC) order in the middle of the day, the registered representative should

A)
enter a change notice immediately.
B)
enter the new order as GTC and immediately cancel the day order.
C)
enter the new GTC order immediately and do nothing about the day order.
D)
allow the day order to expire at the end of the day and put in the GTC order before the next day’s opening.

A

D) allow day order to expire at EOD, then enter GTC
>keep order priority time

Explanation
The GTC is treated as a new order. The registered representative should wait until the close of trading so as not to lose the time priority of the original order that day.

32
Q

SEC rules require that open-end management companies distribute dividends to their investors from the firm’s

A)
gross revenue.
B)
capital gains.
C)
net investment income.
D)
portfolio earnings.
A

C) net investment income

Explanation
Dividends must be paid from the net investment income.

33
Q

Which term describes the following position?

Write 1 DOH Jan 30 call
Write 1 DOH Jan 40 put

A)
Short straddle
B)
Diagonal spread
C)
Price spread
D)
Short combination
A

C) short combination

Explanation
A combination is composed of a long call and long put, or a short call and a short put, each having different strike prices and/or expiration months on the same underlying security.

LO 10.f