Uniform Securities Agent State Law (Series 63) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT considered a security?

1. Insurance policies

2. Common stocks

3. Municipal bonds

4. Corporate debentures

The correct answer is: Insurance policies

The correct answer is insurance policies because they are typically not classified as securities under the Uniform Securities Act. Securities generally represent an investment in a common enterprise with the expectation of profits derived from the efforts of others. In contrast, insurance policies are contracts providing coverage against specific risks and are regulated primarily as insurance products rather than as securities. Other financial instruments listed—common stocks, municipal bonds, and corporate debentures—do fulfill the characteristics of securities, as they represent an investment in a company or government entity with the potential for profit based on the performance of those entities. Common stocks give investors partial ownership in a corporation, municipal bonds represent debt issued by local government entities, and corporate debentures are long-term instruments representing a loan made by an investor to a borrower (typically a corporation), which also falls under security regulations. Thus, they all meet the criteria set by the law to be considered securities.