Revisions to the Sanction Guidelines Create New Fine Ranges Specific to Firm Sizes and Individuals, Reflect FINRA’s Enforcement Priorities
WASHINGTON—FINRA announced today that the National Adjudicatory Council (NAC) has made significant improvements to the Sanction Guidelines to ensure that they accurately reflect the levels of sanctions imposed in FINRA disciplinary proceedings and serve as an efficient resource for member firms, individuals and adjudicators.
News Releases & Statements
Board Approves Rulemaking Items, Hosts Securities and Exchange Commission Officials
WASHINGTON—FINRA’s Board of Governors held its fourth meeting of the year—the first with Eric Noll as Chair—on Sept. 21-22 in New York. The Board approved two rulemaking items and continued its engagement with key stakeholders by hosting officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Firm Failed to Report Over-the-Counter Options Positions in More Than 7.4 Million Instances
WASHINGTON—FINRA announced today that it has fined BofA Securities Inc. (BofAS) $5 million for failing to report over-the-counter (OTC) options positions to the Large Options Positions Reporting system (LOPR) in more than 7.4 million instances, including 26 positions that were over the applicable OTC position limit, and related supervisory failures.
Three Supervisors Suspended for Failing to Respond to Red Flags Eight Representatives Suspended for Excessive Trading
WASHINGTON—FINRA announced today that it has ordered Joseph Stone Capital LLC to pay restitution of approximately $825,000 to customers whose accounts were excessively traded by the firm’s representatives.
WASHINGTON—FINRA announced today that it has promoted Nathaniel Stankard to Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff to the CEO for Regulatory Operations, effective immediately. In this new role, Stankard will be responsible for providing strategic direction on the integration of FINRA’s regulatory operations, and for helping advance FINRA’s unified approach to regulatory policy.
Linde Murphy Re-Elected as Small-Firm Governor
Moira Kilcoyne and Fabiola Arredondo Appointed as New Public Governors
Camille Busette and Ethiopis Tafara Re-Appointed as Public Governors
WASHINGTON – The FINRA Board of Governors elected current FINRA Public Governor Eric Noll as its next Chair. Noll succeeds Eileen Murray, whose term on the Board and service as Chair concluded at the Aug.
New paper is a catalyst for a cultural shift to end the practice of blaming fraud victims for the crimes they experienced
WASHINGTON — A new report from the AARP Fraud Watch Network and FINRA Investor Education Foundation says shifting how our society talks about victims of financial fraud could lead to a much-needed change in how our country responds to this growing crime.
WASHINGTON – On many measures of financial capability, U.S. adults generally fared better in 2021 than in the decade leading up to the pandemic, according to the FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s nationwide, triennial study, published today. However, the research also shows that Americans’ financial wellbeing remains uneven across different demographic groups.
Regulator’s First Enforcement Actions for Online Cheating
WASHINGTON — FINRA announced today that it has barred Brandon Autiero of New Jersey and Harris Kausar of New York from the securities industry for cheating during qualification examinations administered online. The enforcement actions are FINRA’s first in connection with cheating on remote exams.
Report Finds No Evidence of Improper Agreement to Remove Arbitrators From Cases; FINRA to Implement Recommendations to Provide Greater Transparency
WASHINGTON – FINRA today published the report of independent counsel Lowenstein Sandler LLP, which found no evidence of an improper agreement to remove certain arbitrators from arbitration cases.