Securities Institute of America Review + Pros and Cons

According to data from the BLS, securities sales agents make roughly $30,000 more than the median for all professions, but you only need to pass exams to get there—no degree required. To pass those exams, however, you’ll have to study a lot, and that means structure and guidance through a review course.

The Securities Institute of America is one of the most popular securities prep providers, but are their courses the best fit for you?

In this guide, I’ll outline everything you need to know from my experiences with SIA’s course content, covering everything from video lessons to practice questions to AI Chatbot assistants. By the end, you’ll know exactly whether to grab SIA right away or pass for something else.

Key Takeaways

• If you want something that won’t break the bank, SIA is one of the most affordable options out there, second only to Achievable.
• If you want to be confident in your investment, the Securities Institute of America offers a straightforward money-back pass guarantee on every study package.
• If you want a wide variety of study materials and formats, SIA’s Complete Self-Study Package gives you everything they have for a given exam at a reasonable price.
• If you value a large practice material library, SIA includes unlimited practice and simulated final exams, with 15 ways to customize tests.
• If you require one-on-one support, SIA’s self-paced, self-study course may not be sufficient to meet your needs.

What is the Securities Institute of America All About?

The Securities Institute of America delivers an affordable, well-rounded solution for future financial services industry professionals. Plus, they cover a good chunk of securities exams. On top of SIE exam prep, the company covers Series 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 26, 39, 57, 63, 65, 66, 79, 82, and 99. No need to count, I did it for you: that’s 19 options to choose from. Plus, the Complete Package is usually just a touch pricier than SIA’s other two packages, meaning it’s a no-brainer to get everything you need for your studies. The Complete Package, available for every exam offered, typically includes tools like online video lectures, SIA’s practice test bank (complete with simulated final exams, practice exams, and correct answer explanations), and a pass guarantee based on the Greenlight Exams.

There’s even a tool called TotalGenius, which is an AI Chatbot a la ChatGPT designed to answer your securities exam preparation questions around the clock. I found it especially helpful in getting even more in-depth answer explanations to hone my understanding. Further, the questions are exam-quality. I compared a variety of questions from different exams like the SIE, 7, 63, and 65 to other providers and past exam questions, and they’re slightly more difficult, ideal for truly strengthening not only your knowledge but also your exam-taking skills. While there are flaws I’ll address as I dig in deeper throughout this guide, overall, SIA delivers promising packages to help students succeed.

What Are the Pros and Cons of the Securities Institute of America?

Pros

SIA is easily one of the most affordable prep providers for FINRA exams
Some packages include TotalGenius, an AI exam review assistant, for 24/7 Q&A support
Even with the low cost, SIA still includes a 100% money-back pass guarantee
Customize exams to your exact needs with 15 different personalization options
It’s easier to study confidently knowing the courses have a 90% pass rate

Cons

Unlike competitors like STC and Kaplan, SIA doesn’t offer live classes, online or otherwise
There isn’t much 1:1 support, so students who thrive with extra aid may struggle here

SIA Course Package Options

Complete Self-Study Package

This package is exactly as it’s described: complete. If you want everything SIA has to offer, regardless of the exam you’re prepping for, this is your pick. This package builds on the two below it, adding exclusive features like the TotalGenius! AI study tool, a personal study plan, a digital reference guide, and the ability to have videos and physical textbooks in the same package.

🧩 The Best Fit For: Most students, and in particular, students who learn best with a variety of learning tools and formats.

Textbook and Exam Prep Software Package

Again, SIA knows how to name a package! Naturally, candidates who purchase this package will unlock access to SIA’s hard copy textbook, but miss out on key study tools like video lessons, including the test tips video. Honestly, unless you simply will not watch video lessons for any reason, this is a bit of a tougher sell because the price difference is typically <$100 than the complete bundle.

🧩 The Best Fit For: Students who do not watch video training classes for prep courses.

Complete Video Package

Where the textbook package is for readers, this one is for watchers. The Complete Video Package always includes every form of video lecture, but there is no digital or physical textbook. Again, this package isn’t significantly more affordable than either of the other two, so I truly think the Complete Package is the best value for nearly any student.

🧩 The Best Fit For: Students who won’t take advantage of written materials.

Course Details: The Student Experience

Facts and figures can only tell you so much. In this section, I want to take you inside the course to give you an idea of what your experience would be like as a student, to make it easier to figure out if SIA is the right fit for you.

Interface, Practice Materials, and Study Tools

The Securities Institute of America’s interface isn’t anything striking, but it is clean, quick to load, and easy to get from Point A to Point B. In particular, I appreciated the progress tracking bars at the bottom of each course section, which made it easy to tell at a glance what I’d already done and what I had left to do. The organization was definitely a strong point.

Further, the practice exams were excellent. I found it really valuable that I could customize everything to the exact specifications I wanted, with filters ranging from topics to question count to questions I’d gotten wrong in the past. The personal study calendar was a huge help in quickly creating a schedule that worked for my schedule, and the written tools were streamlined and easy to understand. Everything was exactly what I expected from a prep provider with a 90% pass rate.

AI Tools and Video Lectures

One of SIA’s biggest selling points is the TotalGenius! Chatbot tool, and I was excited to take it for a spin. Generally, the responses are pretty succinct and straight to the point, which could be a pro or a con depending on the kind of learner you are. However, I liked having the opportunity to get clarity on definitions and examples for the topics I was reading about, as I was reading about them, without having to wait for office hours or an email response.

As for the video training classes, they do look a little outdated, but the content itself is fresh and relevant (and of course, matched with the syllabi for the securities exams). The instructors used visual aids and real-world examples to help drive home even the most complex concepts, and the lessons were short enough to stay engaged and take notes without losing interest. I also liked that most packages included around 10 hours of video, which was more than enough to learn the basics of the content without wasting all your time on the irrelevant minutiae.

One Redditor describes their experience with the video lessons,

Support and Customer Service

SIA doesn’t offer a ton of support outside of the basic customer service, available through phone, email, and chat. In fact, I’d argue that the minimal support is one of the biggest negatives about SIA’s courses. However, that support is excellent: fast, thorough, and easy to use. I tried both the phone and email options and made up some scenarios to test the responsiveness and depth of the help I got. Naturally, they picked up immediately when I called, but the emails were quick as well, with responses always within a 24-hour timeframe.

I appreciated how much the support team worked to help me; it really felt like they went above and beyond, patiently sitting through my fake questions for as long as necessary to make sure I got the help I needed. And, though it isn’t typically considered as support, even tools like the personalized study planner did feel like custom help.

Access, Pass Guarantees, and Value

SIA’s access is always around 6 months (180 days, to be exact), which is the same length as competitors like STC and ExamFX, and roughly one month longer than Kaplan. As for guarantees, the Securities Institute of America’s GreenLight Guarantee™ ensures that if you pass the GreenLight Exam within five days of the actual exam and you don’t pass the real thing, you’ll get 100% of your package’s purchase price back in your pocket. They do subtract $25 if they shipped you hard copy materials, but otherwise, it’s a complete refund.

Plus, having the possibility for a complete refund with a course that’s already affordable is a big bonus. Not every course offers that level of pass guarantee, either, boosting SIA’s value as a securities exam review course company. And, where courses like Achievable are slightly more affordable on average, their courses aren’t nearly as comprehensive. All in all, I do think SIA packs a lot of value in their packages, particularly in the Complete Self-Study bundles.

One Redditor sums up their experience:

SIA vs. Competing Securities Prep Courses

The Securities Institute of America does pretty well in a vacuum, but what do they look like when you add other providers into the mix? That’s the point of this section. Here’s how SIA stacks up against some of their top competitors to help you decide whether they’re the better pick or if you should choose a different provider.

SIA vs. Securities Training Corporation (STC)

Securities Training Corporation has been around for decades and is known for its polished course materials and extensive library of live classes, something SIA doesn’t offer. In my experience, STC’s live instructor sessions and periodic live Q&A calls are excellent for students who thrive on real-time feedback and a classroom-like structure. The platform feels modern, and their bundled packages often include extras like flashcards and printed study aids, which can help visual learners.

That said, SIA takes a different approach—streamlined, self-paced, and focused on cost efficiency. While you won’t get the live teaching experience here, you will get highly customizable practice exams, a surprisingly deep question bank, and the TotalGenius AI tool for instant clarifications, all at a fraction of STC’s price. For disciplined learners who don’t need hand-holding, that’s a huge value proposition.

• Choose SIA if… you want an affordable, self-paced course with robust practice customization and AI-powered support.
• Pick STC if… you prefer a more structured program with live classes and interactive instructor sessions.

SIA vs. Achievable

Achievable is easily the most affordable FINRA exam prep option I’ve reviewed, with a stripped-down package built around an adaptive online textbook, concise video clips, and a question bank. Its clean, mobile-friendly interface is a standout, making it easy to sneak in study time anywhere. However, in my testing, the content was noticeably lighter than other providers—fine for a refresher, but not as comprehensive for students who need deep exam preparation.

SIA is a step up in both depth and variety of materials. You get physical and digital textbooks, video lessons, and an extensive practice exam engine with 15 customization options—plus a pass guarantee that adds confidence to your purchase. While Achievable may be best for budget-conscious learners or those already familiar with the material, SIA is better suited for those who want a full toolkit without paying premium prices.

• Choose SIA if… you want an affordable course that still offers a wide variety of study tools and more challenging practice questions.
• Pick Achievable if… you want the absolute cheapest option and don’t mind a lighter, more streamlined set of materials.

SIA vs. Kaplan

Kaplan is known for its comprehensive, “all-in” style prep. In my experience, their courses go deeper into securities concepts than almost anyone else, often including extra drills, bonus readings, and detailed video walkthroughs. Like STC, Kaplan also offers live classes for certain exams, and their polished platform makes navigation smooth. The trade-off is price—Kaplan is among the most expensive options on the market.

SIA keeps things simple and efficient. While you won’t get the same volume of bonus material or live instruction, you will get highly targeted practice tools, an AI chatbot for on-demand help, and an interface that focuses on getting you exam-ready without unnecessary fluff—all at a much lower cost. For most self-paced learners, that balance of content and affordability will be more than enough.

• Choose SIA if… you want solid, exam-focused prep without paying for premium extras you may not use.
• Pick Kaplan if… you want the most comprehensive course possible and are willing to invest more for live classes and deep content coverage.

SIA vs. ExamFX

ExamFX stands out for its extra features, like readiness exams, interactive study calendars, and occasional live virtual classes. The platform also has a more visually engaging interface than SIA, which can help keep some learners motivated. During my review, I found their supplemental tools useful, but the live classes were more limited in hours compared to STC or Kaplan.

SIA offers more consistent value across the board, with its pass guarantee, robust question customization, and the addition of the TotalGenius AI assistant for instant clarification. If live instruction isn’t a dealbreaker for you, SIA’s streamlined design and lower cost may be a better fit, especially for self-motivated learners.

• Choose SIA if… you want a cost-effective, self-paced course with AI support and highly customizable practice tools.
• Pick ExamFX if… you want a prep course with a few live class options and a more visually dynamic learning experience.

If you think SIA is for you, then save with our exclusive Securities Institute of America promo code.

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