Enrolling in SIE

Hello Achievable Community,

Does anyone know if I can enroll in the SIE without my current employer (independent RIA) knowing?

I work for an RIA which only requires me to have the Series 65 as far securities licenses go. Thus, I do not have the Series 7.

My current employer has completely lost my trust due to some shenanigans over the last year. As a result, I am in the interview process with a well-known financial institution where I would need the Series 7. The interviewer encouraged me to go ahead and take the SIE, so I could signal to employers that I only need the Series 7 (and probably her as well… I landed a second interview).

However, when I went into my FINRA portal to schedule the exam, I received the following pop-up, “If you are associated with a broker-dealer or investment adviser, please consult with your firm before submitting an exam enrollment request. Your firm may be required to submit a Form U4 to request an exam on your behalf.

Yes, I am associated with an investment advisor. No, I do not want to consult with them about taking the SIE. The whole point of taking the SIE is so I can leave.

Does anyone know if I am allowed to just schedule the exam without submitting a U4 from my employer while maintaining employment at my current firm?

Any direction on this would be greatly appreciated!

Hi @Annie_Gulgowski,

Thank you for reaching out! You can enroll for the SIE without your current employer knowing. The SIE does not require sponsorship - you do not need to submit a U4 form. That pop-up is generic guidance and doesn’t prohibit you from enrolling on your own. Please let us know if there’s anything else we can do to support you as you study.

Thank you,
Mataia