In Illinois, a securities salesperson must be registered with the Secretary of State before he or she may offer, purchase or sell securities. To become registered, securities salespeople must be:

  • at least 18 years of age,
  • pass the required exam,
  • and pay an application fee.

All registrations must be renewed annually. For more information contact:

Illinois Secretary of State
Securities Division
421 East Capitol Avenue, 2nd Floor, Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: 217.782.2256, Fax: 217.782.8876

Certification for financial planners is optional. Planners may obtain a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. The CFP shows that a planner has solid training and competency in financial planning. To obtain the designation, planners must:

  • have relevant experience;
  • complete educational requirements;
  • pass an extensive exam; and
  • adhere to a Code of Ethics.

For more information, contact the:

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards
1425 K Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005
Toll Free: 800.487.1497, Phone: 202.379.2200, Fax: 202.379.2299
E-mail: mail@cfpboard.org