If you try to cheat the system by joining questionable firms you will end up losing your 100% of your capital. Just keep it simple and join a firm that requires a series 7. Stick to known firms (ie BT,echo etc..) If you are incapable of studying for an Series 7 or not willing to make the effort, you have no business in this industry. Save your capital, invest in a passive S&P500 fund, reinvest dividends keep dayjob. And if you cannot bother to do due diligence on your part when selecting a firm, you have no business trying to earn a living trading. Put your money in SPY, reinvest the dividends + keep your day job. When you try to cheat, you are just cheating yourself.