Guidance
We offer guidance to firms in the form of podcasts, webinars, FAQs, reports, and more. Use the toggle below to find guidance by topic, type or date.
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Background
An important part of FINRA's work involves providing investors the information and tools they require to make informed decisions about their assets and avoid dealings with bad actors. Several respondents to the Special Notice on Engagement issued in March 2017 provided a range of recommendations related to FINRA's efforts in the area of investor education—including the types of investor education content we develop and our dissemination strategies.
- Q1. My firm has been granted an exemption from both the recording and reporting requirements of the OATS Rules and does not currently have an obligation to report to OATS. Does my firm’s OATS exemption extend to the Consolidated Audit Trail (“CAT”) recording and reporting requirements?
- A1. No. Neither SEC Rule 613 nor the CAT NMS Plan provide exemptive relief to any class of broker-dealers.
What is the FINRA CRCP CE System?
The FINRA CRCP® CE System is a web-based portal for Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP)® graduates to self-report their CRCP continuing education (CE) requirements (CRCP graduates who graduated after 2004 are required to complete 12 hours of CRCP CE every three years), maintain and update contact information, and view their CE progress.
The table below provides a reference description for all of the elements found for ATS Cross Manipulation exceptions identified during the month.
The Market Order Timeliness Statistical Report is published monthly based upon firm-reported data detailing the number of customer market orders executed by your firm in NMS securities and classifying these orders based on time duration to execute. Supplementary Material .01 of FINRA Rule 5310 – Best Execution and Interpositioning - states that member firms must make every effort to execute marketable customer orders it receives fully and promptly.
1. Where can I access a list describing the exams listed in CRD?
A listing of the exams available in CRD can be found on the Qualification Exams page.
2. How long is an exam window in CRD?
Exam windows are valid for 120 days. Provided that an exam candidate is not subject to a waiting period after a previous failed attempt, the exam window start date will be the day following the submission of the exam enrollment request.
Background
In response to the March 2017 Special Notice on Engagement issued as part of FINRA360, FINRA received a number of comments and suggestions regarding engagement in connection with FINRA's rulemaking process. After carefully reviewing and analyzing the comments, FINRA is taking a number of actions to address the comments and suggestions that it received.
Rulemaking Process
Last Updated: 8/7/2026
FBI Fingerprint Reuse Policy – No Action at This Time
Recently, the FBI notified FINRA that it continues to work on guidance to organizations related to its updated Fingerprint Reuse Policy, that was published in its January 2026 Outsourcing News newsletter, distributed to Authorized Recipients and available here for reference.
The Web CRD Late Filing Fee Report is a monthly analysis of FINRA firms' ability to meet certain filing obligations. In accordance with FINRA rules, firms are required to submit information related to registered representatives. This report displays a firm's performance in submitting certain U4 and U5 filings in the required time frame.
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Description |
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Exceptions Periods |
Date of all listed options position, as reported. |
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Total Number of Exceptions |
Total number of issues reported during the period. |
Large Options Positions Reported (LOPR) - Listed Detail Data
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Term |
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1. Does Rule 5110 apply to public offerings that also are regulated under Rule 2310?
Yes. Rule 2310 regulates the underwriting terms and arrangements of direct participation programs and unlisted real estate investment trusts (collectively, “Investment Programs”) that are publicly offered. All public offerings in which a member participates, with limited exceptions provided in Rule 5110(h), must be filed, including Investment Programs.
Overview
This guidance is intended to provide direction on key information for a prospective and existing FINRA member firm that is contemplating to engage in activities utilizing an online platform or mobile application.1 Under Standard 6 of FINRA’s Standards for Admission (Standard), an applicant’s online platform or mobile application that the applicant intends to employ for the purpose of conducting business with customers and other members must be adequate and provide reasonably for business continuity.
Q: Are members that provide FINRA an electronic feed (“eFeed”) of account transaction and position data via secure file transfer protocol (SFTP) for the accounts of FINRA employees also required to send duplicate account statements to FINRA under Rule 2070(a)? NEW
Background
A large number of registered representatives are also Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP®) professionals. These professionals must complete a minimum of 30 continuing education (CE) hours every two years as part of the requirements for CFP certification renewal. Through the FINRA360 process, a number of firms expressed a desire for improved opportunities with regard to continuing education credits.
On This Page
General
Q100.1: What is the Trading Activity Fee?
Background
FINRA’s highest priority when it identifies misconduct is to seek restitution for harmed investors. However, like many other self-regulatory organizations in the securities industry, FINRA also imposes fines on its members to discourage further misconduct. Fine amounts are based on public, pre-established guidelines and the facts and circumstances of the individual case. FINRA does not target any minimum amount of fines to be collected.
The Reporting Firm 10 Second Compliance Report Card are monthly status reports for market participant that contain counts of properly modified late trades, late trades that were not modified, and improperly modified trades.
Reporting Firm is defined as the firm that reported the Executing Party of the trade.
The Report Center provides firms with secure access to data and reports that help firms detect potential compliance problems early. FINRA Report Center provides report cards that cover a variety of topics and rulesets.
Reports on the Report Center do not relieve a firm from compliance obligations imposed under FINRA’s By-Laws and Rules, and will not limit or prevent FINRA from taking appropriate regulatory or disciplinary action against a firm or associated person for failure to comply with such rules.
Background
In March 2017, FINRA issued a Special Notice on its engagement programs as part of FINRA360, its comprehensive review of its operations. In response to the Special Notice, FINRA received a number of comments and suggestions regarding the usefulness of some advisory committees, their membership and their effectiveness as a vehicle for dialogue between FINRA and member firms. After carefully reviewing and analyzing the comments, FINRA is taking a number of actions to address the comments and suggestions.