Test Time 26th Flashcards
1. When an agent of a broker/dealer files for state registration, the agent’s registration
a) Becomes effective in 60 days.
b) Becomes effective in 30 days, unless the state administrator approves the registration earlier.
c) Becomes effective in 60 days, unless the state administrator notifies the broker/dealer that it is effective earlier.
d) Is effective immediately.
B
When an agent applies for registration in a particular state, the registration becomes effective 30 days later unless the broker/dealer receives notification from the administrator that the agent is properly registered within the state before the 30-day period has elapsed. The administrator will contact the broker/dealer and not the agent directly.
2. A U.S. government bond quoted at 94.20 - 95.08 has a bid price of
a) $942.00.
b) $946.25.
c) $952.50.
d) $958.00.
B
Bonds are quoted at $1,000 par in 32nds, with each point worth $10. The bid price (the first price listed) is $940 + (20/32 X $10), which converts to $940 + $6.25 for a price of $946.25.
4. A “buy and hold” approach to portfolio management could be expected to do which of the following?
a) Result in a lower portfolio turnover rate than alternative portfolio management styles.
b) Have lower management expense but yield inferior overall performance over the long term.
c) Minimize the potential for loss due to a much lower portfolio turnover rate.
d) More closely mirror the performance of the overall stock market.
A
A passive investment style minimizes overall expenses due to reduced trading and research costs. A “buy and hold” management style does not necessarily produce performance results different than an “active” style or that the overall market would experience. It does, however, reduce portfolio turnover, which may result in lower management expense.
5. Which of the following is not a priority for a fiduciary managing an account in compliance with the Prudent Man Rule?
a) Income
b) Speculation
c) Permanence
d) Safety
B
The rule states that fiduciaries should manage accounts “not in regard to speculation, but in regard to the permanent disposition of their funds, considering the probable income, as well as the probable safety of the capital to be invested.”
8. Which is true of restricted stock? I. The purchase must be paid for in entirety. II. It must be held for 2 years before resale. III. A broker/dealer can act as an agent. IV. Shares are registered with the SEC.
a) I and II
b) I and III
c) II and III
d) II and IV
B
If a selling company is subject to the SEC reporting requirements, the securities must be held at least 6 months. Otherwise, they must be held at least 1 year. The holding period begins when the securities are bought and fully paid for. A broker/dealer can act as an agent, but restricted stock is not registered with SEC.
9. Which type of mutual fund may be heavily invested in companies of cutting-edge industries or start-up companies with unproven earnings?
a) Aggressive growth fund
b) Growth fund
c) Growth and income fund
d) Income fund
A
This is the basic definition and objective of an aggressive growth fund.
10. Which of the following is not a characteristic of tactical portfolio management?
a) Dividing funds among different asset classes
b) Market timing
c) Active management focused on short term results
d) Identifying industry sector cycles
A
Dividing funds among different asset classes is strategic asset allocation.
11. A corporation’s capitalization consists of: Debenture - 7% - $1,000 par, maturity 2022: $4,000,000; Common stock - $1 par, 200,000 shares outstanding: $200,000; Capital in excess of par: $800,000; Retained earnings: $5,000,000. The corporation, for the current year, earns $1,500,000 before interest and taxes. The corporation is in the 50% tax bracket. What are the company’s earnings per share?
a) $0.25
b) $3.05
c) $3.75
d) $7.50
B
Corporate profit of $1,500,000 minus $280,000 interest (7% X 4 million) = $1,220,000 X 50% = $610,000 divided by 200,000 shares = $3.05.
12. All of the following are agency issues backed by government-guaranteed or insured mortgages, EXCEPT
a) SLMA.
b) FNMA.
c) GNMA.
d) Federal Home Loan.
A
Sallie Mae is Student Loan Marketing Association (SLMA) and does not deal in mortgages. The rest do
13. Any adviser that wants to exercise discretionary authority over a client’s account must do which of the following? I. Have written authorization from the client. II. Have approval to exercise such control by the administrator. III. File a Form ADV with the Securities Administrator. IV. Post a bond in the amount of the client’s account value.
a) I and II
b) I and III
c) II and III
d) II and IV
B
Any investment adviser that wishes to exercise discretionary authority over a client’s account must have authorization from the owner of that account, approval for such authority from the broker/dealer (not the administrator), and file a Form ADV for the account with the Securities Administrator.
14. Which of the following is true of the organizational structure of a balance sheet? I. It is arranged from current items at the top to long term items at the bottom. II. Liquid items appear on the left and illiquid and fixed items appear on the right. III. It follows an equation. IV. Leverage items follow equity items.
a) I and II
b) I and III
c) II and III
d) II and IV
B
The balance sheet follows the balance sheet equation, and it starts with current items at the top and flows to long term items below. Leverage (bonds) comes before equity (stock.)
16. A school teacher is retiring after 20 years of service. During the past 10 years, she invested $10,000 in a 403(b) through a payroll deduction offered by the school. Her account is now worth $16,000. What is her cost basis?
a) $0
b) $6,000
c) $10,000
d) $16,000
A
The teacher has contributed to a qualified retirement plan; therefore, all the money she has invested is pre-tax. She has not paid taxes on any of the money yet, so her cost basis is $0, and she will be required to pay ordinary income taxes on the entire amount she withdraws.
18. Which of the following statements regarding diversification is false?
a) Diversification reduces selection risk.
b) Asset allocation involves diversification.
c) Diversification reduces system risk.
d) A portfolio should be diversified between and among asset classes.
C
Diversification does not reduce market, or system risk. If the entire market declines, even a diversified portfolio declines.
19. Which of the following statements is true about tax-qualified annuities?
a) They must meet IRS requirements.
b) Employee contributions are not tax deductible.
c) They can discriminate.
d) Withdrawals are not taxed.
A
In qualified annuities, IRS approval is required; contributions are tax deductible; accumulations are tax-deferred and withdrawals are taxed. Qualified annuities cannot discriminate among policyowners.
20. Alternative investments are investments that
a) Do not entirely meet the definition of stock, bond or cash.
b) Do not meet NYSE registration requirements.
c) Are not available to institutions.
d) Are used to replace underperforming asset classes.
B
Traditional investments are stocks, bonds and cash. In the broadest sense alternative investments are investments that cannot meet those definitions.
21. The shareholders of a mutual fund have certain rights associated with the ownership interests they hold in the company. These rights include all of the following EXCEPT
a) Approval authority for the company’s annual report.
b) Approval of investment advisory agreement.
c) Voting rights/proxy rights regarding company issues.
d) Election of board.
B
Mutual fund shareholders have the right to receive annual/semiannual reports; however, the company itself has approval authority for its publication. Additionally, the shareholders and the board of directors must approve all of the expenses for the operation of the mutual fund.
22. Which of the following is true regarding an insurance company’s general account?
a) Though it is invested primarily in equities, by law it may not deal in options or margin trading.
b) It is conservatively invested because it holds assets associated with guaranteed insurance products.
c) It holds assets invested in products that require insurance and securities licensing of representatives that sell them.
d) Because it is conservatively invested, all investment risk is assumed by the investor.
B
Because the general account is invested to guarantee products such as whole life policies and fixed annuities, it is typically invested conservatively in long-term debt. A securities license is not required to sell guaranteed products.
23. If a stop order for a registration statement is issued by the Administrator, the registrant is entitled to have the matter set before a hearing within how many days of written request to the Administrator?
a) 5 days
b) 15 days
c) 30 days
d) 90 days
B
The registrant is allowed to have the matter set before a hearing within 15 days of written request to the Administrator.
24. A Canadian broker/dealer has customers who winter in Florida and Texas. Which of the following is true?
a) Both the broker/dealer and its agents who service the customers must be registered in Florida and Texas.
b) If the broker/dealer has no office in Texas or Florida, it does not have to register in those states to transact business with its existing customers.
c) The broker/dealer but not the agent must register in those states.
d) The agent but not the broker/dealer must register in those states.
B
When a broker/dealer from Canada or another qualifying foreign country with no place of business in the United States has an existing customer who is only temporarily in the United States, neither the broker/dealer nor its agent must register in the United States to transact business with that existing customer or customers. The broker/dealer or its agents may not, however, solicit new business with U.S. citizens without proper registration.
26. If an agent commits a violation of the Act, civil liabilities may be applied to the broker/dealer under what conditions?
a) If the broker/dealer, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have been aware of the action.
b) Never. The broker/dealer may only be held liable in cases of criminal liability.
c) Civil liabilities may not be applied to violations of the Uniform Securities Act.
d) Only if the agent’s manager knew of the action and did not act to prevent it.
A
For violations of the act without willful intent, civil liabilities may apply to the person committing the violation as well as to “controlling persons” if, in the exercise of reasonable care, the controlling person should have been aware of the action.
28. A U.S. government bond quoted at 108.06 - 109.09 has an asking price of
a) $108.60.
b) $1,081.88.
c) $1,092.81.
d) $1,099.00.
C
Bond prices are quoted at $1,000 par in 32nds, with each point worth $10. The ask price (the last price quoted) is $1,090 + (9/32 X $10) for a price of $1,092.81.
29. A mutual fund pays a 5 percent dividend during the year and pays a 5 percent realized capital gain at the end of the same year. What is the Total Return for the year?
a) 5% percent
b) 7.5% percent
c) 10% percent
d) None
C
The Total Return is the cumulative return for the period. Therefore, 5 percent dividend plus 5 percent capital gain = 10 percent.
30. An investor bought 100 shares of XYZ stock at $55 in January of 20XX. Today, with the stock trading at $75, the investor donated it to a charitable institution. What are the tax consequences of this gift?
a) A $5,500 deduction is allowed.
b) A $7,500 deduction is allowed.
c) The investor must pay a gift tax.
d) No deduction is allowed.
B
The value of a charitable gift that is deductible by the donor is the appreciated value of the securities.
31. Frederick sells a municipal bond at 103 which he held for 13 months. He originally purchased the bond at 101. What is the consequence of this sale?
a) $20 gain is taxed at Frederick’s top marginal rate.
b) The gain is taxed at 15%.
c) The gain is an AMT preference item.
d) The gain is tax-free at the federal level and maybe at the state level.
B
Because Frederick held the bond for more than one year, he experiences a long-term capital gain, taxed at 15%. Only municipal bond interest is tax-free; capital gains are taxed. IDR interest is an AMT preference item.