Podcasts: FINRA Unscripted

Each year, FINRA hosts its Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. packed full of panels with information on all the latest compliance trends and emerging regulatory issues. On this episode, we're taking you behind the scenes of this year's Annual Conference to listen in on a conversation between FINRA President and CEO Robert Cook and the Chair of the FINRA Board of Governors, Eric Noll.

Litigation economics is not something they teach in most schools, but when it comes to unique or first of their kind enforcement matters, it's an important skill to have. On this episode, we hear how FINRA's Enforcement team has been partnering up with the Office of Regulatory Economics and Market Analysis to ensure better case outcomes.

In recent months, FINRA has published two Regulatory Notices regarding the fraudulent transfer of customer accounts using an automated system called ACATS. On this episode, we'll hear all about what goes into the creation of a Reg Notice and take a deep dive on this particular issue.

In March, FINRA hosted the Senior Investor Protection Conference, a one-day event dedicated to sharing the most up-to-date regulatory information, effective strategies and solutions for protecting senior and other vulnerable investors from exploitation. On this episode, we're taking an abridged look at one of the conference sessions on the various trends, scams and schemes currently impacting investors.

FINRA's Risk Monitoring team is responsible for assessing financial, operational and business conduct risks that exist within individual member firms and across the industry. But they're also the day-to-day point of contact for firms for any questions they may have for FINRA. On this episode, we hear how they spot and track risks across similar firms.

The market for crypto assets has seen continued growth and firms are looking for ways to get involved in the digital asset space. So far, about two dozen firms have been approved by FINRA to provide services in securities backed by digital assets. And more firms are looking to follow in their footsteps. On this episode, we hear about some common sticking points in these new and continuing member applications and how FINRA is working to support innovation while protecting investors in this dynamic environment.

In 2020, a surge of new investors entered U.S. securities markets for the very first time, and the FINRA Foundation and its research partners at NORC at the University of Chicago jumped into action to get to know just exactly who these investors were. Two years later, they followed up to see where those investors are now. On this episode, we hear more.

FINRA recently announced the creation of a new team, the Office of Regulatory Economics and Market Analysis, which brings together FINRA's Office of the Chief Economist and the Office of Financial Innovation. On this episode, we talk to three leaders from the new group to hear about its mandate and how the new team works to inform FINRA's regulatory policies and programs to advance its mission of investor protection and market integrity.

FINRA's new Machine-Readable Rulebook is designed to enhance firms' compliance efforts, reduce costs and aid in risk management, with a lot to gain for firms of all sizes and various business models. On this episode, we hear what exactly the Machine-Readable Rulebook is, how it works, and how you can start taking advantage of all it has to offer.

Succession planning is important not just for customers and representatives but can even be a matter of life or death when it comes to the continued existence of a firm. On this episode, we hear how and why firms should plan for the expected and unexpected in life.