CIRO RSE Exam Syllabus
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Before starting your RSE exam preparation, it is recommended to review the complete CIRO Retail Securities Exam syllabus and carefully go through the exam objectives listed below. Once you understand the exam structure and objectives, you should practice using our free RSE questions. We also provide premium RSE practice test, fully updated according to the latest exam objectives, to help you accurately assess your preparedness for the actual exam.
CIRO
Vendor
RSE
Exam Code
120
Total Questions
9
Total Exam Domains
CIRO RSE Exam Objectives
| Section 1: Know-Your-Client (KYC) & suitability | |
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1.1 Understand key aspects of the firm client relationship. Consider:
• The client relationship model • Concepts of trust, agency and conflicts of interest • Procedures and requirements for working with clients residing in the United States, including snowbirds and other foreign jurisdictions as applicable • Considerations for changes in residence 1.2 Understand the importance and content required of KYC information.
Investment knowledge Risk profile Investment objectives and needs Investment constraints and restrictions
1.3 Understand the importance of having thorough processes for assessing a client’s risk profile. Consider: The client’s willingness to accept risk or risk tolerance, including:
including:
1.4 Understand different types of business structures and the impact on investment opportunities: Sole proprietorship Partnership Corporation
1.5 Remember the need to accurately document discussions with clients and have the client confirm the accuracy of the information. 1.6 Apply the requirements around a trusted contact person to specific scenarios.
obligation to keep KYC information current. 1.8 Understand the types of client account records and information collected.
1.10 Apply the key features, advantages and disadvantages of various types of accounts to meet client requirements. Consider: Advisory (non-managed) account
Discretionary account Cash account vs. margin account 1.11 Understand account-related documentation in relation to the account opening process and the amount and type of information collected. Consider: • Investment Dealer’s business model • Relationship with clients • Investment products and services offered by the Investment Dealer • Conditions for when to collect one set of KYC information for multiple accounts 1.12 Understand the objective and content of the Relationship Disclosure document. Consider:
Consider: Information barriers and firewalls Grey and restricted lists The role of:
Privacy 1.14 Understand the purpose of the required documents in the Investment Dealer’s Welcome Package. Consider: Fee schedule CIRO brochures that must or can be disclosed to the client:
Derivative Risk Disclosure Investment Dealer conflict of interest disclosures Investment Dealer complaint handling procedures 1.15 Apply to specific situations the product due diligence obligation on:
purchased, sold or recommended for a client. Consider the investment’s: Structure Features
situations.
1.19 Apply types of investment action for a client’s account to specific situations, including:
1.21 Analyze Investment Dealer and regulatory requirements for monitoring and maintaining accounts, including undergoing a suitability determination when there are triggering events. 1.22 Analyze the potential impact on the suitability determination for a client’s portfolio when relevant changes and updates occur. Consider:
Consider:
Consider:
1.25 Apply to specific situations the requirements relating to personal financial dealings with clients. Consider: Prohibition and action relating to:
Investment clubs 1.26 Understand the application of the Investment Dealer’s policies and procedures relating to the management of conflicts of interest. Consider:
1.27 Apply the CIRO standards of conduct to specific situations involving a Registered Representative and their client or a Registered Representative and their firm. |
| Section 2: Fixed income | |
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Summary: Element 2 requires the candidate to understand the features of fixed-income securities issued by governments, corporations and other bodies. Candidates will need to
apply this knowledge to specific situations to show how these features provide different risks and potential rewards to the holders and issuers of these securities. This element also requires an ability to calculate the price and yields of fixed-income securities, as well as analyze the factors that can change these. 2.1 Understand regulatory requirements for debt markets. Consider: General requirements
Consider:
conditions that affect the risk return profile. Consider:
2.9 Apply time value of money to investment calculations. Consider:
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| Section 3: Equities | |
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Summary: Element 3 requires the candidate to understand the features of equity securities issued by corporations.
Candidates will need to apply this knowledge to specific situations to show how these features provide different risks and potential rewards to the holders and issuers of these securities. 3.1 Understand the requirement for and purpose of a prospectus under National Instrument 41–101 General Prospectus Requirements and when this requirement may not apply under National Instrument 45–106 Prospectus Exemptions. Consider:
shares. Consider:
(CDRs). Consider:
shares and depositary receipts. Consider:
Consider:
Consider:
shares. Consider:
The calculation of the present value of an equity security using appropriate models. Including:
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| Section 4: Securities analysis | |
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Summary: Element 4 goes into detail on the information that is available about companies and the economy and how
this information can be used to assess the value of an investment. Candidates may be required to calculate various accounting ratios and interpret the results. 4.1 Analyze the factors involved in performing company analysis to determine whether a company represents a good investment. Consider: • All relevant documents and sources of information • Clear explanations of company analysis to retail clients when requested • Collaboration and consultation with both internal and external subject matter experts as required, in relation to company analysis matters 4.2 Understand the purpose and content of a company’s statement of financial position. Consider: • Format and items included on a statement of financial position and how they are classified • Purpose of the statement of changes in equity and its relation to both the balance sheet and earnings statement 4.3 Understand the purpose and content of the statement of comprehensive income, including sources of income. 4.4 Understand the purpose and content of the statement of cash flows, including: • Cash flow from operating activities • Cash flow from investing activities • Cash flow from financing activities 4.5 Understand other factors regarding company financial statements. Consider: • Note for the financial statements • Auditor’s report 4.6 Analyze the information provided from basic financial statements to give meaningful responses on the company in question. This may involve calculations. Consider: Liquidity ratios
calculations. Consider: Value ratios
4.8 Understand the types and uses of information for equities and fixed income provided by exchanges and regulators. Consider:
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| Section 5: Managed products and other investments | |
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Summary: Candidates will be required to show an understanding of managed products and analyze how they compare to direct investments. General fund management approaches will be tested alongside the information that needs to be provided to investors. Questions will expect candidates to differentiate between the various types of managed products, from mutual funds to private equity funds and analyze the relative advantages and disadvantages of these products. Questions may also require candidates to calculate the value of a portfolio or the units/shares being issued.
5.1 Understand the types of managed products. Consider:
Range of exposures available
5.3 Understand the main features of mutual funds. Consider: Access to mutual funds in Canada Structure
Fee structures Daily pricing 5.4 Analyze the main considerations affecting an investor or potential investor, in mutual funds. Consider: Advantages and disadvantages to the investor Advantages and disadvantages to the provider Source of risks and potential returns, including
5.8 Understand the typical criteria for the evaluation of a fund’s performance. Consider Measuring return
Pricing of mutual fund units or shares, including a fund’s net asset value per share (NAVPS) Measurement and comparisons of fund performance
Appropriate Measurable Unambiguous Reflective Accountable Investable 5.10 Understand the impact of costs on the performance of managed products. Consider: Loads and charges Turnover Taxes
Tax consequences
Suspension of redemptions Gating 5.12 Apply the factors to consider when deciding between managed products or non-managed products. Consider:
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| Section 6: Portfolio construction | |
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Summary: Element 6 requires the candidate to consider the impact of this information on the decisions to make when constructing a portfolio. Candidates may be required to apply
and analyze the capital asset pricing model to evaluate the expected return of a security. 6.1 Understand the process of asset allocation decisions. Consider: Principles of portfolio construction Categories, process and importance of asset allocation Types and key aspects of asset allocation (tactical, strategic, rebalancing, etc.) Asset mix categories and strategies for setting the asset mix The benefits of different stock selection techniques Benefits of a rebalancing strategy Costs of implementation and rebalancing
Capital asset pricing model Arbitrage pricing theory Multi-factor models
6.9 Understand the implications of the efficient markets hypothesis (EMH) on portfolio management. 6.10 Analyze active portfolio management techniques for equity managers. Consider:
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| Section 7: Investment recommendations | |
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Summary: Element 7 requires candidates to use the knowledge and understanding of the syllabus so far and apply this
to a variety of specific situations. Candidates should expect to be presented with various clients with different objectives and needs and be able to respond to their needs in the correct manner. Candidates may also be required to make tax calculations. 7.1 Analyze the relationship between a client’s investment objectives and needs, risk profile and performance. 7.2 Analyze the impact of a client placing non-financial constraints and restrictions on their own investment choices. Consider: • Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations • Environmental, social and governance criteria • Other personal preferences 7.3 Understand principles of behavioural finance and the potential impact on a client’s decisions and returns. Consider the following behavioural biases: Cognitive errors
The impact of significant changes to a client’s KYC information The potentially unexpected impact of the investment action on the client account. Consider:
Consideration of a reasonable range of alternative actions 7.7 Analyze the key requirements of the investment action recommendation process. Consider:
client. Consider:
Basic knowledge of tax planning strategies and their advantages
Income splitting Tax loss harvesting
Integration Notional accounts (CDA, RDTOH, GRIP) 7.10 Apply the basics of the Canadian capital gains tax system to a client’s investment gains. Consider:
Calculation of income tax payable Tax treatment of interest Tax treatment of dividends
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| Section 8: Execution and market integrity | |
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Summary: In Element 8, candidates are expected to analyze the requirements under the Universal Market Integrity Rules
(UMIR) regarding the recognition of abusive trading and the gatekeeping responsibilities of Investment Dealers and their representatives. An application of the types of orders that can be placed and the process of execution, will also be tested in the exam. 8.1 Apply to specific situations an understanding of the UMIR covering: Best execution Abusive Trading
8.2 Apply to specific situations the regulatory requirements in relation to the UMIR gatekeeping responsibilities. Consider:
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| Section 9: Monitoring, reporting and maintaining client relationships | |
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Summary: Monitoring the client’s portfolio is an important part of the relationship between clients and the Investment
Dealer. This element requires candidates to apply requirements around the monitoring and reporting of portfolio performance to specific scenarios. Candidates should also apply and analyze the requirements on Investment Dealers when recording and communicating information 9.1 Apply to specific situations the process of monitoring and evaluating portfolio performance. Consider:
Rate of return Absolute risk/standard deviation Risk-adjusted returns
Multi-factor regression 9.4 Apply to specific situations the CIRO requirements when Investment Dealers communicate with clients and/or the public. Consider:
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