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Trading & AccountsSection 36 min read

3.5 Account Ownership Registrations

Proper account titling establishes legal ownership, trading authority, and estate disposition rules.

Key FINRA Exam Takeaways

  • Individual: One beneficial owner.
  • Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS): Equal ownership; interest passes directly to surviving owner, bypassing probate.
  • Tenants in Common (TIC): Fractional ownership (e.g. 60/40); deceased tenant's share passes to their estate/heirs.
  • Custodial (UGMA/UTMA): 1 adult custodian, 1 minor; irrevocable gift; cannot trade on margin.
  • Corporate Account: Requires corporate resolution naming authorized traders and corporate charter.
Knowledge Checkpoint • Section 3.5

Two siblings open a joint brokerage account where they want each person's share of the account to pass to their respective children upon death. Which account type must they select?