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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
Guidance
FINRA has created this page to educate member firms on “Firm Identity Theft”.

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

FAQ

For detailed information regarding amendments to FINRA Rule 4530, please see Regulatory Notice 13-08.


Compliance Tools

The Underwriter Financial Status Report is a monthly report designed to help firms evaluate the timeliness of financial disclosures made to EMMA, for issuances previously brought to market.   

The purpose of this report is to highlights issuances lacking current audited financial filings (LCF) and the lateness of these missing financial filings, based on their anticipated filing time line.

The report offers two alternate views:


Guidance

FINRA evaluates 11 broad risk categories as a foundation to monitor and assess member firm1 risk and inform our risk-based examination program. We are sharing this risk framework and risk assessment methodology as part of our FINRA Forward Initiative to provide greater transparency into our risk assessment processes to further empower member firm compliance.


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).

About FINRA

FINRA360 has yielded a number of organizational and operational changes aimed at making FINRA a more efficient, more effective regulator.


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

FAQ
1. How do I submit form filings to Web CRD? Upon completion of a filing...

Compliance Tools

The Sales Practice Complaint Report is a quarterly report that displays trends in complaints with Sales Practice problem codes as reported to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 4530. Note: prior to July 1, 2011, this report showed complaints reported pursuant to NASD Rule 3070(c) or NYSE Rule 351(d). For the purposes of the report, Sales Practice Complaints are evaluated against the number of representatives registered with the firm and the sales revenue of the firm.


Events & Training

FINRA Spotlight Webinar

The Financial Crimes Spotlight is a free webinar series hosted by FINRA’s Financial Intelligence Unit that focuses on how to detect and protect against emerging financial crimes and cyber-related threats and trends. 

These events are open to FINRA member firms only. Participants must provide their firm's broker-dealer number when registering.

Upcoming Webinars

Additional Webinars Coming Soon.


Guidance
Pursuant to FINRA Rule 4521, FINRA member firms carrying margin accounts for customers are required to submit the following customer information: the total of all debit balances in securities margin accounts; and, the total of all free credit balances in all cash accounts and all securities margin accounts.

Events & Training

Stay informed about significant changes to FINRA's Membership Application Program (MAP). This webinar covers organizational and program updates, along with important information about Form NMA enhancements. Participants gain insight into the program's direction and understand key improvements to the application process.

This event is open to FINRA member firms only. Participants must provide their firm's broker-dealer number when registering.

FINRA Speakers:


About FINRA

Background

Input from our stakeholders indicated that they would welcome greater transparency regarding FINRA's budget, especially its financial projections and potential use of fines. FINRA for many years has published an Annual Financial Report that is prepared and audited in accordance with GAAP6 that describes the prior year's finances and operations.


FAQ
The Limited Review program can help to streamline the review process and provide faster clearance for non-shelf public offering filings.

FAQ
1. What is meant by a "Queue?" A Queue is an online electronic listing...

2019 Exam Findings Report

Regulatory Obligations

Exchange Act Rule 15c3-3 (Customer Protection Rule) requires firms that maintain custody of customer securities and safeguard customer cash to segregate these assets from the firm’s proprietary business.


Compliance Tools

In Regulatory Notice 23-17, FINRA announced its decision, effective November 30, 2023, to discontinue collecting INSITE data, pursuant to Rule 4540, at this time.  As a result, effective November 30, 2023, the Customer Debits Report was retired from the FINRA Report Center.


Compliance Tools
FINRA is providing a template as an optional tool to assist small introducing firms in fulfilling their obligations under FINRA Rule 4370 (Business Continuity Plans and Emergency Contact Information).

About FINRA

Background

Another issue we are studying through the lens of FINRA360 is branch office inspections. The responsibility of firms to supervise their associated persons is a critical component of federal broker-dealer regulation. Over the last few years, and in comments we have recently received, firms have raised questions about the manner in which they must conduct internal inspections, particularly for those offices or locations with a limited number of associated persons or where only operational or limited supervisory functions take place.


FAQ
Following are FAQs about FINRA’s research conflicts of interest rules.

FAQ
1. What is E-Bill and what can I do in E-Bill? E-Bill is FINRA's financial system that enables entitled users to view accounting details of the firm's Flex-Funding and Renewal accounts, fund the accounts, pay annual renewal assessments, and view and pay FINRA invoices.