FINRA Series 87 Guide

Series 87 study support for the regulatory half of the Research Analyst path, with chapters on research report preparation and dissemination controls.

Use this guide root when you are preparing for Series 87, the regulatory half of the Research Analyst qualification path. FINRA frames Series 87 as the side of the exam that tests whether research can be prepared, reviewed, disclosed, and distributed under the right controls. That means the exam is not mainly about valuation. It is about research integrity, conflict management, approval discipline, and safe dissemination.

Like Series 86, Series 87 is part of a combined path rather than a stand-alone registration target. Candidates generally need both parts of the Research Analyst qualification path, together with the SIE co-requisite. Use the chapter lessons below to learn the official exam functions in order: first how reports are prepared under disclosure and approval rules, then how research is presented and disseminated without crossing into rumor, manipulation, or recordkeeping failures.

The guide also includes quick-reference pages such as the Cheat Sheet and FAQ for faster recall. The chapter lessons are where you should build working judgment about disclosures, certifications, public appearances, distribution channels, and research-related supervision.

In this section

Revised on Thursday, April 23, 2026