Board Approves Annual Financial Report, Enforcement Digital Transformation Initiative and Three Rulemaking Items
WASHINGTON – FINRA's Board of Governors met virtually on June 10 and 11. During the meeting, the Board approved three rulemaking items and approved the organization's Annual Financial Report, which FINRA issues each year to provide transparency regarding its finances. The 2019 report will be published in the coming weeks.
News Releases & Statements
Washington—FINRA announced today that it has ordered Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. to pay more than $7.2 million in restitution and interest to customers who incurred unnecessary sales charges and paid excess fees in connection with mutual fund transactions. The firm did not have supervisory systems and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that these customers, who collectively held more than 13,000 Merrill Lynch accounts, received available sales charge waivers and fee rebates.
Studies Advance Understanding of Financial Capability in the United States
WASHINGTON – The FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) recently announced the recipients of its higher-education awards created to recognize outstanding analyses by researchers-in-training who seek to advance understanding of consumer financial wellness and the complex relationships among financial literacy, financial capability and financial well-being.
WASHINGTON—FINRA announced today that it has ordered Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated to pay approximately $1.9 million in restitution, plus interest, to more than 1,700 customers in connection with early rollovers of Unit Investment Trusts (UITs). FINRA also fined the firm $1.75 million for providing inaccurate information to customers related to rollover costs incurred, and for related supervisory violations.
FINRA Releases Report Highlighting Helpline’s Efforts and Other FINRA Initiatives to Protect Seniors
WASHINGTON — FINRA today released a new report illustrating the FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors’ efforts to provide support, resources and education to senior investors over the last five years.
On April 7, 2020, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) released Risk Alerts for Reg BI and Form CRS. These Risk Alerts set forth OCIE’s expectations for firms’ compliance with Reg BI and Form CRS and provide broker-dealers with information about the scope and content of OCIE’s initial examinations following the compliance date of June 30, 2020. FINRA will take the same approach as se
Washington, DC – Female investors lag behind their male counterparts when it comes to investment knowledge and confidence, according to new research conducted by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) and the George Washington University School of Business' Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center (GFLEC).
WASHINGTON – FINRA announced today that it has named Greg Ruppert as Executive Vice President, National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Programs. Ruppert will join FINRA March 23 and will report directly to Bari Havlik, Executive Vice President, Member Supervision.
“Detecting fraud and addressing it quickly is core to our mission of investor protection and market integrity,” said Havlik, “Under Greg’s leadership, we will build upon the successful work our teams have already done on behalf of investors.”
Board Approves Allocations of 2019 Fines and Proposed Trade-Reporting Fees Related to Treasury Securities
WASHINGTON – FINRA’s Board of Governors met on March 11 for the first time in 2020. During the meeting, held remotely in light of the coronavirus outbreak, the Board discussed a variety of topics, including FINRA’s long-term planning and financial sustainability.