WASHINGTON—FINRA announced today that it has fined Credit Suisse Securities $9 million for failing to comply with securities laws and rules designed to protect investors, including the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Customer Protection Rule and FINRA rules requiring firms to disclose potential conflicts of interest when issuing research reports. As part of the settlement, FINRA also required Credit Suisse to certify that it has implemented supervisory systems and procedures reasonably designed to comply with the Customer Protection Rule and other requirements.

Settlements Reached with Six Member Firms Resulted in Nearly $17 Million in Restitution to 10,000 Harmed Customers WASHINGTON—FINRA announced today that as a result of its targeted examination of Unit Investment Trust (UIT) early rollovers, FINRA has reached settlements with six member firms and obtained more than $16.8 million in restitution to approximately 10,000 investors. All of the firms, including two that agreed to settlements today,1 failed to

Board Approves Rule Proposals and FINRA’s 2022 Budget, Appoints SFAC and NAC Members WASHINGTON – FINRA’s Board of Governors met on Dec. 1-2 in New York. During the meeting, it approved two rule proposals and FINRA’s 2022 budget, appointed members to the Small Firm Advisory Committee (SFAC) and National Adjudicatory Council (NAC), and received the results of recent SFAC and Regional Committee elections.

WASHINGTON—FINRA announced today that it has appointed Bill St. Louis to Executive Vice President and Head of its National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Program (NCFC). St. Louis, currently Senior Vice President and Firm Group Leader in FINRA’s Member Supervision department, will begin his new role on December 13 and report to Greg Ruppert, Executive Vice President and Head of Member Supervision. St. Louis will succeed Ruppert, who previously led the NCFC.

Firm Also Fined $1.1 Million for Supervisory Failures WASHINGTON—FINRA announced today that it sanctioned Aegis Capital Corp. approximately $2.8 million, including $1.7 million in restitution to 68 customers whose accounts were potentially excessively and unsuitably traded by the firm’s representatives. FINRA also imposed a $1.1 million fine for Aegis’ supervisory violations.

Small, But Encouraging Gains Apparent Among Some Groups WASHINGTON—African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos continue to be underrepresented among investor households in America, despite modest gains by African Americans in recent years, according to new research released by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation).

Champion of Financial and Investor Education in Native Communities Receives Highest Honor WASHINGTON—The FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) today awarded Shawn Spruce the 2021 Ketchum Prize—its highest honor—in recognition of his outstanding advocacy, teaching and outreach as a champion of investor education and financial capability in Native communities.

Board Approves New Maintaining Qualifications Fee; Reaffirms FINRA’s Financial Guiding Principles WASHINGTON – FINRA’s Board of Governors met on Sept. 23-24 and approved a proposal to establish a modest fee for individuals who choose to complete continuing education (CE) to remain qualified for up to five years following the termination of the individual’s registration.

WASHINGTON—In a combined effort to provide additional protection for investors, FINRA and the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) today announced a new campaign urging investors to provide their financial firms with a trusted contact. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (SEC OIEA) is also collaborating on this initiative.

FINRA today announced the appointment of Sarah Gill as Ombudsman and Cindy Foster as Vice President of the Membership Application Program (MAP) and Statutory Disqualification.   As the new Ombudsman effective Oct. 4, Gill will handle issues, inquiries and complaints that arise from FINRA’s interactions with public investors, member firms, member firm employees, FINRA staff and other stakeholders. She succeeds Foster in the role. Foster, who had served as FINRA’s Ombudsman since 2009, was appointed to lead MAP, effective June 14.