FINRA's Annual User Accounts Certification Process is Now Underway

April 21, 2021
Volume 16


Guidance Regulatory Notice
Disciplinary Actions
Upcoming Deadlines and Effective Dates FINRA Request for Comment Upcoming Effective Dates
Education and Compliance Programs

Simplified Login for FINRA Systems. Starting May 8, 2021, FINRA will provide a simpler, more consistent login experience across various applications and platforms, including FinPro, FINRA Gateway and the Dispute Resolution Portal. In the new interface, the User ID and Password are entered on the same screen, instead of two successive screens. SEC and FINRA users will log in via a Single Sign-On tab, and then enter only their email address to log in. Existing credentials will continue to work in the new interface. The system will remember credentials for 30 days before asking users to answer a security question. The change affects only the login process and does not affect the applications and platforms themselves.
FINRA's Annual User Accounts Certification Process is underway and will conclude July 19, 2021. During this period, Super Account Administrators (SAAs) certify that individuals have the appropriate level of access to FINRA systems required to perform their job responsibilities or remove access if no longer required. For detailed information, refer to the Annual Entitlement User Accounts Certification Process page.
	Tune in to the latest episode of the FINRA Unscripted podcast. On this episode, Greg Ruppert, head of FINRA's National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Programs, joins the podcast to discuss recent trends in the fraud space and how firms can work to protect themselves and their customers. Listen to the podcast.
	Guidance FINRA Reminds Members About Requirements When Using Predispute Arbitration Agreements for Customer Accounts FINRA reminds member firms in Regulatory Notice 21-16 about the requirements when using predispute arbitration agreements for customer accounts. Where member firms use mandatory arbitration clauses in their customer agreements, FINRA rules establish minimum disclosure requirements regarding the use of mandatory arbitration clauses and prohibit predispute arbitration agreements from including conditions that, among other things, limit or contradict FINRA rules. In addition, FINRA rules do not allow class action claims in FINRA arbitration. Accordingly, FINRA rules prohibit member firms from incorporating provisions that would prevent customers from bringing or participating in judicial class actions by adding waiver language into customer agreements (class action waivers) and prohibit member firms from enforcing arbitration agreements against members of a certified or putative class action.
	Disciplinary Actions FINRA publishes disciplinary actions to remind registered representatives and firms of specific conduct that violates FINRA rules and may result in disciplinary action. FINRA posted the following disciplinary items on the website this week: April 2021 Disciplinary Actions FINRA announced that it has barred former Goldman Sachs & Co. research analyst Brian Maguire for twice purchasing securities after he learned a fellow analyst was upgrading his recommendation in impending research reports and for lying to FINRA staff about his trading.
	Upcoming Deadlines and Effective Dates FINRA Request for Comment FINRA seeks comment on proposed amendments to Rule 4210 (Margin Requirements) that would clarify and incorporate into the rule current interpretations regarding when issued and other extended settlement transactions, and provide relief to facilitate the application of the rule to these transactions. See Regulatory Notice 21-11 for the proposed rule text and additional information. The comment period expires May 14, 2021.
	Education and Compliance Programs Register today for FINRA's premier event—the 2021 FINRA Annual Conference. Join us virtually May 18-20 as practitioners, peers and regulators exchange ideas on timely compliance and regulatory topics. Virtual Compliance Boot Camps are almost sold out! These one-hour interactive virtual classroom sessions include training on a variety of topics including Cybersecurity, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Social Media and Digital Communications, and provide an opportunity to learn from and work closely with FINRA subject matter experts. Select your sessions and register today. Register for these upcoming FINRA events: Virtual Technology Conference \| June 23, 2021 – Registration coming soon! FINRA Institute at Georgetown Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional Program – Week I \| July 18-23, 2021 Advertising Regulation Conference \| October 14-15, 2021 \| Washington, DC Small Firm Conference \| October 27-28, 2021 \| Santa Monica, CA FINRA Institute at Georgetown Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional^® Program – Week II \| November 14-19, 2021

Regulatory Contacts
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Firms wishing to change the name or email address of their executive representative or designated assistant should do so through the FINRA Contact System (FCS). See http://www.finra.org/FCS for further information. Requests from executive representatives to be removed from this email notification list cannot be honored.

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