Membership Application Program (MAP) Tools
FINRA’s Membership Application Program Group (MAP) serves as the entry point to the securities industry by ensuring that prospective and current FINRA members meet FINRA’s Standards for Admission (Standards). Prospective FINRA members must seek approval for membership through the submission of a New Member Application (NMA). Existing FINRA members must file a continuing membership application when they are contemplating a material change in business operations or when other changes specified by applicable FINRA rules require a Continuing Member Application (CMA). MAP reviews both types of applications – NMAs and CMAs. The FINRA Rule 1000 Series (Member Application and Associated Persons Registration) governs MAP’s review of NMAs and CMAs.
NMAs and CMAs are organized into sections that align with the Standards set forth under FINRA Rule 1014. A common impediment to MAP’s efficient review of NMAs and CMAs relates to missing or incomplete information or documents necessary to review the application. Missing or incomplete information and documents impedes MAP’s ability to assess whether the applicant has met the Standards. To that end, MAP has developed guidance to provide applicants with basic information to assist in the preparation of the NMA or CMA. Please note that the information and documents listed in these guidance documents is not exhaustive. FINRA may request additional information and documents, as necessary, to render a decision on the NMA and CMA. In addition, while the information and documents listed in these guidance documents may not be identified in the NMA and CMA as mandatory or required, it may support a more efficient application review process. For purposes of these guidance documents, a prospective applicant should carefully review, in particular, FINRA Rules 1012 (General Provisions), 1013 (New Member Application and Interview), and 1014 (Department Decision). A current member contemplating a material change in business operations, or another change specified in FINRA’s rules, should review FINRA Rules 1012, 1014, and 1017 (Application for Approval of Change in Ownership, Control, or Business Operations).
Early Firm Meetings
MAP has developed an early firm meeting process for applicants to facilitate a more efficient application process for NMAs and CMAs. In addition to the guidance documents below, applicants are encouraged to contact MAP for a pre-filing discussion of the proposed NMA or CMA and the attendant business plan. Applicants should engage the early firm meeting process prior to filing an application. To do so, applicants should contact MAP at 212-858-4000 (Option 5 – Membership Applications) or by email.
NMA and CMA Fees
- NMA and CMA Fee Information (Including NMA Fee Calculator)
- Regulatory Notice 12-32, Changes to Advertising, Corporate Financing, New Membership and Continuing Membership Application, Central Registration Depository and Branch Office Annual Registration Fees, (June 2012)
Frequently Asked Questions and Videos
New Member Application Materials
Checklists
- Guidance on MAP Considerations for Member Firms Engaging in Succession Planning or Exiting the Broker-Dealer Securities Business
- Guidance for Governing Documents and Attestations to Evidence Ownership
- Guidance for Ownership Changes and Asset Transfers
- Guidance for Applications for an Expansion of Representatives
- Guidance for Alternative Trading Systems
- Guidance for Operational Readiness for Online Platforms and Mobile Applications
- Guidance for Digital Asset Applications
- Guidance for FinTech Applications
- Guidance for Funding Portals
- Guidance for Applications for Mergers and Acquisitions
- Guidance for Private Placements
File Naming Conventions
This list of conventions guides Applicants in naming documents submitted to MAP as part of the NMA or CMA.
Mapping of Disclosure Categories for FINRA Rule 1017(a)(7)
This table helps firms determine whether they must file a CMA or engage in a materiality consultation (MatCon) pursuant to FINRA Rule 1017(a)(7).