2008 FINRA Spring Securities Conference

May 21 - 23, 2008
The Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa
Hollywood, FL

Registration is now open for the premier spring event for securities professionals.

Highlights

• Updates on FINRA examination program
• 15 workshops on current regulatory issues
• Topics include the disciplinary process, AML, supervisory controls and conflicts of interest
• Ask FINRA Staff session
• Branch Office pre-conference

Overview

FINRA's annual Spring Securities Conference provides comprehensive updates on securities industry rules, regulations and compliance issues. FINRA staff, other regulators and industry representatives address regulatory updates and facilitate workshop discussions and Q&A. Workshop sessions cover broker-dealer and investment adviser issues, advertising regulation compliance, anti-money laundering issues, supervision, the disciplinary process and conflicts of interest, among others.

Branch Office Pre-Conference Program: May 21, 2008

This half-day program addresses branch office audit, examination and supervisory practices. Industry compliance and supervisory staff join regulators in discussions of firm-focused internal audits, branch office reviews, hiring practices and the application of supervisory controls. FINRA staff members also cover the branch office examination program, including common examination findings, and share tools and resources. Panelists and participants engage in interactive case studies to demonstrate how the key concepts discussed can be pragmatically applied to branch office reviews and supervision.

Agenda

Wednesday, May 21	Branch Office Pre-Conference Program
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.	Registration
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Lunch
1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Branch Office Pre-Conference Supervision Branch Office Audits Examinations Case Studies
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.	Welcome Reception
Thursday, May 22
7:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.	Registration
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.	Contenental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.	Welcome Remarks and Keynote Address
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Break
10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Sessions I Broker-Dealer and Investment Adviser Issues Disciplinary Process I: Investigations Fixed Income Compliance
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Lunch
1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions II Disciplinary Process II: Adjudications Financial and Operational Issues Insurance Products Regulation
2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.	Break
2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions III Advertising Review Credit Market Issues Dispute Resolution
3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	Break
4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.	Ask FINRA Staff
5:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.	Reception with Sponsors
Friday, May 23
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.	FINRA Examination Program Plenary Session
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Break
10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Sessions IV Best Execution and Related Issues Conflicts of Interest Small Firm Compliance
11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	Break & Pick Up Box Lunch
12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions V Anti-Money Laundering: Use of SARs Doing Business Outside the U.S. Supervisory Controls
1:15 p.m.	Conference Adjourns

Session Descriptions

General Session:

FINRA Examination Program Plenary Session
This plenary session provides conference attendees with an update on FINRA's integrated examination program. The session focuses on FINRA's financial and operational and sales practice examinations, including priorities, common examination findings, types of examinations, frequency and updates to the examination process. The session also highlights tools and resources that firms can use when preparing for an examination.

Concurrent Sessions:

Advertising Review
FINRA Advertising Regulation staff members address current issues related to advertisements and other communications with the public. The session includes a lively, interactive review of mock advertisements, which allows participants to practice application of the regulations governing communications with the public.

Anti-Money Laundering: Use of SARs
This session provides guidance on how to write a good Suspicious Activity Report, or SAR. Specific areas of discussion include the value of SARs to law enforcement, examples in which SARs were used to initiate or further a case, and selected firm practices in this area.

Best Execution and Related Issues
The session addresses the obligation of best execution in light of Regulation NMS's Order Protection Rule and other developments in the equity and debt markets. Panelists review practices, procedures and information for firms of all sizes and, in particular, focus on current areas of emphasis for FINRA Market Regulation.

Broker-Dealer and Investment Adviser Issues
Panelists address current regulatory issues concerning firms or representatives that are dually registered as broker-dealers and investment advisers. The session focuses on recent initiatives regarding the regulation of BDs and IAs, as well as compliance issues raised by dually registered firms or representatives.

Conflicts of Interest
This session covers how conflicts of interest arise in the industry, and ways firms and registered representatives manage those conflicts. Special emphasis is placed on the business practices that give rise to conflicts and the practical steps that firms and brokers can take to ensure that conflicts are handled appropriately. Areas of discussion include ethics and gifts and entertainment, among others.

Credit Market Issues
Industry experts discuss recent credit market issues, in particular in the subprime mortgage market. Panelists address securities regulators' concerns and best practices from firms dealing with such issues.

Disciplinary Process I: Investigations
Panelists review FINRA's investigative process and address self-reporting and cooperation, Rule 8210 requests for information, the Wells process, and authorization of complaints and settlements. The session also addresses practices for dealing with multiple regulators during the investigative process and covers current FINRA enforcement priorities and sources of enforcement cases.

Disciplinary Process II: Adjudications
Panelists clarify the adjudication process and explain disciplinary hearings, hearing panels, the hearing officer's role, and how the hearing panel arrives at and explains its decision. The session also covers discovery, the post-complaint settlement process and the appeals process of FINRA's National Adjudicatory Council.

Dispute Resolution
This session introduces participants to FINRA Dispute Resolution's arbitration and mediation programs. Experienced attorneys, arbitrators and FINRA senior staff provide insights on successfully navigating the dispute resolution process. Using a hypothetical arbitration claim, the moderator poses arbitration and mediation questions to panelists and elicits audience participation.

Doing Business Outside of the U.S.
Regulators from Mexico, Canada and the U.K. explain their respective requirements for U.S. firms that are considering or currently doing business there. Topics addressed include registration requirements, marketing and solicitation of customers.

Financial and Operational Issues
Experts discuss recent financial and operational issues and how to avoid common mistakes regarding financial management and regulatory reporting. The session covers compliance with the net capital and customer protection rules as well as other recent regulatory issues. Attendees also learn about regulatory red flags, approaches to financial compliance, and related examination focus and findings.

Fixed Income Compliance
This session reviews municipal and corporate bond transaction examinations including the centralized surveillance and quality reviews of firm reported transactions, common reporting errors and reviews for price mark-ups. Panelists also provide an overview of current regulatory initiatives and MSRB rule changes, including proposals for new issue underwriting, an online official statement library and regarding access equals delivery for municipal official statements.

Insurance Products Regulation
Panelists discuss current topics related to the sale of insurance products and provide guidance on Rule 2821 and insurance product supervision, suitability and sales practices. The session also discusses the regulation of insurance products at the federal and state levels.

Small Firm Compliance
Intended specifically for small firm compliance professionals, this session focuses on key issues that firms with limited resources often encounter. Small-firm industry representatives and regulatory staff lead participants through short, fact-based scenarios on a number of areas, including electronic recordkeeping, senior investors, and supervisory controls and procedures, among others. In addition, the panel highlights FINRA Web tools and other resources designed to assist small firm compliance efforts.

Supervisory Controls
FINRA staff members provide insight into what FINRA is finding through examinations in this area, and firm representatives share their practices for maintaining compliance. This session includes a discussion of commonly asked questions on application of the rule.

Registration & Fees

Early-Bird Registration/Hotel Block Cut-Off Date has been extended to: May 2, 2008

Half-Day Pre-Conference ONLY
	Member rate before/on May 2:	$350
	Non-Member rate before/on May 2:	$550
	Member rate after May 2:	$400
	Non-Member rate after May 2:	$600
Securities Conference ONLY
	Member rate before/on May 2:	$935
	Non-Member rate before/on May 2:	$1,145
	Member rate after May 2:	$1,145
	Non-Member rate after May 2:	$1,345
Securities Conference AND Half-Day Pre-Conference
	Member rate before/on May 2:	$1,100
	Non-Member rate before/on May 2:	$1,300
	Member rate after May 2:	$1,300
	Non-Member rate after May 2:	$1,500
Guest		$ 175

Spring Securities Conference fees include receptions on Wednesday and Thursday, continental breakfasts and lunches on Thursday and Friday, refreshment breaks, attendance to all sessions on Thursday and Friday, and conference materials.

Pre-Conference Program fees include Wednesday lunch, reception on Wednesday evening, refreshment breaks and pre-conference materials for your selected session(s).

Guest Registration: Conference participants may bring a guest to conference receptions; please register this person per instructions found on the registration form. Guest registration does not permit attendance at sessions, luncheons or continental breakfasts.

How to Register

Online	Online registration is for credit card transactions ONLY. To register using this method, complete the online registration form. Online registration closes one day prior to the start of the program. For those who wish to register after this date, please fax or phone your registration to FINRA.
Mail	Print out and complete the downloadable registration form and send payment and form to the address below with a check made payable to FINRA: FINRA Conference Registration Attn: FINRA Spring Securities Conference (CM1820) P.O. Box 7777-W8440 Philadelphia, PA 19175-8440
Fax	Fax registration is for credit card transactions ONLY. Fax your completed downloadable registration form to FINRA at (202) 728-6956.
Phone	(212) 858-4119

Conference registration is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment is required at the time your registration is submitted. Registrations without payment are considered incomplete and therefore not processed.

Registration may not be sent via overnight mail. Checks are sent directly to a bank lockbox, and P.O. boxes will not accept courier or overnight deliveries. Early-bird registration fees will be granted to all registrations postmarked on or before May 2, 2008.

You will receive an email confirmation of your registration within two weeks of receipt of your completed registration form and payment. Please make sure your registration has been confirmed prior to your arrival onsite at the conference.

FINRA suggests that you do not purchase restricted or nonrefundable tickets for travel to the conference, especially prior to receipt of your registration confirmation. FINRA assumes no liability for penalties or fare increases should the conference sell out or in the unlikely event that changes to the conference date and/or location become necessary.

Volume Discounts Available: Call (212) 858-4119 or email for additional details.

CLE/CPE Credit

Both CLE and CPE credit are available for the 2008 FINRA Spring Securities Conference. Please indicate on the registration form if you wish to receive CLE and/or CPE credit.

Cancellation Policy

Full refunds for registration, less a $100 processing fee, will be granted to written requests received 14 days or more prior to the start date of the program. We regret that refunds will not be granted after May 7, 2008.

Questions

If you have questions about this conference, call (212) 858-4119.

Hotel Information

The 2008 FINRA Spring Securities Conference will be held at:

The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa
3555 South Ocean Drive
Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33019
Telephone (954) 602-6000
Toll Free (888) 627-9057
Fax (954) 602-7000
Web http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/FINRA2008

A room block is available at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa at the special rate of $249 per night, plus tax. This rate will be available until May 2, 2008, or until the room block is sold out. After May 2, 2008, hotel reservations will be accepted on a space-available and rate available basis. Room cancellations made after May 2, 2008, will incur a cancellation fee of one night's room charge of $249, plus tax. Hotel reservations, cancellations and charges are the responsibility of the attendee. To reserve a room, please call (888) 627-9057 or (954) 602-6000 and identify yourself as an attendee of the FINRA Spring Securities Conference.

Travel Discount

Avis is providing discounted rates for attendees of the FINRA Spring Securities Conference on all car classes, including a full-size 4-door for $40 per day. For more information on the conference rates or to reserve a car, please contact Avis at (800) 331-1600 and use the Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number G028023. Or reserve online and the discount will be automatically included in your reservation.

Sponsorship Opportunities

FINRA has a limited number of sponsorship opportunities available for this conference. As a FINRA Spring Securities Conference Sponsor, you will gain exposure in a forum geared to securities regulatory participants. For the best selection among the available sponsorships, and to secure your participation, please let us know your interest as soon as possible. Contact Jeffrey Arcuri at (508) 759-8180 or jvarcuri@aol.com to request a FINRA Spring Securities Conference Sponsorship Package. (Please provide complete contact information in your message.)

Only FINRA's Spring and Fall Securities Conferences are open to the media. All other FINRA conferences, pre-conferences and other professional development courses are closed to the media.

View our sponsors