FINRA Seeks Comment on Its Engagement Programs

Part of New Initiative to Evaluate Various Aspects of Operations and Programs

WASHINGTON — The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) today issued a Special Notice seeking comment on how to enhance its programs for engagement with its members and other stakeholders, with particular focus on FINRA’s advisory and ad hoc committees, rulemaking process, member relations programs, and the information it provides regarding its programs and operations.

“Being an effective self-regulatory organization that protects investors while promoting vibrant capital markets requires that FINRA engage member firms and the public in meaningful dialogue,” said FINRA President and CEO Robert W. Cook. “FINRA invests significant resources in its current engagement programs, and we are exploring how these programs can be made more effective without compromising our regulatory responsibilities. Requesting comment is an important part of that evaluation.”

The Notice summarizes FINRA’s extensive engagement programs and requests comment on potential enhancements to those programs by May 5, 2017.

The Notice is part of an initiative – called FINRA360 – in which FINRA is conducting a comprehensive review of its operations and programs. The initiative, which Cook referred to in a speech on Jan. 10, grows out of the ongoing listening tour that Cook has conducted since he assumed his role in August 2016. More information regarding FINRA360 will be shared in the coming months.

FINRA is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity. It regulates one critical part of the securities industry – brokerage firms doing business with the public in the United States. Supervised by the SEC, FINRA writes rules, examines for and enforces compliance with FINRA rules and federal securities laws, registers broker-dealer personnel and offers them education and training, and informs 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 a dispute resolution forum for investors and brokerage firms and their registered employees. To see if your investment professional is regulated by FINRA, please go to BrokerCheck. And for more information, visit www.finra.org.