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Breakpoints Checklist & Worksheet

Overview

When considering their obligations to provide all available breakpoint discounts on sales of Class A shares of front-end load mutual funds, member firms may review the following Breakpoint Checklist and Breakpoint Worksheet, which may help member firms evaluate their breakpoint compliance programs and confirm whether they are capturing all relevant categories of information to provide customers all available breakpoint discounts.

FINRA reminds member firms that their registered representatives must understand the terms upon which mutual funds offer breakpoints – including the rules regarding rights of accumulation, letters of intent, rights of reinstatement and householding – to confirm they are correctly providing breakpoint discounts to customers.

FINRA Compliance Tools Disclaimer

This optional tool is provided to assist member firms in fulfilling their regulatory obligations. This tool is provided as a starting point and you must tailor this tool to reflect the size and needs of your firm. Using this tool does not guarantee compliance with or create any safe harbor with respect to FINRA rules, the federal securities laws or state laws, or other applicable federal or state regulatory requirements. This tool does not create any new legal or regulatory obligations for firms or other entities.

Updates

This tool was last reviewed and updated, as needed, on February 6, 2024. This tool does not reflect any regulatory changes since that date. FINRA periodically reviews and update these tools. FINRA reminds member firms to stay apprised of new or amended laws, rules and regulations, and update their WSPs and compliance programs on an ongoing basis.

Member firms seeking additional guidance on certain regulatory obligations should review the relevant FINRA Topic Pages, including the Breakpoints Topic Page.

Staff Contact(s)

FINRA's Office of General Counsel (OGC) staff provides broker-dealers, attorneys, registered representatives, investors and other interested parties with interpretative guidance relating to FINRA’s rules. Please see Interpreting the Rules for more information.

OGC Staff Contact
Joe Savage
1700 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 728-8000

 

Download Checklist Template

 

Download Worksheet Template