1 The views and opinions made in this report are those of the authors and do not represent official views or policies of FINRA. This report does not express any official FINRA legal position and does not create any new regulatory requirements or suggest any change in any existing regulatory obligations, nor does it provide relief from any existing regulatory obligations. This report summarizes
One financial institution described the metaverse as a “seamless convergence of our physical and digital lives, creating a unified, virtual community where we can work, play, relax, transact and socialize.”14 At least one prominent international body similarly expressed that the metaverse is not a single space, but rather, a “collection of shared digital spaces for real-time interaction and
The report is intended to raise awareness among FINRA member firms and the broader securities industry by providing an overview of how developments related to the metaverse may impact business models and processes. While the true implications of the metaverse may not be known for years, the report analyzes potential applications, use cases and challenges for member firms and notes certain regulatory considerations.
By offering new ways for financial institutions to engage and interact both internally and externally, the metaverse may provide new opportunities and present novel challenges. For example, market participants have noted that the metaverse may offer new methods to engage with and educate a broader group of investors, particularly younger investors who are beginning their investing journey. The
In addition to the potential challenges and related factors noted above, member firms should also be mindful of the potential implications to their regulatory obligations as they consider whether to incorporate the metaverse into their internal systems and processes or use this technology within product offerings. FINRA reminds its member firms that FINRA’s rules—which are intended to be
FINRA has implemented Form BR (Uniform Branch Office Registration Form) functionality enhancements for amendments to Form BR submissions for existing locations that will allow firms to account for the RSL designation by de-selecting a location’s registration for FINRA and the jurisdiction that accepts the RSL designation, while continuing to pre-select the location’s registration or notice filing in a jurisdiction or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), or both, that has not accepted the RSL designation.
The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 provided Americans with disabilities the opportunity to save in a tax-deferred account as a supplement to their government benefits.
Day trading refers to a trading strategy where an individual buys and sells (or sells and buys) the same security in a margin account on the same day in an attempt to profit from small movements in the price of the security. FINRA’s margin rule for day trading applies to day trading in any security, including options.
EssentialsThe basic purpose of life insurance is to provide financial support to people who depend on you financially—such as your spouse, partner, children or other loved ones—in the event of your death.Many types of life insurance are available. Key features to consider include the length of coverage, whether you pay fixed or variable premiums, how benefits are determined and costs of coverage.
Similar to other fixed-income securities with a specified maturity rate and a schedule of interest payments, baby bonds are available for a much lower investment than most other types of corporate bonds. While this can make them more accessible to individual investors, a lower investment minimum doesn’t mean lower risks.
