Guidance
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FINRA recently released a number of Regulatory Notices that support the effort to modernize rules for member firms and associated persons. This webinar is designed to review the comment process, assist firms with how to comment and provide what type of information is helpful to receive in comments. FINRA staff share examples of the impact of comment letters and how they were used.
Background
Until mid-2017, FINRA maintained two distinct enforcement teams within the organization—one handling disciplinary actions related to trading-based matters found through our market surveillance and trading examination programs, and the other handling cases referred from other regulatory oversight divisions within FINRA, such as sales practice examinations and our Office of Fraud Detection and Market Intelligence. Through FINRA360, we analyzed stated firm concerns that these dual programs sometimes resulted in duplication of effort and inconsistency of results.
The Municipal Trades Below Minimum Denomination Report displays statistics about transactions your firm effected with customers where the denomination was below the minimum denomination provided to DTCC’s New Issue Information Dissemination Service (NIIDS) and/or reference data obtained from Thomson Reuters. This report is designed to aid firms in monitoring their compliance with MSRB Rule G-15(f). MSRB Rule G-15 (f) requires, with some exceptions, that firms should no
General Ledger
1. A person (GL Clerk) who has limited roles that do not meet the criteria under Rule 1220(b)(3)(A)(i)a. or b., is responsible for making journal entries into the member’s general ledger some of which represent material amounts for the firm. The journal entries serve to record the firm’s transactions on its books and records but do not affect the movement of money or securities or otherwise commit the firm’s capital. The GL Clerk is not permitted to commit the member to any contract or agreement (written or oral).
Background
Advanced data analytics is a critical function within FINRA and an important component of our efforts to be a risk-based and data-driven organization.7 This work, which supports our examination, surveillance and enforcement functions among others, is conducted in a number of areas throughout FINRA, but primarily within Market Regulation Surveillance, Research, Methodology, and Governance (SRMG), the Regulation Operations Advanced Analytics Team (AAT), the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), and Technology.
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 Canceled and As-Of Trades Report was retired from the FINRA Report Center.
1. How do I submit form filings to CRD?
Background
A critical part of the registration process in the securities industry is the background investigation of applicants for registration and the timely and accurate reporting of information to the Central Registration Depository (CRD) system via the Form U4 (Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer).
The tables below provide a reference description for all of the elements found in all views of the TRACE Quality of Markets Corporate Bond and Agency Debt Report Cards. (See TRACE Quality of Markets Report Card Figures 1 - 3 for a sample report.)
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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
FINRA administers qualification examinations that are designed to establish that persons associated with broker-dealers have attained specified levels of competence and knowledge pertinent to their function. Over time, the qualification examination program has increased in complexity to address new products and functions, and related regulatory concerns and requirements.
To assist firms in complying with SEC Rules regarding financial and operational matters, FINRA has published and will periodically update certain interpretations provided by the staff of the SEC's Division of Trading and Markets.