Progress on FINRA Forward Continues

Features

• Progress on FINRA Forward Continues 
  Numerous projects are underway to implement FINRA Forward, our comprehensive effort to become more effective and efficient at fulfilling our mission. This work is informed by engagement with our member firms. We encourage you to visit a new section of FINRA.org for updates and details, including a blog by Chief Legal Officer Robert Colby on our rule modernization initiative. 
   
• FINRA Updates Interpretations of Financial and Operational Rules 
  FINRA announced several new interpretations of Securities Exchange Act Rules 15c3-1 (net capital requirements for broker-dealers) and 15c3-3 (customer protection – reserves and custody of securities). They are available on the Interpretations of Financial and Operational Rules section of FINRA.org. 
  
  As part of FINRA Forward, we recently transformed these pages into an interactive digital resource to ensure firms of all sizes have easy access to key regulatory information. The interpretations now include clickable links to source documents, including SEC no-action letters, FINRA Regulatory Notices, and other guidance. You can learn more about these enhancements here. 
   
• FINRA Foundation Study Shows Half of Investors Miss Signs of Fraud 
  First-look findings from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation indicate that half of respondents said they would put money into a hypothetical investment that promised very high investment returns with no risk. The full report, which will be published in December, explores the attitudes, behaviors, knowledge and experiences of U.S. retail investors. 
   
• FINRA Marks World Investor Week 
  FINRA joined the North American Securities Administrators Association, the National Futures Association, and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation to issue a joint investor bulletin recognizing 2025 World Investor Week. The bulletin underscores how emerging technologies and innovation have opened unprecedented choice and access for retail investors, yet have also created new opportunities for fraud. 
  
  We also revisited an earlier episode of our FINRA Unscripted podcast featuring a conversation with FINRA’s Head of Investor Education Gerri Walsh about avoiding scams and achieving financial goals. You can listen to it here. 
   
• FINRA Expands Networking Service 
  Participants in the Maintaining Qualifications Program who are not currently registered with a firm may now subscribe to our Financial Industry Networking Directory. This complimentary service connects individuals to firms that are recruiting for employment and internship opportunities. It has been available since 2020 to those enrolled to take the Security Industry Essentials exam or who have passed the exam and meet certain requirements. More information about the service is available here on FINRA.org. 
   
• ICYMI: FINRA’s Crypto and Blockchain Program Goes Live 
  Foundational courses on crypto and blockchain are now available to member firms on FINRA’s e-learning platform. More information on these offerings and future crypto and blockchain trainings is available here on FINRA.org. 
   
• ICYMI: FINRA Enables Vendor-Submitted Reports 
  Member firms are now able to authorize third-party vendors to submit SEC Rule 606(a) Reports on their behalf, pursuant to FINRA Rule 6151. Step-by-step instructions are available here, or you may contact us with questions at [email protected]. 
   
• ICYMI: FINRA Reinforces Obligation to Comply with Information Requests 
  FINRA issued a Notice reminding member firms and associated persons that they must comply with Rule 8210 regardless of where they are located. Rule 8210 authorizes FINRA staff and adjudicators to request information for purposes of an investigation, complaint, examination, or proceeding. 
   
• ICYMI: Cyber Alert: Critical Cisco Vulnerabilities 
  FINRA member firms and their vendors should be aware that Cisco recently identified multiple vulnerabilities—several of them listed as critical—that could allow threat actors to compromise a firm’s systems. For more information, read FINRA’s Cybersecurity Alert here.