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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Guidance
FINRA is examining firms’ offering of, and services provided to, Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”) and their affiliates (e.g., sponsors, principal stockholders, board members, and related parties). Unless otherwise noted, the relevant period for each request is July 1, 2018, through September 30, 2021 (the “Relevant Period”). In addition, if your response varies over the Relevant Period, please explain the differences in your response.
October 07, 2021
Podcast
Shawn Spruce’s advocacy work earned him the 2021 Ketchum Prize, the FINRA Foundation’s highest honor. On this episode, we talk to Spruce about his teaching and outreach as a tireless champion of investor education and expanded financial capability in Native communities.
October 05, 2021
Podcast
As part of FINRA’s Member Supervision Transformation, each firm was assigned a Single Point of Accountability – a senior leader in Member Supervision that helps firms navigate their experience with FINRA. On this episode, we are joined by two SPOAs to learn more about their roles and priorities.
September 21, 2021
Guidance
FINRA is conducting a review of firm practices related to the acquisition of customers through social media channels and how firms manage their obligations related to information collected from those customers and other individuals that may provide data to firms. Please note that each item requested is specific to the subsection header.
September 16, 2021
Podcast
As a Self-Regulatory Organization, FINRA benefits from the expertise and industry knowledge of member firms to react more quickly to emerging challenges and write more effective and efficient regulations. FINRA’s Regional Committees play an important role in this process, supplying FINRA with real-time insights that help us fulfill our mission of investor protection and market integrity. On this episode, we learn more.
September 07, 2021
Podcast
Cloud computing is transforming how broker-dealers operate by providing opportunities to enhance agility, efficiency, resiliency and security within firms’ technology and business operations while potentially reducing costs. On this episode, two members of FINRA’s Office of Financial Innovation join us to discuss the group’s latest report on cloud computing.
August 24, 2021
Report / Study
Cloud computing is transforming how broker-dealers operate by providing opportunities to enhance agility, efficiency, resiliency and security within firms’ technology and business operations while potentially reducing costs. As a result, cloud computing is increasingly seen by many firms as an important architectural component to their infrastructure.
August 16, 2021
Guidance
August 2021
FINRA is conducting a review of Firm Name practices and controls related to the opening of options accounts and related areas, including account supervision, communications and diligence.
August 10, 2021
Podcast
In March, Stephanie Dumont became the new Executive Vice President of FINRA’s Market Regulation and Transparency Services department. On this episode, we sit down with Stephanie to hear her priorities, her vision for the department, and how FINRA is responding to recent market events.
July 13, 2021
Compliance Tools
Protecting investors means protecting their data, too. Our Small Firm Cybersecurity Checklist supports small firms in establishing a cybersecurity program to:
July 12, 2021
Podcast
Intelligence means different things to different people. But for FINRA, at its most basic, it is the actionable information that allows employees, from an organization’s senior executives to its examiners or investigators, to make informed decisions. On this episode, we sit down to learn about FINRA’s new Financial Intelligence Unit, and how it is looking to transform how FINRA takes in, analyzes, and shares data.
June 29, 2021
Podcast
Diversity has been a focus for FINRA’s Board of Governors for several years— and recently the Board achieved a significant milestone from a diversity perspective. On this episode we talk to FINRA’s Corporate Secretary and Deputy Corporate Secretary to hear how FINRA’s Board of Governors got to where it is today, and also to hear why diversity very much remains a perpetual work in progress.
June 15, 2021
Training
Training for the Securities Industry
NASAA, the SEC, and FINRA have provided this training presentation as a resource for the securities industry. Firms can use this presentation to train associated persons about how to detect, prevent, and report financial exploitation of senior and vulnerable adult investors.
June 15, 2021
Media Center
The 2021 FINRA Annual Conference was like no other with the event held entirely online. On this episode, take a behind-the-scenes look at the fireside chat between FINRA CEO Robert Cook and FINRA Board Chair Eileen Murray as they talk about everything from return to the office to the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion.
June 01, 2021
About FINRA
FINRA is a not-for-profit, self-regulatory organization (SRO) dedicated to promoting investor protection and market integrity in a manner that facilitates vibrant capital markets. One of FINRA’s tools for achieving this objective is fair and effective enforcement of our member firms’ compliance with securities laws and regulations.
May 27, 2021
Report / Study
FINRA regulates a critical part of the securities industry – member brokerage firms doing business in the U.S. In an effort to increase public awareness and understanding about the broad range of FINRA-registered firms and individuals, FINRA shares an annual snapshot of some of the data collected in the course of its work.
May 25, 2021
Media Center
The pandemic forced the world to re-evaluate how it works—and FINRA’s Arbitration & Mediation Forum was no exception. To keep processes moving, FINRA Dispute Resolution Services allowed hearings to proceed virtually. A year later, we are looking at lessons learned, tips for practicing remotely and plans for the future of arbitration and mediation.
May 18, 2021
Podcast
An employee hackathon event a few years ago resulted in an idea that has since transformed the way FINRA’s Advertising Regulation group does its work. On this episode, we learn about the impressive collaborative effort to build a tool to apply advanced analytics and machine learning to the review of firm communications with the public.
May 04, 2021
Media Center
The brokerage industry has an important role to play when it comes to detecting, preventing and reporting fraud. On this episode, we hear from the head of FINRA's National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Programs about recent trends and how firms can work to protect themselves and their customers.
April 20, 2021
FAQ
View frequently asked questions and guidance to aid members in their reporting obligations under FINRA Rule 4521(d). Note: This guidance only applies to members that need to report data pursuant to Rule 4521(d).
April 13, 2021
Podcast
Last year, as FINRA staff looked to adjust to a new exam and risk monitoring program structure, the industry and the world was struck with an unprecedented global crisis. On this episode, the second in a two-part series, we hear how the program adapted in the face of the pandemic before looking ahead to priorities for 2021.
April 06, 2021
Podcast
2020 was a year of great change and transition for FINRA’s Exam and Risk Monitoring Program—and the pandemic wasn’t even the start of it. On this episode, the first in a two-part series, we hear how the program fared in its first year after a major transformation.
March 23, 2021
Media Center
Cybersecurity has only increased in importance as huge swaths of the workforce continue to work remotely. On this episode, two FINRA cybersecurity experts share how FINRA handled the transition and areas of focus for 2021. Plus, learn why you should think twice before trying to brush that piece of hair off your phone screen.
March 09, 2021
Media Center
Formal disciplinary action or informal action, settlement or complaint. Or, the one you never hear about: no action. There are a lot of possible outcomes for an Enforcement investigation. On this episode, Jessica Hopper, head of FINRA Enforcement, walks us through the Enforcement process and the many steps in the process.
February 23, 2021