New Award Honors Retired FINRA CEO

Accepting Nominations for Ketchum Prize in Recognition of Outstanding Service and Research to Advance Investor Protection and Financial Capability in the U.S.

WASHINGTON — The FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) announced a new prize program today to recognize outstanding service and research to advance investor protection and financial capability in the United States.

The prize is named for Richard “Rick” Ketchum, who recently retired as chairman and chief executive officer of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and chairman of the FINRA Foundation. Ketchum is well-known and admired for his distinguished leadership in the field of securities regulation over a career spanning three decades.

Following his retirement earlier this year, the FINRA Board of Governors and the FINRA Foundation Board of Directors took steps to perpetuate Ketchum’s vision and achievements by endowing an annual prize to honor researchers and educators who have made major and uncommon advances toward improving investor protection and financial capability in the United States.

“We wanted to pay tribute to an individual who leaves behind a rich legacy—deepening our understanding of financial capability and ensuring investor protections through enforcement, education and outreach,” said John J. “Jack” Brennan, Chairman of FINRA’s Board of Governors.

“This award will highlight the accomplishments of leading researchers and educators who further the cause of financial well-being in the United States,” said Robert Cook, FINRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the FINRA Foundation. “We know increasing financial capability can help individuals and families achieve their life goals.”

The prize consists of national recognition and $10,000.  The award will be given each year by the FINRA Foundation’s Board of Directors following a review of nominees.

Nominations for the 2017 prize must be received by March 1, 2017.
 
Eligible nominees must have exemplary research or service achievements related to the prize theme. In awarding the Ketchum Prize, the Foundation will assign priority to nominees that:

• Made demonstrable improvements to investor protection and/or financial capability in the United States through research, education or public communications;
• Addressed the needs or circumstances of underserved audiences;
• Modeled effective collaboration or partnership-building; and
• Emphasized data analysis and data application in efforts to advance investor protection and financial capability.

Details about the Ketchum Prize and the nomination form are posted at www.finrafoundation.org/KetchumPrize.

The FINRA Foundation supports innovative research and educational projects that give underserved Americans the knowledge, skills and tools necessary for financial success throughout life. The Foundation is the sponsor and administrator of the National Financial Capability Study. For more information about FINRA Foundation initiatives, visit finrafoundation.org and SaveAndInvest.org.

FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, regulates all securities firms doing business in the United States. FINRA is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity through effective and efficient regulation and complementary compliance and technology-based services. FINRA touches virtually every aspect of the securities business – from registering and educating all industry participants to examining securities firms, writing rules, enforcing those rules and the federal securities laws, and informing and educating the investing public. In addition, FINRA provides surveillance and other regulatory services for equities and options markets, as well as trade reporting and other industry utilities. FINRA also administers the largest dispute resolution forum for investors and firms. For more information, please visit www.finra.org.