Introduction

Welcome to Communications with the Public: the rules that govern every written, electronic, and spoken message a Series 6 representative uses to reach customers about mutual funds, variable contracts, and municipal fund securities.

Exam Weight: Part of 24% (12 questions across Chapter 1)

What You'll Learn

In this unit, you'll cover:

• Communication Categories: The three types of written communication under FINRA Rule 2210 (retail, institutional, correspondence), plus how public appearances differ
• Content Standards and Prohibitions: What communications must include, what they must avoid, and the critical tax-deferred vs. tax-free distinction
• Principal Approval, Filing, and Recordkeeping: Who approves what, what must be filed with FINRA, and how long records must be kept
• Seminars and Group Forums: How spoken presentations and written handouts are treated differently under Rule 2210
• Investment Company and Mutual Fund Communications: SEC Rules 156, 482, 498, 135a, 135b, and Investment Company Act (ICA) Rule 34b-1, the rules that let funds advertise without violating Section 5
• Variable Product Communications: FINRA Rule 2211 disclosures and the Rule 2330 principal review for deferred variable annuities
• Rankings, Volatility Ratings, and Municipal Fund Securities: FINRA Rules 2212 and 2213, plus MSRB Rule G-21 for 529 plans and other municipal fund securities

Why This Matters

The Series 6 exam tests your ability to classify a communication, identify who must approve it, and know what disclosures are required for each product type. These rules are the foundation of how a Series 6 representative sells mutual funds and variable contracts. Miss the classification on an exam question and you lose easy points; miss it in practice and you face regulatory action.