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Ad Hoc Committees

FINRA departments also create specific subject-matter committees as needed to consult on various issues. Approximately 55 individuals participate on these committees that serve as important advisory bodies within FINRA’s regulatory framework. 

Current active ad hoc committees include the following:

  FinTech Industry Committee

Composed of 15 members drawn from member firms, academia, and industry participants, in addition to one Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) observer and one North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) observer. The committee provides FINRA, member firms and others with a platform for ongoing dialogue and analysis of FinTech developments, including with respect to their potential impact on FINRA’s investor protection and market integrity objectives; challenges to the adoption of FinTech-based products or services; opportunities to improve interactions between firms and FINRA to support innovation that is consistent with FINRA’s investor protection and market integrity objectives; and possible FINRA FinTech initiatives.

Committee Members:

Jo Ann S. Barefoot
Alliance for Innovative Regulation

Richard Berner
NYU Stern School of Business

Megan Brewer
Morgan Stanley

Maria Gotsch
Partnership Fund for New York City

Joshua Hershman
UBS

Kim Johns
Goldman Sachs

Richard Johnson
Texture Capital

Kabir Kumar
Flourish Ventures

Andrew McCormick
eToro

Lucas Moskowitz
Robinhood

Neha Narula
MIT Media Lab

Melissa Netram
Block

Jason Rives
Figure Securities

Lagan Srivastava 
Galaxy Digital

Mona Vernon
Fidelity Investments

Kevin Werbach
Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania

Patrick Whyte
Charles Schwab & Co.

Observers:

Jillian Lazar
North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) FinTech Committee

Valerie A. Szczepanik
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

FINRA Staff Liaisons:
Robert Chao
Alex Khachaturian
Haimera Workie

 Licensing and Registration Council (LRC)

Composed of 10 industry members, five NASAA members and two SEC observers. The committee advises FINRA’s Credentialing, Registration, Education and Disclosure (CRED) Department regarding industry trends, best practices, and challenges relating to the licensing and registration of financial services firms and their associated persons. The LRC provides a forum for the open discussion of issues relating to Web CRD® and the Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARDTM), and provides recommendations for enhancements of those systems. The Committee also provides feedback on CRED’s operations, industry offerings, and strategic plan.

Committee Members:

Eileen Arcuri
Magnit/Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

Heather Emmert
JPMorgan Securities, LLC

April Gaskin
Commonwealth Financial Network

Richard Gowan
Edward Jones

Craig Harrison
Benjamin F. Edwards

Eugene McGivney
Morgan Stanley

Vicki Schmelzer
Franklin Distributors, LLC

Regina Sims
M Holdings Securities, Inc.

Kevin Ward
Vanguard Marketing Corporation

Terry Donlan Welker
Lombard Securities Incorporated 

FINRA Staff Liaison:
Bill Swanstrom

 Public Communications Committee

The Public Communications Committee is composed of member firm representatives. The committee advises FINRA on matters regarding proposed changes, interpretive guidance and the implementation of FINRA rules governing member communications with the public, including communications concerning registered investment companies and variable insurance products, and informs the FINRA staff on matters concerning emerging communications technologies and practices.

Committee Members:

Surabhi Ahmad
Ameriprise Financial

Stephen Bard
Wells Fargo Clearing Services

Kenneth D. Cieprisz
Franklin Templeton

Nathaniel Ganousis
Edward Jones

Cameron Hellewell
Orchard Securities, LLC

Darrian Hopkins
TIAA

Ted Newton
MassMutual

Julie Richmond
Fidelity Investments

Nicholas P. Salas
BCI Securities, Inc. & Latin Securities, Inc.

Danielle Nicholson Smith
T. Rowe Price

FINRA Staff Liaison:
Ira Gluck

 Rule 4210 Committee

Composed of representatives from member firms and representatives from the SEC, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Cboe and Options Clearing Corporation. The Committee advises FINRA’s Office of Financial & Operational Risk Policy with respect to the industry’s margin and credit practices. FINRA’s staff consults with the Committee regarding issues and changes relating to Rule 4210 (Margin Requirements), the rule’s interpretations and other related margin regulations including Regulation T.

Committee Members:

James Adams
CBOE Global Markets, Inc.

John Aurre
Goldman Sachs

Ronald Baakkonen
Charles Schwab

Chris DeCarlo
UBS Financial Services Inc.

Pasquale DiGennaro
Pershing LLC

William Eineke
Options Clearing Corporation

Kevin Fitzgerald
JP Morgan

Camile Grande
Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.

Walter Koller
Robinhood

Michael Macchiaroli
US Securities and Exchange Commission

Joseph Pergola
Citigroup

Richard Primavera
Jefferies, LLC

Jeffrey Puente
Morgan Stanley

Chris Radler
National Financial Services, LLC

Daniel Sieracki
CBOE

Benjamin Snodgrass 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Trevor Vernier
Apex Fintech Solutions

FINRA Staff Liaison:
James Barry