NASAA Series 65 Study Plan & Exam-Day Pass Strategy
The Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination (Series 65) tests 130 scored questions across 4 content areas, with 41% focused on laws, regulations, and fiduciary obligations (53 questions). Follow this structured roadmap to allocate your study hours, pace the 180-minute Prometric clock, and master the first-5-minute dump sheet.
Strategic Blueprint Allocation
Laws, Regulations & Guidelines (41%)
53 Questions. The decisive section of the exam. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, NSMIA thresholds, Form ADV, custody, and prohibited practices.
Client Recommendations (30%)
39 Questions. Modern Portfolio Theory, asset allocation, UPIA prudent investor standard, retirement planning, tax strategies, and estate planning.
Investment Vehicles (18%)
24 Questions. Characteristics and risks of common/preferred stock, Treasuries, municipal bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, REITs, and options.
Economic Factors (11%)
14 Questions. Macroeconomic indicators (GDP, CPI), monetary/fiscal policy, financial statements, and valuation models (DDM, DCF).
The 4-Week Mastery Track (Recommended)
Week 1: Economic Fundamentals & Investment Vehicles
Areas 1 & 2 (38 Qs)- Read Chapter 1: Macroeconomics, GDP, CPI, monetary policy tools, financial statements, and valuation models.
- Read Chapter 2: Equities, Treasuries, municipal bonds, mutual fund share classes (A/B/C), ETFs, and options basics.
- Complete 50 practice questions focusing on Area 1 and Area 2 calculations (Gordon Growth Model, TEY, current ratio).
Week 2: Portfolio Theory, Suitability & Wealth Planning
Area 3 (39 Qs)- Read Chapter 3: Modern Portfolio Theory, Sharpe vs. Treynor ratios, CAPM, and beta sensitivity.
- Master the Uniform Prudent Investor Act (UPIA): total return approach, duty to diversify, and prudent delegation.
- Review retirement accounts (Traditional vs. Roth IRA, 401(k), QDROs), education savings (529 vs. Coverdell), and estate tax basis step-up.
- Take a 32-question Diagnostic Quiz on the exam simulator to baseline your weak areas.
Week 3: Deep-Dive into Laws, Regulations & Ethics (The Heavyweight)
Area 4 (53 Qs — 41% of Exam!)- Read Chapter 4: Statutory ABC test, L.A.T.E. and publisher exclusions, and NSMIA AUM thresholds ($110M / $100M / $90M).
- Master Form ADV: Part 1 regulatory filings, Part 2A Brochure 48-hour/signing rules, and Part 2B Brochure Supplement.
- Memorize custody rules: qualified custodian, quarterly statements, 3-business-day safe harbors, and annual CPA surprise audit.
- Review prohibited practices: borrowing/lending, churning, front-running, scalping, and performance-based fee limits ($1.1M / $2.2M).
Week 4: Full-Length Mocks & Prometric Dump Sheet Execution
Final Sprint- Take 2 full 130-question timed mock exams on the Prometric simulator (aim for consistent 80%+ scores).
- Conduct distractor autopsies on every missed question: categorize whether the error was knowledge gap or misreading the stem.
- Practice writing the first-5-minute dump sheet from memory until you can reproduce it in under 4 minutes.
The First-5-Minute Prometric Dump Sheet
As soon as the test timer begins at Prometric, spend 3–4 minutes writing down these critical high-yield facts, numbers, and formulas on your scratch pad:
<$100M: State IA
$100M–$110M: Choice
$110M+: Mandatory SEC
$90M: Buffer floor (180 days to state)Regulator update: 90 days after FYE
Client brochure update: 120 days after FYE
Initial Brochure: 48h before OR signing + 5-day cancel
Material changes: Promptly (30 days)Third-party checks: Forward in 3 bus. days
Inadvertent assets: Return in 3 bus. days
Oral discretion: 10 bus. days (IA only)
Quarterly statements by custodianQualified Client: $1.1M AUM or $2.2M Net Worth
Federal Criminal: $10k fine / 5 yrs prison
State Criminal: $5k fine / 3 yrs prison
State Civil SOL: Earlier of 2y disc. / 3y trans.