Transforming the Securities Industry Continuing Education Program

In this session, panelists discuss upcoming changes to the Securities Industry Continuing Education Program.

Launch Conference Panel

Transforming the Securities Industry Continuing Education Program Bios:

Moderator:

Patricia Monterosso is Director of Continuing Education Services, FINRA, CRED, where she is responsible for overall management of the Securities Industry Continuing Education program, including the development and maintenance of content for the Regulatory Element program and FINRA’s SRO-client programs. She is also responsible for overseeing the creation of Firm Element advice and content. Ms. Monterosso has been with FINRA for more than 16 years. During this time, she held different roles in FINRA’s Testing and Continuing Education area, including those in which she has been responsible for the development and maintenance of FINRA qualification exams, SRO-client exams, and waivers processing. Prior to working at FINRA, Ms. Monterosso served in compliance, supervisory and registered principal roles at several different broker-dealer firms. Ms. Monterosso received a B.A. in Economics from Barnard College, Columbia University. She also received an MBA with a dual concentration in Finance and Management Systems from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University.

Speakers:

Elizabeth Hansen Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, is responsible for the leadership of Waddell & Reed, Inc. (W&R) compliance functions. She designs and implements the compliance and risk management programs of W&R. She is involved at a senior level in the interpretation and application of regulatory statutes and rules on a federal and state level. She joined Waddell & Reed in 2018. Prior to joining Waddell & Reed, she was with Ameriprise Financial, where she spent 18 years. She served for nearly seven years as Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for American Enterprise Investment Services (the clearing broker-dealer for Ameriprise) before being appointed Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., where she was charged with overall responsibility for the compliance program of the broker-dealer and investment adviser. Ms. Hansen graduated with a B.A. from Kansas State University in 1991 and earned an M.A. in Management from Webster University in 1995. She is a member for SIFMA, NSCP, FSI and serves as 2021 Chair of the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education, committee member of FINRA Midwest Regional Committee and former Chair of FSI Compliance Council.

James Papagiannis is Chief Compliance Officer of Incapital. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing and directing the regulatory compliance program of Incapital and its affiliates. Prior to joining Incapital, Mr. Papagiannis spent 14 years at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) where he served as Examination Manager in several areas of FINRA member regulation, including routine cycle firm examinations, targeted cause examinations, financial/operational reviews, and membership applications. During his career at FINRA, Mr. Papagiannis examined several hundred securities firms with various lines of business and has a great perspective on a wide range of regulatory issues. Mr. Papagiannis holds a BS in finance and an MBA in international finance and marketing from DePaul University. Mr. Papagiannis also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Mr. Papagiannis serves as Vice Chairperson of the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education (CE Council). Mr. Papagiannis also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP).

David Scrams is Vice President of Testing and Continuing Education, FINRA, RAD, where he manages the FINRA qualifications and continuing education programs. Dr. Scrams has more than 20 years of experience in psychometrics and standardized testing, including extensive work with IT certification programs; and he is an authority in content development, measurement and testing industry policy. He has served on FINRA’s Diversity Leadership Council and is currently the sponsor of the Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee of the CRED Culture Working Group. Dr. Scrams holds a B.A. in Psychology from California State University at Bakersfield as well as both an M.A in Social Psychology and a Ph.D. in Quantitative Psychology from Johns Hopkins University.

Resources:

• Securities Industry Regulatory Council on Continuing Education Website
• FINRA Rule 1210. Registration Requirements
• FINRA Rule 1240. Continuing Education Requirements
• FINRA Regulatory Notice 20-05, FINRA Requests Comment on a Proposal to Implement the Recommendations of the CE Council Regarding Enhancements to the Continuing Education Program for Securities Industry Professionals (December 2020)
• FINRA Regulatory Notice 18-26, Continuing Education Program, FINRA Requests Comment on Enhancements Under Consideration by the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education (September 2018)
• Proposed Rule Change to Amend FINRA Rules 1210 (Registration Requirements) and 1240 (Continuing Education Requirements)