Blue Collar Finance

Series 7 Exam Prep: Bottom Up vs Top Down investing

Dive into the fascinating world of stock market analysis as we explore bottom up investing and top down charts approaches! 📈 Learn how fundamental analysis shapes investment decisions, and discover why value investing remains a timeless strategy. This comprehensive guide to investment methodologies will help both new and experienced traders make informed decisions. #investing #stockmarket #analysis

Wall Street Wrap Up Feb 11th, 2025

10 Top 10 Reasons FINRA Should Let Anyone Take the Series 7 Exam (No Sponsorship Needed!)

Is FINRA's sponsorship requirement for the Series 7 exam holding people back? In this video, we dive into 10 powerful reasons why FINRA should allow anyone to take the Series 7 exam without needing a sponsor. From promoting diversity and leveling the playing field to helping career changers and reducing risk for employers, this policy change would benefit everyone.
Whether you're an aspiring financial professional or just curious about breaking into the industry, this video will give you plenty to think about.
#FINRA #Series7Exam #FinanceCareers #FinancialIndustry #DiversityInFinance #CareerChange #Sponsorship"

Wall Street Wrap up. Jan 25th, 2025

short video covering the big news on Wall Street for the week.

Series 7 Showdown: Which is better? Mutual Fund or ETF?

And that’s a wrap! ETFs bring low costs, transparency, and tax efficiency to the table, while Mutual Funds promise active management, stability, and expertise. It’s a clash of innovation versus tradition, efficiency versus strategy. Thanks to Sarah and Mark for the fireworks. Join us next time on Investing Inferno—where the debates are as hot as your portfolio should be!"

Series 66 Showdown: Broker Dealer Vs Investment Advisors

Welcome to Series 66 Showdown , where egos clash, and the gloves come off! Tonight’s matchup: Broker-Dealers versus Investment Advisors. One sells what you want; the other claims to act in your best interest. Who’s the hero, and who’s the villain? Let’s meet our fighters: Sarah, who believes commissions make the world go ’round, and Mark, who swears by fees and fiduciary duty. Let’s rumble!"
 
Well, there you have it! Broker-Dealers promise quick results and tailored products, while Investment Advisors swear by fiduciary duty and long-term planning. Whether you prefer Sarah’s fire or Mark’s…moral superiority, the choice is yours. Join us next time on Series 66 Showdown, where the stakes are high, and the insults are higher!"
Script for Broker-Dealer vs. Investment Advisor Debate (Wild and Explosive)
Scene Setup
Host: Positioned in the middle screen, half referee, half instigator, enjoying the chaos.
Guest 1 (Broker-Dealer Advocate - Sarah): On the left screen, loud and fiery, exuding a "sales are king" attitude.
Guest 2 (Investment Advisor Advocate - Mark): On the right screen, calm but condescending, with a "fiduciary or bust" vibe.
Script
Opening: Host Introduction
Host:"
Round 1: Opening Salvos
Host:"Sarah, Broker-Dealers often get a bad rap for being sales-focused. What’s your defense?"
Broker-Dealer Advocate (Sarah):"Defense? I don’t need a defense. Broker-Dealers give clients exactly what they ask for—products that work for their goals. We’re like a buffet: you pick what you want, and we serve it up. Investment Advisors, on the other hand, are like those restaurants with no menu. ‘Trust the chef,’ they say, while charging you triple for something you didn’t even want."
Investment Advisor Advocate (Mark):"Buffet? Try used car lot. Broker-Dealers push whatever pays them the biggest commission. Meanwhile, Investment Advisors are fiduciaries—we put our clients’ interests first, not our paychecks. Sarah’s team is all about conflicts of interest wrapped in a shiny sales pitch."
Broker-Dealer Advocate (Sarah):"Oh, here we go with the fiduciary sermon. Newsflash, Mark: just because you charge a fee doesn’t make you a saint. At least I’m upfront about how I get paid. Your precious fees are just commissions with a bow on top."
Round 2: Conflicts of Interest
Host:"Mark, let’s talk conflicts of interest. Investment Advisors claim to avoid them. True?"
Investment Advisor Advocate (Mark):"Absolutely. As fiduciaries, we have a legal obligation to act in our clients’ best interests. Broker-Dealers, on the other hand, just have to meet the ‘suitability’ standard—which is basically code for ‘good enough.’ If Sarah sells you a product that works for you but lines her pockets, that’s fine by her rules."
Broker-Dealer Advocate (Sarah):"Suitability isn’t ‘good enough,’ Mark—it’s tailored to the client’s needs. And let’s not pretend you’re conflict-free. You charge fees based on assets under management, so you’re incentivized to tell clients, ‘Don’t pay off your mortgage—give me the money instead!’ You’re just as biased, but you dress it up in fancy legal terms."
Investment Advisor Advocate (Mark):"Wow, Sarah, that’s rich coming from someone who gets kickbacks for pushing mutual funds with 12b-1 fees. At least my fees are transparent. Your conflicts are hidden in fine print so small even lawyers need a magnifying glass."
Broker-Dealer Advocate (Sarah):"Kickbacks? You mean the commissions I earn for providing real value to my clients? Sorry if that bothers you, Mark. Maybe you should try working in sales—you might learn how to talk to actual people."
Round 3: Regulation and Accountability
Host:"Let’s dig into the rules. Sarah, Broker-Dealers are regulated by FINRA, but Mark’s camp has the SEC. Who’s got the better oversight?"
Broker-Dealer Advocate (Sarah):"FINRA is all about protecting investors while keeping the industry running smoothly. The SEC? They love to bog everyone down in paperwork. Investment Advisors are basically compliance robots, ticking boxes while pretending they’re heroes. Broker-Dealers focus on the client experience."
Investment Advisor Advocate (Mark):"FINRA is a joke, Sarah. It’s self-regulation at its finest—like letting the fox guard the henhouse. The SEC holds us to real standards. That’s why clients trust Investment Advisors more. We’re not just ‘salespeople with licenses.’"
Broker-Dealer Advocate (Sarah):"‘Clients trust us more’—yeah, sure they do, Mark. Until they realize your fees keep piling up no matter what the market does. At least with commissions, clients only pay when they actually do something. Your AUM fees are like a subscription service nobody asked for."
Investment Advisor Advocate (Mark):"And your commissions are like hidden fees on airline tickets—always a surprise, and never in the customer’s favor."
Round 4: Real-World Scenarios
Host:"Let’s paint a picture. Sarah, what’s a scenario where a Broker-Dealer is the better choice?"
Broker-Dealer Advocate (Sarah):"Easy. Say a client wants to buy a specific stock or bond. They don’t need a long-term plan; they just need execution. Why should they pay Mark’s fees when all they want is to buy Apple stock? Broker-Dealers get it done fast, with no unnecessary fluff."
Investment Advisor Advocate (Mark):"Right, because nothing says ‘personalized service’ like selling a product and disappearing until the next trade. If a client wants real financial planning—retirement strategies, tax efficiency, estate planning—they need an Investment Advisor. Broker-Dealers are fine if you’re okay with being a number on a spreadsheet."
Broker-Dealer Advocate (Sarah):"And Investment Advisors are fine if you like paying someone to tell you, ‘Just hold onto this ETF and cross your fingers.’ You’re not planning; you’re just stalling."
Final Round: Who’s Better?
Host:"Final thoughts. Why is your model better? Mark?"
Investment Advisor Advocate (Mark):"Because we’re fiduciaries. We’re legally required to act in our clients’ best interests. Broker-Dealers might have a place for basic transactions, but if you want someone to actually care about your goals, you need an Investment Advisor."
Broker-Dealer Advocate (Sarah):"‘Care about your goals’? That’s cute, Mark. My clients want results, not hand-holding. Broker-Dealers get the job done, efficiently and affordably. If you want someone to charge you for overcomplicating things, go with Mark. If you want action, come to us."
Investment Advisor Advocate (Mark):"Action? More like sales tactics disguised as advice. Broker-Dealers are all flash, no substance."
Broker-Dealer Advocate (Sarah):"And Investment Advisors are all talk, no results. Enjoy your compliance paperwork, Mark. I’ll be out here actually helping people."
Closing: Host Wrap-Up
 

Series 7 Showdown:GO Bonds vs. Revenue Bonds: The Ultimate Muni Finance Smackdown

In this fiery debate, we pit General Obligation Bonds against Revenue Bonds in a no-holds-barred battle of municipal finance! Are GO Bonds the gold standard of safety and taxpayer backing, or are they just a debt burden waiting to happen? Can Revenue Bonds deliver higher yields and project-specific efficiency, or are they risky gambles dressed up as smart investments? With sharp arguments, biting humor, and a few low blows, our experts dive into everything from tax implications and voting requirements to legal opinions and feasibility studies. Get ready to learn, laugh, and pick a side—this is Security Showdown !

Intro to the SIE Exam 2024 ( AUDIO ONLY )

SIE exam overview part 1 Podcast episode 
 major securities regulations (Securities Acts of 1933, 1934, etc.) and their key provisions  - Detailed explanations were provided on different types of securities including stocks, bonds, options, and their characteristics  - Math concepts related to securities pricing, yields, and options were demonstrated  - Practice questions were reviewed to show how concepts may be tested on the SIE exam
Topics
Securities Regulations
  - Securities Act of 1933 covers primary market and new securities issuance  - Securities Act of 1934 created the SEC and regulates the secondary market  - Other key acts include Investment Company Act of 1940 and Investment Advisers Act of 1940
Equity Securities
  - Common stock provides ownership, voting rights, potential dividends  - Preferred stock provides fixed dividends, no voting rights  - ADRs allow trading foreign stocks on US exchanges  - Rights offerings allow existing shareholders to maintain ownership percentage
Debt Securities
  - Corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and US Treasuries discussed  - Key concepts: par value, coupon rate, yield, call provisions  - Risks include interest rate risk, credit risk, reinvestment risk
Options
  - Calls provide right to buy, puts provide right to sell  - Key terms: strike price, premium, expiration, intrinsic value  - Buying options limits risk to premium paid  - Selling options has potentially unlimited risk
Calculations
  - Stock splits, dividends, and rights offerings  - Bond yields - current yield, yield to maturity, yield to call  - Options pricing and breakeven points
Next Steps
  - Review practice questions, especially on topics like options and bond yields  - Focus on memorizing key regulatory acts and their provisions  - Practice calculations for stock splits, dividends, bond yields, etc.  - Review risks associated with different security types
#sieexam  #sieexam #finra 

Intro to the SIE exam part 2 8/26/2024

Meeting purpose
To provide training and review key concepts for the SIE exam
Key Takeaways
Reviewed mutual funds, options, margin accounts, and other key topics
Practiced sample exam questions and discussed correct answers/reasoning
Instructor will hold an additional 1-hour Q&A session on Sunday or Monday evening
Participants should focus on additional reading and knowledge building in the final week before the exam
Topics
Mutual Funds
Reviewed A, B, and C share classes and their fee structures
Discussed breakpoints, rights of accumulation, and letter of intent
Covered NAV calculation, forward pricing, and prospectus requirements
Options
Reviewed call and put options, including max gain/loss scenarios
Practiced calculating breakeven points for various option strategies
Discussed index options and cash settlement
Margin Accounts
Reviewed Regulation T 50% initial margin requirement
Discussed maintenance margin requirements (25% for long positions, 30% for short)
Covered minimum equity requirement of $2,000
Order Types
Reviewed market orders, limit orders, stop orders, and stop limit orders
Practiced identifying appropriate order types for different scenarios
 

Intro to the SIE Exam 8/24/2024

SIE exam overview part 1 Podcast episode 
 major securities regulations (Securities Acts of 1933, 1934, etc.) and their key provisions  - Detailed explanations were provided on different types of securities including stocks, bonds, options, and their characteristics  - Math concepts related to securities pricing, yields, and options were demonstrated  - Practice questions were reviewed to show how concepts may be tested on the SIE exam
Topics
Securities Regulations
  - Securities Act of 1933 covers primary market and new securities issuance  - Securities Act of 1934 created the SEC and regulates the secondary market  - Other key acts include Investment Company Act of 1940 and Investment Advisers Act of 1940
Equity Securities
  - Common stock provides ownership, voting rights, potential dividends  - Preferred stock provides fixed dividends, no voting rights  - ADRs allow trading foreign stocks on US exchanges  - Rights offerings allow existing shareholders to maintain ownership percentage
Debt Securities
  - Corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and US Treasuries discussed  - Key concepts: par value, coupon rate, yield, call provisions  - Risks include interest rate risk, credit risk, reinvestment risk
Options
  - Calls provide right to buy, puts provide right to sell  - Key terms: strike price, premium, expiration, intrinsic value  - Buying options limits risk to premium paid  - Selling options has potentially unlimited risk
Calculations
  - Stock splits, dividends, and rights offerings  - Bond yields - current yield, yield to maturity, yield to call  - Options pricing and breakeven points
Next Steps
  - Review practice questions, especially on topics like options and bond yields  - Focus on memorizing key regulatory acts and their provisions  - Practice calculations for stock splits, dividends, bond yields, etc.  - Review risks associated with different security types
#sieexam  #sieexam #finra