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The SIPC was created under the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 to protect customers in the event a broker-dealer fails financially. Its function is not to protect against market losses (investors still assume risk of value fluctuation) but to ensure that customer securities and cash are safeguarded up to certain limits. This protection applies when a broker-dealer becomes insolvent, merges, or undergoes liquidation, ensuring that customer accounts are returned to their rightful owners. The SIPC coverage generally includes up to $500,000 per account, with a $250,000 cash limit. Importantly, SIPC does not cover losses due to poor investment advice or market declines. Understanding SIPC’s scope is essential for operations professionals since they manage customer accounts, settlement, and safeguarding of assets. Exam candidates must differentiate between SIPC’s investor protection role and other regulatory functions performed by the SEC or FINRA. Broker-dealers must inform customers about SIPC membership, making this topic a recurring element in Series 99 exam objectives.