FINRA Enhances Systems to Facilitate U4 Recordkeeping Requirements Compliance

Features

• FINRA Enhances Systems to Facilitate U4 Recordkeeping Requirements Compliance 
  FINRA members may now rely on our Central Registration Depository (CRD®) system to maintain for recordkeeping purposes the Form U4 filings that individuals electronically sign through FINRA’s Financial Professional Gateway. FINRA received relief last month from SEC staff to allow member firms to rely on the CRD to satisfy their record retention requirements with respect to Form U4 filings electronically signed via our systems. FINRA issued a Regulatory Notice detailing this change, which is part of FINRA Forward and designed to save member firms the time and cost of having to separately store these records. 
   
• Small Firm Briefing: Key Regulatory Insights and Practical Guidance 
  FINRA President and CEO Robert Cook and Kayte Toczylowski, Head of Member Relations and Education, will join three FINRA Board Governors — Erin Baskett, Wendy Lanton, and Jennifer Szaro — at 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. ET on Oct. 17 for a conversation on how small firms are navigating today's evolving regulatory landscape. This session will highlight insights and strategies shared at the Small Firm Conference to help firms stay compliant while operating efficiently. Please register here. 
   
• Cyber Alert: Red Hat Security Incident 
  FINRA member firms should be aware of a security incident involving Red Hat Consulting, which exposed sensitive data about Red Hat customers that could be abused to breach member firm customer networks. FINRA recommends member firms share this Cyber Alert with appropriate information technology and information security personnel and their third-party vendors. 
   
• Cyber Alert on Oracle E-Business Suite Critical Vulnerability 
  FINRA member firms should also be aware of a critical vulnerability that affects certain versions of Oracle E-Business Suite, a business management software platform. This vulnerability can be exploited over a network without requiring a username or password. FINRA recommends member firms alert the appropriate personnel and follow the mitigation steps listed in Oracle’s advisory. You may contact our Cyber and Analytics Unit with questions. 
   
• Presenting the 2025 FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellows 
  The FINRA Investor Education Foundation and the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education recently announced the 2025 cohort of the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship. This year, 30 military spouses will achieve their Accredited Financial Counselor designation through the fellowship, which is open to qualifying spouses of active-duty or retired U.S. service members, as well as spouses of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Professionals. Find more information or sign up for program updates here. 
   
• ICYMI: Progress Continues on FINRA Forward 
  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. 
   
• ICYMI: 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, which has been modernized as part of FINRA Forward to ensure firms of all sizes have easy access to key regulatory information. 
   
• ICYMI: 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. More information about this complimentary service, which connects individuals to firms that are recruiting for employment and internship opportunities, is available here on FINRA.org.