Series 99 study plan

List the core SEC/FINRA rules that govern broker-dealer operations (Rule 4511/4512, Rule 4370, SEA Rule 15c3-3, SEA Rules 17a-3/17a-4) and state in one sentence what each rule protects.

Differentiate account types (individual, joint with and without rights of survivorship, UGMA/UTMA, trust, corporate, retirement, margin vs. cash) by control, required documentation, and distribution rules.

Sequence the onboarding workflow from account application through CIP verification, AML surveillance, and OFAC screening, and name the trigger point for each check.

Explain ACATS transfer mechanics (validation, transfer instruction form, partial and fail scenarios) in your own words without notes.

Trace a customer order from receipt through execution report, naming every handoff, system touchpoint, and record created along the way.

Distinguish order types, time-in-force designations, and handling instructions, and match each to three written customer-instruction scenarios.

Apply best execution, order protection (Rule 611), and limit order display (Rule 604) to three fact patterns and justify the correct handling.

Describe options order handling and the exercise/assignment flow well enough to explain it to a customer in plain language.

Map the T+1 settlement cycle step by step, including trade affirmation, NSCC continuous net settlement, and fail handling.

Reconstruct the daily cashiering functions: cash and securities receipts and deliveries, bank wire processing, and segregation of customer assets.

Compute the customer reserve formula components under SEA Rule 15c3-3 for simplified firm scenarios.

Explain stock borrow/loan mechanics, recalls, and buy-in procedures in writing.

Sequence record date, ex-date, and payable date for cash and stock dividends, and predict how the ex-date shifts under T+1.

Differentiate mandatory from voluntary corporate actions and list the operational steps for a tender offer, a proxy vote, and a stock split.

Compute Reg T initial margin, maintenance margin, and a margin call for both long and short positions.

Explain portfolio margining basics and identify when it applies versus standard Reg T treatment.

Contrast the operational handling of mutual funds, ETFs, variable annuities, and municipal securities from order entry through settlement.

Outline prime brokerage and securities lending relationships from an operations standpoint, naming the key documents and controls.

Explain TRACE, MSRB, and CAT reporting obligations, including who reports what and on what timeline.

Identify the product-specific recordkeeping and customer-confirmation requirements for each product group studied.

Apply Reg BI care, disclosure, conflict-of-interest, and compliance obligations to operational fact patterns involving account and order decisions.

Identify prohibited practices - churning, unauthorized trading, front-running, marking the close, and unsuitable recommendations - in written vignettes.

Explain retail communication rules (Rule 2210) and identify which communications require principal approval before use.

Describe supervision and escalation duties an operations professional owes when misconduct is suspected.

List record retention periods and acceptable formats under Rule 4511 and SEA Rule 17a-4 for the ten most commonly tested record types.

Describe supervisory controls under Rule 3110, including the annual compliance meeting and branch inspection requirements.

Explain safeguarding of customer assets, business continuity planning (Rule 4370), and identity theft red-flag detection.

Reconcile conduct obligations from F2 with recordkeeping and safeguarding controls from F1 in a single written summary.

Re-drill every item missed on prior quizzes and rewrite each as a flashcard stating the rule basis.

Complete at least two full-length timed exams under simulated test conditions with no notes.

Recite from memory the key numeric thresholds: T+1 settlement, Reg T and maintenance margin percentages, retention periods, and reserve formula components.

Rank remaining weak areas by expected point impact and close the top three before test day.