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Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam

The qualification tests for several occupations in the financial services industry, formerly known as the Series exams, have been streamlined into one initial exam called the Securities Industry Essentials Exam—or the SIE Exam. Passing this exam qualifies you to pursue a career in the financial services industry.

Back in 2015, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) streamlined its testing structure by consolidating the fundamental knowledge shared across several of the Series exams into the SIE. Candidates can then take an additional "top-off" qualification exam for the specific field they hope to enter.

The SIE had a major structural impact on the qualification exams. The SIE replaces portions of every previous exam, including the Series 6, Series 7, Series 22, Series 55/56 (replaced by Series 57), Series 79, Series 82, Series 86/87, and Series 99. These tests were shrunken, becoming qualification exams that focus on the specialized knowledge needed for each particular qualification.

Top-off exams are offered for the following representative categories:

Overall, this was clearly an effort to remove some of the duplicated information in the tests, but it also opened the door to a much more important change to the process of qualification, which is no longer having to be associated with a FINRA member firm to take the SIE.

Under the former FINRA rules, you generally needed to be employed or otherwise sponsored by a FINRA member in order to take the exams. The SIE removes this requirement, although you still have to be associated with a FINRA member firm to take the top-off exams. This means that an individual can choose to start on the path towards a FINRA qualification on their own.

Successfully taking the SIE doesn't guarantee anyone a successfully break into the financial industry, but it is safe to say that passing it prior to looking for a job may give you an edge as a prospective employer only needs to sponsor the top-off exam to get you qualified for a particular role.

FINRA supported the idea that recent graduates and people looking to get into the industry should take the SIE on their own. They’ve made it more attractive by extending the validity of the SIE to four years, giving a generous window for passing participants to then find a firm to sponsor the top-off exams. FINRA member firms are able to see who has passed the exam via the Central Registration Depository (CRD).

In their original Securities and Exchange Commission filings, FINRA targeted the fall of 2016 to early 2017 for a rollout of their highest volume exams. This proved to be a bit optimistic. There were several shifts in the scheduling, one resulting from the requests of member firms and industry associations for more time to set their own processes in accordance with the new structure. The SIE and top-off exam rollout took place on Oct. 1, 2018 and was accompanied by the retirement of multiple low-volume exams, such as the Series 42 and Series 62.

Originally, March 2018 was targeted for the implementation of the SIE and top-offs for Series 6, 7, and 79. Oct. 1, 2018 became the date for a complete overhaul rather than a phased-in approach. Adding to some of the confusion was part of the attempt to modernize; the Series 55 was replaced by the Series 57, although it still appeared in the original notice for the SIE updates. That update was simply a standard part of FINRA reviewing and tweaking curriculum, rather than part of an overhaul of any core knowledge.

The SIE exam structure is largely based on the general knowledge components of the exams it replaced that portion for. In January 2018, FINRA provided more details on the structure. The sections and question count are as follows:

The 75 questions are actually 85, since there are 10 randomly distributed pre-test questions that do not count towards the score on the exam. Candidates have an hour and forty-five minutes to complete the entire exam. A full outline of the SIE content is currently available on FINRA's website.

Passing the SIE exam can provide a number of benefits to your career:

If you already passed one of the FINRA exams and are currently registered as a representative, you are considered to have passed the SIE already. If you passed one of the exams and are not currently registered, you may need to take the SIE depending on how many years elapse between now and your next registration. And, of course, if you passed the exam but your registration has lapsed, you will need to take the SIE and the new top-off for that qualification before being reregistered.

This is pretty much the same as it has always been, except you would be taking two exams instead of one. In fact, the exams are designed to take the same total time as the previous versions. For example, the SIE and Series 7 top-off exam take the same amount of time as the previous Series 7 exam.

For member firms, the cost of the top-off exams is less than the previous exams because the content was shifted to the SIE. So, if an individual has passed the SIE prior to joining a firm, it is a good indication that this person already has the basic aptitude and wherewithal to pass a top-off exam. The cost of getting that individual registered is reduced because they paid out-of-pocket for the SIE, which will likely help make a candidate more attractive to a firm.

The Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam is designed to assess your knowledge of the securities industry. It ensures that people entering the industry are qualified and knowledgeable for the work they are doing. It streamlines the previous initial qualification exams into a single test, supplemented by "top-off" qualification exams.

If you want to be registered to work in a securities business, you must pass the SIE and the appropriate qualification exam for the type of securities work you'll be doing. If you already took one of the old exams and your license lapsed—assuming two years have passed since you were last registered—you have to retake the Series 7. You need to retake the SIE only if four years have elapsed since you last passed it or were last registered.

The overall content covered over the two tests—the SIE and the Series 7 top-off exam—will be nearly identical to the previous Series 7.

FINRA does not share the SIE pass rates. However, various test prep companies state that around 25-27% of candidates fail the exam on the first try. If you fail and want to retake the exam, the wait time is 30 days for the first and second attempts, then six months if you fail the third attempt.

If you were already sponsored to take one of the qualification exams, go for it. These changes won't impact you at all. If you expect to be sponsored in the future, the overall content you need to master won’t change even though you have to do it in two chunks. If, however, you are not currently sponsored or in the industry, the SIE will open the door for you to start down the path of a financial career without having to associate with a member firm first. This change gives you a choice you didn't have before.

The best HUAWEI smartwatches you can buy

Huawei‘s smartphone business might be past its prime, but its wearable line is still going strong. Since the first HUAWEI Watch launched in 2015, the Chinese company has built on its wearables’ strengths: minimalist designs, long battery life, and reliable fitness tracking. But which HUAWEI smartwatch is right for you? We’ve rounded up the best HUAWEI smartwatches available right now.

Huawei’s wearables cater to a multitude of users and their specific requirements. Although many of its devices use round watch faces and similar aesthetics, they offer something slightly different.

On that note, if you’re looking for a professional-looking device, you could grab any of the below products. HUAWEI knows how to make a good-looking watch. However, if you’re specifically looking for a gym companion, running trainer, general smartwatch, or lightweight fitness tracker, you’ll need to consider a few things.

Runners should seek out built-in GPS smarts. Thankfully, most HUAWEI watches below have just that. Notably, gym-goers may want to consider fit and feel above all, sport tracking modes for specific exercises, and a host of fitness sensors from SpO2 tracking to a reliable heart rate sensor.

Finally, all HUAWEI watches offer general smartwatch features, from built-in alarms to onboard music playback. You’ll have to look elsewhere if you want a smartwatch that runs apps. HUAWEI’s smartwatches lack the app bouquets offered by Wear OS and watchOS. That said, the basic features are there for less demanding users.

HUAWEI Watch 3 Pro: The best HUAWEI smartwatch

Huawei Watch 3 Pro

Classy design • Supports calls • Long battery life

A handsome-looking device with eSIM integration

The Huawei Watch 3 Pro is a handsome-looking smartwatch with a long list of features and marks the debut of a new OS for Huawei.

Arguably the best-looking HUAWEI smartwatch ever made, the HUAWEI Watch 3 Pro is the company’s current flagship wearable. It’s available in several styles, topped by a 48mm face and a 1.47-inch 60Hz OLED display. The Watch 3 Pro packs HUAWEI’s excellent TruSleep tracking smarts, offering continuous heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring. And as far as smartwatch features go, Harmony OS brings a pleasant UI refresh to the wrist.

HUAWEI could improve the Watch 3 Pro’s general fitness tracking smarts, while its bulky design isn’t great for those with an active lifestyle. Although it features tracking for more than 100 workout types, automatic detection for the activities you might actually use is unreliable. The Watch 3 Pro also packs dual-band GPS, but its lock-on is tardy.

The HUAWEI Watch 3 Pro is an excellent statement smartwatch with the promise of future development, but bear in mind its shortfalls and your requirements before investing in one.

Kris Carlon / Android Authority

HUAWEI Watch GT 3 Pro: The best HUAWEI smartwatch for monitoring heart health

Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro (titanium)

Striking design • Premium build materials • Excellent battery life

Huawei's exotic premium smartwatch gives buyers plenty to like

The Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro is an attractive prospect, especially for fans of premium smartwatches. It has a great design, and stellar battery life, and uses exotic build materials you won't often see on other devices. For fitness fiends, its GPS is swift to lock on and its fitness tracking is reliable.

The HUAWEI GT 3 Pro is another stunning smartwatch. It comes in designs using plenty of titanium and ceramic with sapphire glass, giving it a unique aesthetic in the wearable world. Its positives lie beyond its attractive facade, though. It’s a great fitness tracking watch with fast GPS locking performance, great battery life, and a built-in ECG to monitor heart health.

However, the positives largely end there. The watch really only excels for HUAWEI smartphone owners, and you’ll have a tough time exporting your fitness data to any other service beyond HUAWEI’s app. And finally, there’s the price. The base model is by no means cheap, while the unique ceramic alternative sees that price jump even further. Still, if you love HUAWEI devices and seek one with ECG functionality, this is the best bet for you and your heart.

Kris Carlon / Android Authority

HUAWEI Watch GT 3: The best HUAWEI smartwatch for most people

Huawei Watch GT 3

Large, sharp display • Accurate fitness tracking • 1-2 week battery life

An accurate fitness-tracking smartwatch with great battery life

Huawei's Watch GT 3 offers impressive battery life, all-day SpO2 monitoring, and accurate fitness tracking. It's also available in both a 42mm case size and a larger 46mm case size so you can likely find a perfect fit.

Coming in at a much lower price, the Watch GT 3 retains HUAWEI’s keen focus on build quality, adds a larger screen over its predecessor and Pro sibling, and improves GPS lock. The latter is a big deal for those who value distance tracking reliability on a wearable. HUAWEI’s refined heart rate sensor is building on that, which marks a considerable improvement over the GT 2. While Harmony OS still provides a two-week battery life and a new lick of UI paint, the ecosystem’s young and devoid of third-party apps. It does have plenty of room to improve, though.

If you’ve already invested in HUAWEI’s ecosystem or don’t lean too hard on smartwatch apps, the Watch GT 3 nails the basics and looks good doing it.

Kris Carlon / Android Authority

HUAWEI Watch GT Runner: The best HUAWEI smartwatch for runners

Huawei Watch GT Runner

Long battery life • Bright display and lightweight body • Accurate sensors

A premium lightweight smartwatch for those craving an active lifestyle.

The Huawei GT Runner is an excellent training watch for budding joggers, sprinters, or those simply looking to health up. It includes an impressive two-week battery life that powers a large, detailed display. Runners will love the lightweight design, real-time voice guidance, and accurate heart rate monitoring and GPS performance, too.

The HUAWEI Watch GT Runner shares its base traits with the GT 3, giving it a 1.43-inch AMOLED screen, 5ATM water resistance, and a 455mAh battery that goes and goes. However, the GT Runner is better suited for those who want a sports coach tied to their wrists.

The GT Runner has several features runners will love, including race projections and AI coaching features, VO2 max stats, a Running Ability Index, and a remarkably accurate GPS with reliable heart rate monitoring.

You may want to look beyond the GT Runner if you have smaller wrists, as the 46mm face can be bulky for some. Additionally, HUAWEI Health remains awkward for most and downright difficult to use for many in select countries in the world.

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

HUAWEI Watch GT 2e: The best HUAWEI smartwatch for casual athletes

Huawei Watch GT 2e

High-end, durable design • 2-week battery life • Low price point

The Huawei Watch GT 2e surprised us with its solid fitness tracking.

The Huawei Watch GT 2e is for the casual athlete who doesn't need much out of a smartwatch. It can track a variety of sport profiles (and track each one pretty well). Huawei also nailed the hardware: two-week long battery life and the overall design are fantastic. However, third-party app support is essentially non-existent, notification support is too bare-bones, and the touchscreen can be finicky. The Huawei Watch GT 2e is a wonky smartwatch, but a solid fitness tracker for the casual athlete.

If you’re looking for a fitness-first smartwatch with extensive endurance, the Watch GT 2e is a solid option. It features chunky silicone straps for those who work up a sweat at the gym. The bright 1.39-inch AMOLED makes quick work of peeking tracking data, too. Aesthetically, it’s one of the best-looking fitness watches you can buy.

Fitness tracking is excellent, too. Onboard GPS supports 15 in-depth tracking modes, from cycling to climbing, while 85 other modes also feature. Several running-focused programs are also baked into the Watch GT 2e, making it an excellent wearable for those perfecting their pacing and stride. Other features include a heart rate sensor, VO2 max estimates, SpO2 monitoring (only on demand), and stress tracking.

However, like its namesake, the Watch GT 2e lacks app support. Sure, onboard storage for music is nice, but there’s no compatibility with third-party services. This means no Spotify or YouTube Music while out on your runs. HUAWEI’s Lite OS UI is also laggy on this device, but that might not be a deal-breaker given its near two-week battery life. Also, it’s a pain to export data from HUAWEI Health, so you’ll have to get used to your fitness data living within HUAWEI’s walled garden.

HUAWEI Band 6: The best HUAWEI fitness tracker

Huawei Band 6

Good value • Good battery life • Lots of workout modes • All-day SpO2 monitoring

Not interested in the Mi Band? The Huawei Band 6 should be on your shortlist of alternatives.

The Huawei Band 6 has a few software issues, but none that are detrimental to the overall experience. If you're after a Mi Band alternative or simply want a cheap fitness tracker that works well, the Huawei Band 6 should be near the top of your list.

Packing a big, rectangular AMOLED display, the Band 6 is arguably one of the best-looking budget fitness trackers out there. Yes, the HUAWEI Band 7 has been available for some time now, but it doesn’t bring anything breathtakingly new to warrant inclusion above the Band 6. It’s comfortable to wear, includes nearly two weeks of battery life, and can track your SpO2 levels all day. The latter is a big win over some of its larger, pricier smartwatch siblings. The Band 6 also focuses more on tracking your health metrics than providing smartwatch features as a fitness tracker. You also might run into erratic heart-rate tracking during more intense workouts.

Despite its flaws, the HUAWEI Band 6 is an excellent choice if your pockets are shallow or if you’re seeking a more minimalist wearable.

Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority

That’s it for our list of the best HUAWEI smartwatches you can buy, but it’s only a fraction of what’s out there. We also want to give an honorable mention to the following products:

Top HUAWEI smartwatch questions and answers

A HUAWEI smartwatch is worth buying if you put build quality and fitness tracking above a “smart” experience. However, stay away if you’re looking for third-party app support.

Huawei’s older watches employ Lite OS. Newer HUAWEI devices, like the HUAWEI Watch 3 Pro, use Harmony OS.

Yes, you can use most HUAWEI watches with Android or iOS devices.

You can receive and take calls on your HUAWEI Watch GT 2 via Bluetooth and listen to them via the built-in speaker. You can also respond using the device’s microphone.