Archive of Recent Announcements

FINRA Issues Guidance to Broker-Dealers on Partial Redemptions of Auction Rate Securities

4.30.08

FINRA's National Adjudicatory Council Affirms $5 Million Fine Against American Funds Distributors for Violating FINRA's Anti-Reciprocal Rule

4.28.08

New Podcast: Principal Approval of Sales Material
A review of a new exception to the principal approval requirements for some sales material that firms file

4.25.08

Update to the April 11, 2008, Interpretive Letter: Auction Rate Preferred Securities (ARPS)

FINRA Hearing Panel Dismisses 2004 Sales Practices Complaint Against H&R Block Financial Advisors

4.25.08

Investor News

Equity-Indexed Annuities: A Complex Choice plus FINRA Introduces Resources for Companies, Employees to Guard Against Early Retirement Seminar Scams

4.24.08

Update to the temporary relief from the requirements of FINRA and SEC Rules regarding the net capital charges applicable to credit extended on non-marginable ARPS. This update modifies the requirement to obtain secured bank loans for credit extended to customers collateralized by ARPS.

4.24.08

FINRA Proposes Rule Change to Require Reporting of Customer Allegations of Sales Practice Violations Against Brokers in All Arbitrations, Civil Lawsuits - Even When Broker is not an Official Party to the Dispute

4.24.08

Spring Securities Conference

FINRA Requests Comments on Proposed Changes to Forms U4 and U5; Comment Period Expires: May 27, 2008

4.24.08
News Release
FINRA Alert Cautions Investors on Speculating with Catastrophe Bonds and Other Event-Linked Securities

4.24.08
Investor Alert
Catastrophe Bonds and Other Event-Linked Securities

4.24.08

May 21-23, 2008
Discounted Registration Rates Have Been Extended to May 2

4.22.08
New Webcast - Preparing for a Cycle Examination

This "What to Expect" webcast focuses on what firms should expect during the cycle examination process and how they can prepare.

4.22.08

Protect Yourself from Early Retirement Seminar Scams

FINRA Introduces Resources for Companies, Employees to Guard Against Early Retirement Seminar Scams

4.22.08

Resources for companies and employees

4.17.08

Rule Filing

FINRA files with SEC to delay the effective date of certain provisions of NASD Rule 2821 (Deferred Variable Annuities)

4.16.08
Dispute Resolution Statistics
Dispute Resolution Statistics Have Been Updated for the Month of March

4.14.08
New Podcast - Consolidation Update
FINRA's CEO Mary Schapiro talks about the ongoing integration of NASD and NYSE Regulation, including an update on the rulebook consolidation

4.11.08

Interpretive Letter: Auction Rate Preferred Securities (ARPS)

SEC Approves Rule Change to Amend FINRA's Gross Income Assessment; Effective Date: January 1, 2008

4.11.08

Election Notice

Election Results for District Committees and District Nominating Committees

4.11.08

Temporary relief from the requirements of FINRA and SEC Rules regarding the net capital charges applicable to credit extended on non-marginable ARPS

4.10.08

Spring Securities Conference

May 21-23, 2008
Discounted Registration Rates End April 23

4.10.08

Small Firm Conference

Dallas - June 19, 2008
Enrollment is Now Open

4.9.08

FINRA Issues Guidance on Best Practices for Detecting and Preventing "Rogue" Trading

4.8.08

Sound Practices for Preventing and Detecting Unauthorized Proprietary Trading

4.8.08

New Podcast - Electronic Communications: Reviewing Correspondence

Reporting of Customer Complaints Relating to Auction Rate Securities; Effective Date: April 1, 2008

4.8.08

Methods firms should consider when reviewing electronic correspondence and developing related procedures

4.7.08
Regulatory Notice
Member Firm Disclosure and Supervisory Review Obligations; Effective Date: April 7, 2008

4.7.08
Regulatory Notice
Foreign Research Analyst Exemption from the Research Analyst Qualification Examination; Effective Date: April 7, 2008

4.3.08
New Podcast - March 2008 Monthly Recap
Revisit the latest FINRA Notices, compliance resources and news from March 2008

4.1.08

FINRA Implements Changes to OTC Reporting Facility and OTC Bulletin Board Invoice Processes; Effective Date: April 1, 2008

3.31.08

Self-Regulators Warn Against Spreading False Rumors and Other Abusive Market Activity

3.31.08

Statement

Statement of FINRA CEO Mary L. Schapiro Regarding Treasury Secretary's Blueprint on Revamping Financial Services Regulation

3.31.08

FINRA Issues Guidance to Investors Caught in ARS Auction Failures

3.31.08

Investor Alert: Auction Rate Securities
What Happens When Auctions Fail

3.28.08
Neutral Phone-In Workshop
The audio and presentation document for the March 13 workshop are now available.

3.28.08

FINRA Implements New Electronic Form NMA Filing Requirement; Effective Date: February 29, 2008, Compliance Date: June 26, 2008

3.27.08

FINRA Consolidates the Collection of Short Interest Data; Effective Date: May 15, 2008

3.27.08

Investor News

Reverse Mortgages: Avoiding a Reversal of Fortune, Bonds and Taxes, and Borrowing from Your 401(k)

3.26.08

SEC Approves Amendment to NASD Rule 2210 to Create an Exception to the Principal Approval Requirements for Certain Filed Sales Material; Effective Date: March 26, 2008

3.25.08
New Podcast - Rulebook Consolidation Process
This podcast explains the process for FINRA's rulebook consolidation and what firms can expect from it

3.24.08
Annual Examination Priorities Letter
FINRA's annual letter to firms highlighting regulatory topics that are of particular significance to this year’s examination program

3.24.08

Q&A on Electronic Filing Requirements of NASD Rule 3170

3.19.08

Rule 2821: Deferred Variable Annuities Phone-In Workshop - April 18, 2008

FINRA Announces Amendments to Make Permanent the Pilot Program Increasing Positions and Exercise Limits for Stock Options; Effective Date: February 28, 2008

3.18.08

Trade Reporting Notice

Revised Policy for Disseminating Reports of Fewer Than 100 Shares; Effective Date: April 21, 2008

3.17.08

This free workshop focuses on Rule 2821 regarding broker-dealer's compliance and supervisory responsibilities for deferred variable annuities. Advanced registration is required.

3.17.08

E-Learning Video Tutorials

Select webcasts are now available in a SCORM compliant e-learning format with optional assessment testing, completion tracking and certificates of completion.

3.17.08

New Podcast –Electronic Communications: What and Who
This podcast presents guidance on what electronic communications your firm's policies and procedures will permit employees to use and who will be responsible for supervisory reviews

3.14.08
News Release
Statement of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Regarding Bear Stearns' Broker Dealers

3.14.08

Regulatory Notice
FINRA Revises Portfolio Margining Risk Disclosure Statement and Written Acknowledgment for Customers Using Portfolio Margin Accounts

3.12.08

The Neutral Corner

The latest edition of The Neutral Corner is now available on our site.

3.12.08

Rulebook Consolidation Process

3.10.08

Mid-Year Rate Adjustment for Fees Paid under Section 31 of the Exchange Act; Effective Date: April 1, 2008

3.10.08

New Podcast: Record Retention Relief
This podcast explains how firms can now rely on Web CRD to satisfy requirements to retain records of certain forms

3.7.08
Speech
View Remarks by CEO Mary L. Schapiro at the CCOutreach BD National Seminar

3.7.08

SEC, FINRA Announce 14 Regional CCOutreach BD Seminars

3.6.08

New Webcast: Variable Annuities: Requirements for Representatives

FINRA Fines, Suspends 16 State Farm Representatives for Test-Taking Irregularities in the Firm's Continuing Education Program

3.5.08
Regulatory Notice
FINRA Temporarily Increases Margin Maintenance Requirements on Auction Rate Securities Backed by Fixed Income Products

3.3.08

New Podcast: February 2008 Monthly Recap
Revisit the latest FINRA Notices, compliance resources and news from February 2008

2.27.08
Election Notice
Nominees for the District Committees and District Nominating Committees

2.26.08

New Webcast: Variable Annuities: Requirements for Supervisors
A FINRA staff member discusses considerations for supervising recommendations of deferred variable annuity transactions in this webcast for supervisors

2.26.08

Registered Representatives' responsibilities when recommending variable annuities are the focus of this webcast for frontline staff

2.25.08
AML Compliance Boot Camp - April 3-4, 2008
Program covers core AML regulatory requirements and compliance responsibilities. Registration ends on March 4.

2.22.08

Trade Reporting Notice

FINRA Announces Modifications to the TRACE System Relating to Certain Securities with Equity CUSIPs and Reminds Firms of Their Reporting Obligations Regarding Equity-Linked Notes and Convertible Debt

2.21.08

FINRA Investor Education Foundation Grants Exceed $14M

2.21.08

FINRA Secures Relief for Member Firms for Certain Record Retention Requirements; Effective Date: February 19, 2008

2.21.08

Oppenheimer & Co. to Pay $4.5 Million to Settle FINRA Market Timing Charges

2.19.08

Trade Reporting Notice

Guidance on Reporting Electronic Communications Network (ECN) Transactions

2.19.08
New Podcast: Electronic Communications: Introduction to Supervision
This podcast presents guidance on designing procedures for reviewing electronic communications

2.14.08

FINRA and NYSE Filed Rule Changes with the SEC to Amend FINRA's Gross Income Assessment and Eliminate Certain NYSE Fees; Effective Date: Upon SEC Approval With an Implementation Date of January 1, 2008

2.14.08

FINRA Charges Broker for Misappropriating Almost $400,000 from 97-Year-Old Widow and Her Charitable Foundation

2.12.08

Speech

View Remarks by CEO Mary L. Schapiro at the ASECA Annual Dinner

2.12.08

SEC Approves Amendments to NASD Rule 11810(i) to Mandate the Use of the Automated Liability Notification System of a Registered Clearing Agency; Effective Date: March 13, 2008

2.11.08

New Podcast: Protecting Senior Investors
FINRA CEO Mary Schapiro discusses one of FINRA's top priorities: protecting senior investors from fraud

2.8.08

SEC, NASAA and FINRA Announce New Steps to Help Protect Senior Investors

2.7.08