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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. 

5 A B C D E F G H I L M N O P Q R S T V
Compliance Tools

The Best Execution Outside-of-the-Inside (BE) report card is a monthly status report detailing the number of transactions reported to a FINRA Facility (i.e., a FINRA Trade Reporting Facility or FINRA's Alternative Display Facility) in which your firm participated that were executed Outside-of-the-Inside market in apparent violation of the Best Execution Rule. If non-compliance with the Best Execution Rule is found to exist, your firm may be found to be in violation of FINRA Rule 5310.


FAQ

The Frequently Asked Questions below are taken directly from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS FAQ pages. The below are FINRA’s best attempt to highlight the latest SEC FAQs, but additional FAQs may have been published that are not posted on this page. For the latest FAQs on Reg BI and Form CRS, please visit the SEC’s website.

SEC Frequently Asked Questions on Regulation Best Interest


Compliance Tools

From cybersecurity to new product review, the FINRA Peer-2-Peer Compliance Library is a one-stop source for templates, checklists and other materials provided by FINRA-registered firms as supplemental resources at FINRA events. Investment professionals can browse the library after logging in with FINRA Gateway credentials. If you have feedback on the Peer-2-Peer Compliance Library, send an email to Member Relations and Education.


FAQ
Following are FAQs about FINRA registration and qualification requirements. Click on the links below to view all sections of the FAQs.

About FINRA

Background

In 2018, FINRA and the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education (CE Council) launched an initiative to evaluate enhancements to the CE Program. The overall goal of the program review is to reflect advances in technology and learning theory while continuing to ensure that registered persons receive timely education on the securities business and the regulatory requirements applicable to their respective functions.


Compliance Tools

The OATS Compliance Report Card is a monthly status report on the number and percentage of:


Arbitration and Mediation

On this Page


Honoraria

FINRA will pay arbitrators honoraria in accordance with the Codes of Procedure. The following page answers the most commonly asked questions regarding honoraria.


Compliance Tools
What should your firm do after it discovers that customers’ accounts have been compromised?

FAQ
Following are "Frequently Asked Questions" regarding the Order Audit Trail System (OATS).

FAQ
The guidance provided in this FAQ pertains to the reporting of over-the-counter (OTC) transactions in equity securities to a FINRA Facility (a Trade Reporting Facility (TRF), the Alternative Display Facility (ADF) or the OTC Reporting Facility (ORF)).

Compliance Tools

The Daily Total Summary Data and Detail Data Download files for the OATS Compliance Report Card provide underlying totals and detail of the data contained in the monthly summary OATS Compliance Report Card.

The tables below represent the data within the Daily Totals Summary Report Card and the Detail Data Download files.

Summary Definitions and Data Fields

Term

Definition


Guidance
The interpretations offer guidance to assist firms in complying with FINRA Rule 4210.

Compliance Tools
These monthly reports cover trades of Treasuries, Securitized Products, Agency Bonds, and Corporate Debt that a member firm reported to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE).

FAQ
OATS Phase III Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ
Understanding Your FINRA Flex-Funding Account

2019 Exam Findings Report

Regulatory Obligations

FINRA Rule 2090 (Know Your Customer) requires member firms and their associated persons to use reasonable diligence to determine the “essential facts” about every customer and “the authority of each person acting on behalf of such customer.” Regulatory Notice 11-02 (SEC Approves Consolidated FINRA Rules Governing Know-Your-Customer and Suitability Obligations) advised that firms verify the essential facts about a customer “at intervals reasonably cal


Compliance Tools

The Municipal Primary Offering Disclosure Report displays statistics about transactions your firm effected with customers during the securities’ Primary Offering Disclosure Period. This report is designed to aid firms in monitoring their compliance with Rule G-32(a) customer disclosure requirements, which apply to all broker-dealers selling offered municipal securities.


FAQ
Prospective FINRA member firms must seek approval for new FINRA membership through the submission of a New Membership Application (NMA or Form NMA) in accordance with FINRA Rule 1013 (New Member Application and Interview). Existing FINRA member firms that are contemplating a material change in ownership, control, or business operations must submit a Continuing Membership Application (CMA or Form CMA) in accordance with FINRA Rule 1017 (Application for Approval of Change in Ownership, Control, or Business Operations). Both types of applications are reviewed by FINRA’s Membership Application Program (MAP) Group.

About FINRA

Background

Examinations are central to FINRA's regulatory operations, and they are one of the principal means by which the organization protects investors and promotes market integrity. FINRA's examinations also aim to provide valuable feedback to firms on areas for improvement and best practices based on insights we have gathered from examining others in the industry.


FAQ
Frequently asked questions about public offerings

2019 Exam Findings Report

Regulatory Obligations

Regulation SHO Rules 200 to 204 require firms to address risks relating to market manipulation, market liquidity and investor confidence by regulating excessive and “naked” short sales so that purchasers of securities from short sellers receive their securities positions in a timely manner. Regulation SHO requires firms to appropriately mark their securities orders; confirm that they have deliverable securities to complete short sale transactions; and have a process to close-out fails to deliver within the required timeframes.


Compliance Tools

The MSRB Due Diligence Report Card is a monthly status report to help firms monitor their issuances being brought to market in order to support firm's due diligence efforts.  The report shows how many total issuances have been brought to market and which of those had issuers with previous issuances in the market that are lacking current audited financial filings (LCF) on EMMA.  If any of the issuances being brought to market have a previously issued CUSIP LCF, then the current issuance is identified on this report card.

The report offers two alternative views:


FAQ
Frequently asked questions about FINRA BrokerCheck, a free tool for researching brokers, brokerage firms, investment advisers & investment adviser firms.