Guidance
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Disciplinary Actions
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Upcoming Deadlines and Effective Dates
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Education and Compliance Programs
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Celebrating 85 Years of FINRA History
To commemorate our 85th anniversary, we are exploring each decade in FINRA’s history with a series of short articles that we will bring you each month throughout our milestone year. We begin the series in the decade when we began: the 1930s, when FINRA’s predecessor, the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), was registered as a national securities association on Aug. 7, 1939. The article, An Enduring Mission Built on Necessity, tells the story.
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Ad Campaign to Support New Investors
FINRA launched a digital advertising campaign to promote informed decision making among new, self-directed investors by encouraging them to take steps to ensure they understand if and why an investment is right for them. Firms, investor advocates and others can support the effort by sharing the ads and messaging with novice investors. The campaign is the latest in a series of FINRA initiatives recognizing the growing number of new, self-directed investors in the market, many of whom use social media as a primary source of information.
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New Podcast Episode on Examination Program Enhancements
Listen to the latest episode of our FINRA Unscripted podcast for an update on FINRA’s examination program, including recent changes to improve efficiencies, the introduction of thematic reviews, modifications to the post-exam closeout process and more.
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Small Firm Conference Agenda Now Available
Join FINRA staff in Chicago or participate virtually on Oct. 9-10 for the opportunity to discuss small firm topics, share insights and effective practices and hear detailed industry and regulatory updates. View the conference agenda and register here.
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ICYMI: Streamlined Weekly Update Email Coming Sept. 11
To help members focus on the information that is most important to them, FINRA soon will deliver a streamlined version of the Weekly Update. Please note the email will deliver from “FINRA Weekly Update” instead of the current “FINRA Corporate Notification,” and the subject line will be “Read the latest from FINRA.”
| | Notices and Guidance
New - SFAC and Regional Committee Elections: FINRA has made separate calls for candidates to run for open seats on the Small Firm Advisory Committee (SFAC) and FINRA’s Regional Committees. Read the SFAC and Regional Committee Election Notices for details, including eligibility requirements and deadlines.
Reminders - Crypto Asset Activities Update: As part of FINRA’s efforts to address the regulatory challenges presented by crypto asset activities, we published an update outlining trends in these activities among member firms. This update—based on a review of information provided by member firms in response to Regulatory Notices, the 2023 crypto asset questionnaire and ongoing regulatory operations—highlights how firms are engaging with the crypto asset industry and includes additional resources for firms.
| | Disciplinary Actions FINRA publishes disciplinary actions to remind registered representatives and firms of specific conduct that violates FINRA rules and may result in disciplinary action. The August 2024 Monthly Disciplinary Actions are available here.
| | Upcoming Deadlines and Effective Dates New - No new deadlines or effective dates
Reminders - SEC Request for Comment: The SEC issued an order on Aug. 5 instituting proceedings to determine whether to approve or disapprove FINRA’s proposed rule change to adopt the new FINRA Rule 6500 Series (Securities Lending and Transparency Engine (SLATE)) to (1) require reporting of securities loans; and (2) provide for the public dissemination of loan information. Rebuttal comments are due by Sept. 13. See the SEC Notice of Order.
- FINRA Board of Governors Election: The Annual Meeting of FINRA Firms when firms will elect one small, one mid-size and one large firm governor to the FINRA Board takes place on Sept. 11. Read the Election Notice for profiles of all the candidates and voting instructions.
- CRCP Small Firm Scholarship: FINRA is offering five scholarships to industry professionals from small firms to attend the FINRA Institute at Georgetown Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP) program. The scholarship covers full tuition for the entire two-week CRCP program, including room and board. FINRA is accepting applications through Sept. 13.
- SEC Request for Comment: The SEC issued an order on Aug. 21 instituting proceedings to determine whether to approve or disapprove FINRA’s proposed rule change to amend FINRA Rule 12800 of the FINRA Code of Arbitration Procedure for Customer Disputes. The proposed rule change, as subsequently modified by Partial Amendment No. 1, would address the applicability of the Document Production Lists to simplified customer arbitrations administered under FINRA Rule 12800. Comments are due by Sept. 17 and rebuttal comments are due by Oct 1.
- National Adjudicatory Council (NAC) Election: The deadline to submit petitions to become a candidate for the outstanding small firm seat on the NAC is Oct. 3. Information, including eligibility requirements and the candidate profile form, is detailed in the Election Notice.
- WebEFT Retirement: In response to feedback from firms, FINRA has extended WebEFT access until April 30, 2025, for firms that have started their transition from WebEFT to APIs by Nov. 15, 2024. The extension gives those firms additional opportunity to complete the required development to fully onboard to the API platform. WebEFT subscribers not migrating to APIs will no longer have access to WebEFT after Nov. 15, 2024, as previously announced.
- OFR Final Rule: The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Financial Research (OFR) has adopted a final rule establishing ongoing data collection for certain non-centrally cleared bilateral transactions in the U.S. repurchase agreement market. This collection requires daily reporting to that office by certain brokers, dealers and other financial companies with large exposures to non-centrally cleared bilateral repo. The OFR encourages Category 1 Covered Reporters, focused on brokers and dealers, to begin testing as early as possible and no later than 90 days before the Dec. 2 compliance date.
| | Education and Compliance Programs Register for upcoming events: |
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