This rule is no longer applicable. NASD Rule 3010 has been superseded by FINRA Rules 3110 and 3170. Please consult the appropriate FINRA Rules.
(a) Supervisory System
Each member shall establish and maintain a system to supervise the activities of each registered representative, registered principal, and other associated person that is reasonably designed to achieve compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations, and with applicable NASD Rules. Final responsibility for proper supervision shall rest with the member. A member's supervisory system shall provide, at a minimum, for the following:
(1) The establishment and maintenance of written procedures as required by paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Rule.
(2) The designation, where applicable, of an appropriately registered principal(s) with authority to carry out the supervisory responsibilities of the member for each type of business in which it engages for which registration as a broker/dealer is required.
(3) The designation as an office of supervisory jurisdiction (OSJ) of each location that meets the definition contained in paragraph (g) of this Rule. Each member shall also designate such other OSJs as it determines to be necessary in order to supervise its registered representatives, registered principals, and other associated persons in accordance with the standards set forth in this Rule, taking into consideration the following factors:
(A) whether registered persons at the location engage in retail sales or other activities involving regular contact with public customers;
(B) whether a substantial number of registered persons conduct securities activities at, or are otherwise supervised from, such location;
(C) whether the location is geographically distant from another OSJ of the firm;
(D) whether the member's registered persons are geographically dispersed; and
(E) whether the securities activities at such location are diverse and/or complex.
(4) The designation of one or more appropriately registered principals in each OSJ, including the main office, and one or more appropriately registered representatives or principals in each non-OSJ branch office with authority to carry out the supervisory responsibilities assigned to that office by the member.
(5) The assignment of each registered person to an appropriately registered representative(s) and/or principal(s) who shall be responsible for supervising that person's activities.
(6) Reasonable efforts to determine that all supervisory personnel are qualified by virtue of experience or training to carry out their assigned responsibilities.
(7) The participation of each registered representative and registered principal, either individually or collectively, no less than annually, in an interview or meeting conducted by persons designated by the member at which compliance matters relevant to the activities of the representative(s) and principal(s) are discussed. Such interview or meeting may occur in conjunction with the discussion of other matters and may be conducted at a central or regional location or at the representative's(') or principal's(') place of business.
(b) Written Procedures
(1) Each member shall establish, maintain, and enforce written procedures to supervise the types of business in which it engages and to supervise the activities of registered representatives, registered principals, and other associated persons that are reasonably designed to achieve compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations, and with the applicable Rules of NASD.
(2) Tape recording of conversations
(A) Each member that either is notified by NASD or otherwise has actual knowledge that it meets one of the criteria in paragraph (b)(2)(H) relating to the employment history of its registered persons at a Disciplined Firm as defined in paragraph (b)(2)(J) shall establish, maintain, and enforce special written procedures for supervising the telemarketing activities of all of its registered persons.
(B) The member must establish and implement the supervisory procedures required by this paragraph within 60 days of receiving notice from NASD or obtaining actual knowledge that it is subject to the provisions of this paragraph.
A member that meets one of the criteria in paragraph (b)(2)(H) for the first time may reduce its staffing levels to fall below the threshold levels within 30 days after receiving notice from NASD pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b)(2)(A) or obtaining actual knowledge that it is subject to the provisions of the paragraph, provided the firm promptly notifies the Department of Member Regulation, NASD, in writing of its becoming subject to the Rule. Once the member has reduced its staffing levels to fall below the threshold levels, it shall not rehire a person terminated to accomplish the staff reduction for a period of 180 days. On or prior to reducing staffing levels pursuant to this paragraph, a member must provide the Department of Member Regulation, NASD with written notice, identifying the terminated person(s).
(C) The procedures required by this paragraph shall include tape-recording all telephone conversations between the member's registered persons and both existing and potential customers.
(D) The member shall establish reasonable procedures for reviewing the tape recordings made pursuant to the requirements of this paragraph to ensure compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations and applicable rules of NASD. The procedures must be appropriate for the member's business, size, structure, and customers.
(E) All tape recordings made pursuant to the requirements of this paragraph shall be retained for a period of not less than three years from the date the tape was created, the first two years in an easily accessible place. Each member shall catalog the retained tapes by registered person and date.
(F) Such procedures shall be maintained for a period of three years from the date that the member establishes and implements the procedures required by the provisions of this paragraph.
(G) By the 30th day of the month following the end of each calendar quarter, each member firm subject to the requirements of this paragraph shall submit to NASD a report on the member's supervision of the telemarketing activities of its registered persons.
(H) The following members shall be required to adopt special supervisory procedures over the telemarketing activities of their registered persons:
• A firm with at least five but fewer than ten registered persons, where 40% or more of its registered persons have been associated with one or more Disciplined Firms in a registered capacity within the last three years;
• A firm with at least ten but fewer than twenty registered persons, where four or more of its registered persons have been associated with one or more Disciplined Firms in a registered capacity within the last three years;
• A firm with at least twenty registered persons, where 20% or more of its registered persons have been associated with one or more Disciplined Firms in a registered capacity within the last three years.
For purposes of the calculations required in subparagraph (H), firms should not include registered persons who:
(1) have been registered for an aggregate total of 90 days or less with one or more Disciplined Firms within the past three years; and
(2) do not have a disciplinary history.
(I) For purposes of this Rule, the term "registered person" means any person registered with NASD as a representative, principal, or assistant representative pursuant to the
Rule 1020,
[1030],
[1040], and
[1110] Series or pursuant to Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board ("MSRB") Rule G-3.
(J) For purposes of this Rule, the term "disciplined firm" means either a member that, in connection with sales practices involving the offer, purchase, or sale of any security, has been expelled from membership or participation in any securities industry self-regulatory organization or is subject to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission revoking its registration as a broker/dealer; or a futures commission merchant or introducing broker that has been formally charged by either the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or a registered futures association with deceptive telemarketing practices or promotional material relating to security futures, those charges have been resolved, and the futures commission merchant or introducing broker has been closed down and permanently barred from the futures industry as a result of those charges; or a futures commission merchant or introducing broker that, in connection with sales practices involving the offer, purchase, or sale of security futures is subject to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission revoking its registration as a broker or dealer.
(K) For purposes of this Rule, the term "disciplinary history" means a finding of a violation by a registered person in the past five years by the Securities and Exchange Commission, a self-regulatory organization, or a foreign financial regulatory authority of one or more of the provisions (or comparable foreign provision) listed in [IM-1011-1] or rules or regulations thereunder.
(L) Pursuant to the
Rule 9600 Series, NASD may in exceptional circumstances, taking into consideration all relevant factors, exempt any member unconditionally or on specified terms and conditions from the requirements of this paragraph. A member seeking an exemption must file a written application pursuant to the Rule 9600 Series within 30 days after receiving notice from NASD or obtaining actual knowledge that it meets one of the criteria in paragraph (b)(2)(H). A member that meets one of the criteria in paragraph (b)(2)(H) for the first time may elect to reduce its staffing levels pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b)(2)(B) or, alternatively, to seek an exemption pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(L), as appropriate; such a member may not seek relief from the Rule by both reducing its staffing levels pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(B) and requesting an exemption.
(3) The member's written supervisory procedures shall set forth the supervisory system established by the member pursuant to paragraph (a) above, and shall include the titles, registration status and locations of the required supervisory personnel and the responsibilities of each supervisory person as these relate to the types of business engaged in, applicable securities laws and regulations, and the Rules of this Association. The member shall maintain on an internal record the names of all persons who are designated as supervisory personnel and the dates for which such designation is or was effective. Such record shall be preserved by the member for a period of not less than three years, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
(4) A copy of a member's written supervisory procedures, or the relevant portions thereof, shall be kept and maintained in each OSJ and at each location where supervisory activities are conducted on behalf of the member. Each member shall amend its written supervisory procedures as appropriate within a reasonable time after changes occur in applicable securities laws and regulations, including the Rules of this Association, and as changes occur in its supervisory system, and each member shall be responsible for communicating amendments through its organization.
(c) Internal Inspections
(1) Each member shall conduct a review, at least annually, of the businesses in which it engages, which review shall be reasonably designed to assist in detecting and preventing violations of, and achieving compliance with, applicable securities laws and regulations, and with applicable NASD rules. Each member shall review the activities of each office, which shall include the periodic examination of customer accounts to detect and prevent irregularities or abuses.
(A) Each member shall inspect at least annually every office of supervisory jurisdiction and any branch office that supervises one or more non-branch locations.
(B) Each member shall inspect at least every three years every branch office that does not supervise one or more non-branch locations. In establishing how often to inspect each non-supervisory branch office, the firm shall consider whether the nature and complexity of the securities activities for which the location is responsible, the volume of business done, and the number of associated persons assigned to the location require the non-supervisory branch office to be inspected more frequently than every three years. If a member establishes a more frequent inspection cycle, the member must ensure that at least every three years, the inspection requirements enumerated in paragraph (c)(2) have been met. The non-supervisory branch office examination cycle, an explanation of the factors the member used in determining the frequency of the examinations in the cycle, and the manner in which a member will comply with paragraph (c)(2) if using more frequent inspections than every three years shall be set forth in the member's written supervisory and inspection procedures.
(C) Each member shall inspect on a regular periodic schedule every non-branch location. In establishing such schedule, the firm shall consider the nature and complexity of the securities activities for which the location is responsible and the nature and extent of contact with customers. The schedule and an explanation regarding how the member determined the frequency of the examination schedule shall be set forth in the member's written supervisory and inspection procedures.
Each member shall retain a written record of the dates upon which each review and inspection is conducted.
(2) An office inspection and review by a member pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) must be reduced to a written report and kept on file by the member for a minimum of three years, unless the inspection is being conducted pursuant to paragraph (c)(1)(C) and the regular periodic schedule is longer than a three-year cycle, in which case the report must be kept on file at least until the next inspection report has been written. The written inspection report must also include, without limitation, the testing and verification of the member's policies and procedures, including supervisory policies and procedures in the following areas:
(A) Safeguarding of customer funds and securities;
(B) Maintaining books and records;
(C) Supervision of customer accounts serviced by branch office managers;
(D) Transmittal of funds between customers and registered representatives and between customers and third parties;
(E) Validation of customer address changes; and
(F) Validation of changes in customer account information.
If a member does not engage in all of the activities enumerated above, the member must identify those activities in which it does not engage in the written inspection report and document in the report that supervisory policies and procedures for such activities must be in place before the member can engage in them.
(3) An office inspection by a member pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) may not be conducted by the branch office manager or any person within that office who has supervisory responsibilities or by any individual who is directly or indirectly supervised by such person(s). However, if a member is so limited in size and resources that it cannot comply with this limitation (e.g., a member with only one office or a member has a business model where small or single-person offices report directly to an office of supervisory jurisdiction manager who is also considered the offices' branch office manager), the member may have a principal who has the requisite knowledge to conduct an office inspection perform the inspections. The member, however, must document in the office inspection reports the factors it has relied upon in determining that it is so limited in size and resources that it has no other alternative than to comply in this manner.
A member must have in place procedures that are reasonably designed to provide heightened office inspections if the person conducting the inspection reports to the branch office manager's supervisor or works in an office supervised by the branch manager's supervisor and the branch office manager generates 20% or more of the revenue of the business units supervised by the branch office manager's supervisor. For the purposes of this subsection only, the term "heightened inspection" shall mean those inspection procedures that are designed to avoid conflicts of interest that serve to undermine complete and effective inspection because of the economic, commercial, or financial interests that the branch manager's supervisor holds in the associated persons and businesses being inspected. In addition, for the purpose of this section only, when calculating the 20% threshold, all of the revenue generated by or credited to the branch office or branch office manager shall be attributed as revenue generated by the business units supervised by the branch office manager's supervisor irrespective of a member's internal allocation of such revenue. A member must calculate the 20% threshold on a rolling, twelve-month basis.
(d) Review of Transactions and Correspondence
(1) Supervision of Registered Representatives
Each member shall establish procedures for the review and endorsement by a registered principal in writing, on an internal record, of all transactions and for the review by a registered principal of incoming and outgoing written and electronic correspondence of its registered representatives with the public relating to the investment banking or securities business of such member. Such procedures should be in writing and be designed to reasonably supervise each registered representative. Evidence that these supervisory procedures have been implemented and carried out must be maintained and made available to the Association upon request.
(2) Review of Correspondence
Each member shall develop written procedures that are appropriate to its business, size, structure, and customers for the review of incoming and outgoing written (i.e., non-electronic) and electronic correspondence with the public relating to its investment banking or securities business, including procedures to review incoming, written correspondence directed to registered representatives and related to the member's investment banking or securities business to properly identify and handle customer complaints and to ensure that customer funds and securities are handled in accordance with firm procedures. Where such procedures for the review of correspondence do not require review of all correspondence prior to use or distribution, they must include provision for the education and training of associated persons as to the firm's procedures governing correspondence; documentation of such education and training; and surveillance and follow-up to ensure that such procedures are implemented and adhered to.
(3) Retention of Correspondence
Each member shall retain correspondence of registered representatives relating to its investment banking or securities business in accordance with
Rule 3110. The names of the persons who prepared outgoing correspondence and who reviewed the correspondence shall be ascertainable from the retained records and the retained records shall be readily available to the Association, upon request.
(e) Qualifications Investigated
Each member shall have the responsibility and duty to ascertain by investigation the good character, business repute, qualifications, and experience of any person prior to making such a certification in the application of such person for registration with this Association. Where an applicant for registration has previously been registered with the Association, the member shall review a copy of the Uniform Termination Notice of Securities Industry Registration (Form U-5) filed with the Association by such person's most recent previous NASD member employer, together with any amendments thereto that may have been filed pursuant to Article V, Section 3 of the Association's By-Laws. The member shall review the Form U-5 as required by this Rule no later than sixty (60) days following the filing of the application for registration or demonstrate to the Association that it has made reasonable efforts to comply with the requirement. In conducting its review of the Form U-5 and any amendments thereto, a member shall take such action as may be deemed appropriate.
Where an applicant for registration has been previously registered with a registered futures association ("RFA") member that is or has been registered as a broker/dealer pursuant to Section 15(b)(11) of the Act ("notice-registered broker/dealer") with the SEC to trade security futures, the member shall review a copy of the Notice of Termination of Associated Person (Form 8-T) filed with the RFA by such person's most recent previous RFA member employer, together with any amendments thereto. The member shall review the Form 8-T as required by this Rule no later than sixty (60) days following the filing of the application for registration or demonstrate to the Association that it has made reasonable efforts to comply with the requirement. In conducting its review of a Form 8-T and any amendments, a member shall take such action as may be deemed appropriate.
(f) Applicant's Responsibility
Any applicant for registration who receives a request for a copy of his or her Form U-5 from a member pursuant to this Rule shall provide such copy to the member within two (2) business days of the request if the Form U-5 has been provided to such person by his or her former employer. If a former employer has failed to provide the Form U-5 to the applicant for registration, such person shall promptly request the Form U-5, and shall provide it to the requesting member within two (2) business days of receipt thereof. The applicant shall promptly provide any subsequent amendments to a Form U-5 he or she receives to the requesting member.
(g) Definitions
(1) "Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction" means any office of a member at which any one or more of the following functions take place:
(A) order execution and/or market making;
(B) structuring of public offerings or private placements;
(C) maintaining custody of customers' funds and/or securities;
(D) final acceptance (approval) of new accounts on behalf of the member;
(E) review and endorsement of customer orders, pursuant to paragraph (d) above;
(F) final approval of
retail communications for use by persons associated with the member, pursuant to
FINRA Rule 2210(b)(1), except for an office that solely conducts final approval of research reports; or
(G) responsibility for supervising the activities of persons associated with the member at one or more other branch offices of the member.
(2)(A) A "branch office" is any location where one or more associated persons of a member regularly conducts the business of effecting any transactions in, or inducing or attempting to induce the purchase or sale of any security, or is held out as such, excluding:
(i) Any location that is established solely for customer service and/or back office type functions where no sales activities are conducted and that is not held out to the public as a branch office;
(ii) Any location that is the associated person's primary residence; provided that
a. Only one associated person, or multiple associated persons who reside at that location and are members of the same immediate family, conduct business at the location;
b. The location is not held out to the public as an office and the associated person does not meet with customers at the location;
c. Neither customer funds nor securities are handled at that location;
d. The associated person is assigned to a designated branch office, and such designated branch office is reflected on all business cards, stationery, retail communications and other communications to the public by such associated person;
e. The associated person's correspondence and communications with the public are subject to the firm's supervision in accordance with Rule 3010;
f. Electronic communications (e.g., e-mail) are made through the member's electronic system;
g. All orders are entered through the designated branch office or an electronic system established by the member that is reviewable at the branch office;
h. Written supervisory procedures pertaining to supervision of sales activities conducted at the residence are maintained by the member; and
i. A list of the residence locations is maintained by the member;
(iii) Any location, other than a primary residence, that is used for securities business for less than 30 business days in any one calendar year, provided the member complies with the provisions of paragraph (A)(2)(ii)a. through h. above;
(iv) Any office of convenience, where associated persons occasionally and exclusively by appointment meet with customers, which is not held out to the public as an office; *
(v) Any location that is used primarily to engage in non-securities activities and from which the associated person(s) effects no more than 25 securities transactions in any one calendar year; provided that any retail communication identifying such location also sets forth the address and telephone number of the location from which the associated person(s) conducting business at the non-branch locations are directly supervised;
(vi) The Floor of a registered national securities exchange where a member conducts a direct access business with public customers; or
(vii) A temporary location established in response to the implementation of a business continuity plan.
(B) Notwithstanding the exclusions in paragraph (2)(A), any location that is responsible for supervising the activities of persons associated with the member at one or more non-branch locations of the member is considered to be a branch office.
(C) The term "business day" as used in Rule 3010(g)(2)(A) shall not include any partial business day provided that the associated person spends at least four hours on such business day at his or her designated branch office during the hours that such office is normally open for business.
* Where such office of convenience is located on bank premises, signage necessary to comply with applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE, other self-regulatory organizations, and securities and banking regulators may be displayed and shall not be deemed “holding out” for purposes of this section.
