News Releases & Statements

FINRA announced today that it has sanctioned four firms—M1 Finance LLC, Open to the Public Investing, Inc., SoFi Securities LLC, and SogoTrade, Inc.—a combined $2.6 million, including over $1 million in restitution to retail customers enrolled in fully paid securities lending programs and fines of $1.6 million for the firms’ related supervisory and advertising violations.

FINRA announced today that it has fined BofA Securities, Inc. $24 million for engaging in more than 700 instances of spoofing through two former traders in U.S. Treasury secondary markets and related supervisory failures spanning more than six years.

Jon Kroeper, Executive Vice President, Quality of Markets, is leaving FINRA, effective at year end, to pursue other opportunities.

WASHINGTON— FINRA announced today that after nine years in the Department of Enforcement, Christopher Kelly plans to leave FINRA on Nov. 1 to pursue other opportunities. In his most recent role of Senior Vice President and Deputy Head of Enforcement, Kelly oversaw the work of FINRA’s Enforcement attorneys throughout the country as well as Enforcement’s Litigation Group.

Report Brings Attention to Opportunities and Risks Presented by the Technology WASHINGTON— FINRA released today a new report, Quantum Computing and the Implications for the Securities Industry. While practical quantum computing remains nascent, the research examines how the emerging technology that relies on quantum mechanics to perform complex calculations could significantly alter the securities industry in the future.

FINRA announced today that it has promoted Omer Meisel to Executive Vice President of the National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Program (NCFC), effective October 2.

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) today awarded Doug Shadel, Ph.D., the 2023 Ketchum Prize—its highest honor—in recognition of his outstanding service and research on protecting consumers, particularly vulnerable Americans.

FINRA’s Maintaining Qualifications Program (MQP) is currently open for eligible individuals during a second enrollment period, until December 31, 2023. The second enrollment period is available to those who terminated their registration between March 15, 2020, and March 14, 2022.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) today announced that registration is open for a virtual Compliance Outreach Program for municipal market professionals. The free webcast is open to the public and will take place on Thursday, December 7, 2023, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.

FINRA’s Board of Governors met on September 13-14 in Philadelphia. In addition to continuing discussions around FINRA’s Regulatory Operations, the Board reaffirmed FINRA’s Financial Guiding Principles.