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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Virtual Conference Panel
How to Protect Yourself and Your Firm From Cyberattacks When Working From Home During COVID-19
Join FINRA staff and industry panelists as they provide examples of effective controls and tools their firms have put into place to monitor and address cybersecurity risks.
May 19, 2020
Virtual Conference Panel
Regulation Best Interest: Compliance Inspections and Examinations
Attend this session to hear from OCIE, FINRA staff and industry experts as they discuss how they intend to examine and inspect for compliance with Reg BI, including a discussion of implementation challenges, frequently asked questions, and issues that are being considered.
May 12, 2020
Podcast
FINRA Enforcement: Protecting Investors and Markets in Good Times and Bad
FINRA Enforcement works on the front lines of investor protection—not just now, as some look to take advantage of these uncertain time to defraud investors or manipulate the markets – but always. On this episode, we meet Jessica Hopper, FINRA’s new Head of Enforcement, to hear what her team is doing today to prevent investor harm and to keep our markets fair.
May 12, 2020
Virtual Conference Panel
Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS: Where Are We Now
Join panelists as they discuss Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS, its impact on the industry and effective practices to help broker-dealers manage their obligations.
May 06, 2020
Report / Study
Protecting Senior Investors 2015-2020
Seniors make up an increasingly large share of the American population1 and hold higher levels of wealth than other generations. These factors, among others, make seniors an attractive target for financial exploitation, with evidence suggesting that such exploitation has been increasing in terms of both scope and magnitude.
April 30, 2020
FAQ
FINRA Gateway Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be able to log in to FINRA Gateway with my existing Firm Gateway credentials? 

Yes, Firm Gateway users will be able to log in to FINRA Gateway using their existing Firm Gateway credentials.

Can I customize my experience in FINRA Gateway? 

Yes. As of April 7, 2020, you can:

April 15, 2020
Podcast
Securities Helpline for Seniors: Celebrating 5 Years of Senior Investor Protection
FINRA is committed to the protection of senior investors and other vulnerable adults. That’s why FINRA launched the Securities Helpline for Seniors. On this episode, we hear how the Helpline handles calls, frequent areas of concern and how the Helpline has evolved over the five years since its launch.
April 14, 2020
Guidance
FINRA Highlights Firm Practices from Regulation Best Interest Preparedness Reviews
FINRA is sharing the following common practices we observed while conducting Reg BI preparedness reviews and other ongoing conversations with firms. We hope this helps firms assess their Reg BI initiatives and continue their work preparing for the compliance date.
April 08, 2020
Podcast
Business in the Time of COVID-19: BCPs, Regulatory Relief & More
The new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has rapidly changed the way U.S. broker-dealers must conduct business as states implement various shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders, forcing workers remote. On this episode, we talk to FINRA’s Chief Legal Officer and Head of Member Supervision to learn how FINRA is adapting its operations and providing important regulatory relief.
March 31, 2020
Guidance
SEC Guidance and Resources Relevant to Member Firms

SEC's COVID-19 Response page

https://www.sec.gov/sec-coronavirus-covid-19-response

606 Relief

https://www.sec.gov/rules/exorders/2020/34-88478.pdf

March 27, 2020
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Regulatory Relief Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), FINRA is providing temporary relief for member firms from rules and requirements in the Frequently Asked Questions below. The relief provided does not extend beyond the identified rules and requirements. FINRA will continue to monitor the situation to determine whether additional guidance and relief may be appropriate. As coronavirus-related risks decrease, member firms should expect to return to meeting any regulatory obligations for which relief has been provided.

March 24, 2020
Guidance
Termination of SEC Temporary Exemptive Relief from Fingerprinting Requirements for, Among Others, Members and All of Their Associated Persons; Termination of Additional Temporary Extension of Time for Fingerprinting Under FINRA Rules

On March 20, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) issued an order that, among other things, provided a temporary exemption until May 30, 2020, from the fingerprinting requirements of Securities Exchange Act Rule 17f-2 for FINRA members and transfer agents registered with the Commission (“March 20 Order”).

March 24, 2020
Guidance
Regulatory Operations Update
FINRA remains fully operational during the COVID-19 outbreak through the support of our robust remote work capabilities, and we continue to carry out our regulatory responsibilities of protecting investors and market integrity in these challenging times.
March 23, 2020
Board of Governors Meeting
March 2020 Board Update
Updates from the March 2020 FINRA Board of Governors meeting.
March 18, 2020
Podcast
The MAP Group: Gatekeeper to the Broker-Dealer Industry
The Membership Application Program Group is the gatekeeper to the broker-dealer industry. It works both to protect investors by ensuring would-be firms meet FINRA’s standards of admission and to help new and existing firms grow and evolve, ensuring a vibrant market for all. On this episode, we learn more.
March 17, 2020
Podcast
FINRA & CE Council: Enhancing Industry Continuing Education
The CE Council, FINRA and other CE Council members are working together on the biggest change to continuing education for broker dealers in 25 years. On this episode, we hear both the firm and regulatory perspective as we learn what will be changing in the years ahead.
March 03, 2020
Guidance
Targeted Examination Letter on Zero Commissions

February 2020

Trading & Financial Compliance Examinations (“TFCE”) of the Market Regulation Department (“Market Regulation”) at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) is conducting a review of [FIRM] concerning the Firm’s decision not to charge commissions for customer transactions, the impact that not charging commissions has or will have on the Firm’s order routing practices and decisions, and other aspects of the Firm’s business. 

February 20, 2020
Podcast
Advertising Regulation: Expect More Than Just Hype
When deciding where and in what to invest, it’s important that investors understand the risks—not just the marketing hype. That’s why FINRA’s Advertising Regulation Group works to oversee broker-dealer communications to ensure that they are fair, balanced and not misleading. On this episode, we learn more.
February 18, 2020
Podcast
Encore | Insider Trading: Finding the Needle in the Haystack
This episode originally aired in December 2018. More than 15,000 different stocks, options and bonds trade every day across millions of transactions. When it comes to detecting insider trading, it really is like finding a needle in a haystack. But that’s exactly what Sam Draddy and his team work to uncover.
February 04, 2020
Podcast
What to Expect: The 2020 Exam and Risk Monitoring Program
The 1920s was a period of great change and transition and the 2020s are shaping up to be the same—at least for FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring program. On this episode, we kick off the new Roaring 20s with a look at what to expect from the program in the year ahead.
January 07, 2020
Board of Governors Meeting
December 2019 Board Update
FINRA CEO Robert Cook, members of the FINRA Board of Governors and FINRA staff provide updates from the December 2019 FINRA Board of Governors meeting.
December 13, 2019
Podcast
A Career Highlight: Exam and Risk Monitoring Program Transformation Update
FINRA’s examination and risk monitoring program is in the midst of a large-scale transformation to make FINRA a more effective, agile and risk-focused regulator. On this episode, Executive Vice President Bari Havlik provides an update on where the group is one year later.
December 10, 2019
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding FINRA Rule 3230
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding the purpose of FINRA Rule 3230 and “do-not-call-lists”
November 27, 2019
Podcast
Encore | How FINRA Rules Get Made (And Reviewed)
This episode originally aired in August 2018. In this episode, we hear from FINRA's Chief Economist and Office of General Counsel to learn how FINRA rules are made and reviewed through the FINRA Retrospective Rule Review process.
November 26, 2019
FAQ
Prohibited Conditions Relating to Expungement of Customer Dispute Information FAQ

Is there a rule that addresses prohibited conditions relating to expungement of customer dispute information?

Yes, FINRA Rule 2081 provides that no member or associated person shall condition or seek to condition settlement of a dispute with a customer on, or to otherwise compensate the customer for, the customer’s agreement to consent to, or not to oppose, the member’s or associated person’s request to expunge customer dispute information from the CRD system. 

Does FINRA Rule 2081 apply only to settlements?

November 22, 2019