Podcasts: FINRA Unscripted

On May 28th, U.S. markets are moving to a one-day settlement cycle, familiarly known as T+1. On this episode, we hear from four individuals across FINRA about what all market participants need to be thinking about and testing ahead of the transition.

These days, it's not a matter of if, but when, when it comes to cybersecurity incidents, which is why it's essential for all firms to ensure they're prepared for the inevitable. On this episode, we're catching up with two members of FINRA's Complex Investigations and Intelligence Team for an update on the cyber threat landscape and what firms should be thinking about and doing in response to the latest trends.

Recently, FINRA's Market Regulation and Transparency Services (MRTS) team realigned its structure around specific functions, rather than around specific rules or products. On this episode, we hear from three of the group's senior leaders to learn how the change allows MRTS to be more nimble in addressing and anticipating risks, to better leverage its data and more.

While Generative AI and large language models present numerous opportunities to create business efficiencies and offer many potential benefits to firms, regulators and investors, they also introduce unique risks. On this episode, we hear from three experts at FINRA who are closely looking at these technologies and following developments in this space.

On this episode, we dig into a new report from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, Investors of Color in the United States, that highlights interesting trends related to the pace at which Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and Asian American/Pacific Islander investors are entering the market, their views on risk, where they're receiving information and more.

FINRA Enforcement works tirelessly on the front lines of investor protection, and this tremendous undertaking demands steadfast leadership. On this episode of FINRA Unscripted, we are reintroduced to Bill St. Louis, FINRA's new Executive Vice President and Head of Enforcement, to learn more about what's on the horizon for Enforcement in the new year.

On this episode, we delve into the results of FINRA's targeted review of certain member firms and their communications to retail investors regarding crypto products and services.

As a self-regulatory organization, information sharing is key to FINRA's pursuit of its mission of investor protection and market integrity, and no single resource is a better example of that than FINRA's Annual Regulatory Oversight Report. On this episode, we hear from four leaders within FINRA's Member Supervision department to discuss highlights from the 2024 report.

Succession planning is important not just for customers and representatives but can even be a matter of life or death when it comes to the continued existence of a firm. On this episode, we hear how and why firms should plan for the expected and unexpected in life.

The small firm community, those firms with 150 or fewer registered financial professionals came together in October to discuss and engage on key areas of concern at the Small Firm Conference. On this episode, we go behind the scenes of this year's event to share with you the fireside chat between FINRA CEO Robert Cook and FINRA's Head of Member Relations, Kayte Toczylowski.