Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) is an introductory-level exam that assesses your basic knowledge of the securities industry. The SIE exam evaluates your understanding of securities products, associated risks, regulatory agencies, and prohibited practices.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) conducts this exam, and its certification is valid for four years. The examination cost is $80, and anyone above 18 years can appear in this exam.
Are you planning to pursue a career in the securities industry? Awesome! It’s a good decision. You need the proper guidance and extensive study materials to score high in the SIE exam.
We have already designed a free SIE study guide to help you start your preparation. However, we still recommend extra study materials to increase your chances of passing and scoring high in the SIE exam.
Best SIE Exam Study Materials For 2024
Our free SIE study guide covers all the important topics mentioned in FINRAs SIE content outline. Thousands of students have scored above 70% and passed the SIE exam. Our free resources are a great start. However, we still recommend the following courses to increase your chances of passing on your first attempt.
1. SIA Exam Prep Course
The Securities Institute of America (SIA) offers a comprehensive SIE exam prep course designed to provide a deep understanding of the core concepts required for the exam. This course includes video lectures, practice questions, and detailed study materials, making it a robust option for exam preparation.
Pros
- The study material is designed by experienced professionals in the finance industry.
- It includes numerous video lectures that cover all exam topics in detail.
- It offers cheat sheets, exam secrets, and test tips to prepare faster.
- It offers a large bank of practice questions that mimic the style and difficulty of the actual exam.
Cons
- It’s slightly more expensive compared to some other options.
2. Achievable Exam Prep Course
Achievable’s SIE exam prep course is known for its user-friendly platform and adaptive learning technology. This course focuses on making learning efficient and effective with personalized study plans and progress tracking.
Pros
- It adjusts the study plan based on your progress and performance.
- It includes explainer videos for people from non-finance backgrounds.
- It offers a clean and interactive user interface on smartphones.
- It’s a pretty affordable option for budget-conscious students.
- It provides over 35 full-length practice exams.
Cons
- Primarily text-based with fewer video lectures compared to other courses.
3. Kaplan SIE Essential Package
Kaplan’s SIE Essential Package is a well-rounded course with various study materials, including a comprehensive textbook, practice exams, and on-demand video lessons. Kaplan is a trusted name in exam preparation, and their SIE course is one of the best study materials for scoring high.
Pros
- It includes a textbook, practice exams, and on-demand video lessons.
- It provides regular content updates and covers all regulation changes.
- Kaplan practice exams closely replicate the SIE exam.
- It offers both online and offline study options.
Cons
- Its user interface could be challenging for first-time users to navigate.
- It’s a costly SIE study material.
4. ExamFX SIE Exam Prep Course
ExamFX offers a structured SIE exam prep course combining interactive learning tools and comprehensive study materials. The course is designed to cater to different learning styles and provides a balanced approach to exam preparation.
Pros
- It provides flashcards, quizzes, and other interactive tools to enhance learning.
- It offers personalized study plans to meet individual needs and schedules.
- It offers a money-back guarantee if you take the SIE and fail (three days after taking the course).
- It’s reasonably priced and offers good value for the money.
Cons
- No in-person classes are offered.
5. Pass Perfect SIE Prep Course
Pass Perfect offers a robust SIE exam prep course that focuses on thorough content coverage and interactive learning methods. This course is designed to help you understand and retain the key concepts needed to pass the SIE exam.
Pros
- It provides detailed study guides and practice quizzes that cover all SIE exam topics.
- It provides animated videos to explain key concepts of complex topics.
- It offers an interactive and clean user interface for exam prep.
- It provides topic-level practice quizzes to enhance your learning curve.
Cons
- It is more expensive compared to some other prep courses.
Final Verdict
The Securities Institute of America’s extensive video library and detailed study guide helped thousands of students pass the SIE exam. However, Achievable’s adaptive learning technology and user-friendly interface are great for people from non-finance backgrounds. It’s also the least expensive study material designed by finance experts.