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Testing the Effectiveness of Financial Education Across 76 Randomized Experiments

As a not-for-profit membership organization, FINRA is committed to openness and engagement with our member firms regarding our financial plans. In that spirit, we are writing to update you on FINRA’s current financial situation and our path forward for funding FINRA’s mission of protecting investors and promoting market integrity while facilitating vibrant capital markets. As we have stated in several prior financial reports and communications, this path forward must eventually include an increase in member fees. 

Laura is a single mother who earns less than $40,000 per year. In 2016, Laura, who had little investing experience, decided to invest in the stock market. She met with a broker and, at his suggestion, opened a brokerage account and deposited approximately $13,500—which constituted almost all of her savings.

In light of the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, FINRA recently launched an online testing service for candidates seeking to take qualification exams remotely.

In the last two years, FINRA has barred more than 730 brokers and associated persons. What was the most prevalent rule violation that resulted in these bars?

If you are of a certain generation, you probably remember watching the Schoolhouse Rock! videos and can still remember the words to “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Adverbs Here.” My favorite was “I’m Just a Bill,” because in just over three minutes, it explained the entire legislative process in easy to understand terms.

During your first week at a new job, you typically focus on the basics – locating your office, setting up your computer and getting acquainted with new colleagues and acronyms.

When it became clear that FINRA was going to move to a fully remote work environment in early March, most of the focus was on how to continue conducting business in a fully digital environment. But several functions FINRA performs still require sending materials in the mail to firms and individuals.

FINRA has been on a hiring spree, working to fill scores of open positions. But given that almost all employees are working remotely as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, how are these new hires getting the equipment to start work from home? The solution: “FINRA in a Box.”

There is no higher priority for FINRA than protecting senior investors from financial exploitation. Thus, every year we bring dozens of enforcement actions against brokers who harm senior investors, either through fraud schemes, conversion, churning of accounts, or otherwise.