On The Front Lines of Protecting Investors
FINRA’s priorities are clear: getting bad brokers out of the industry, returning money to harmed investors, and preventing and deterring future misconduct. We stand ready on the front lines of investor protection to act quickly, root out potential fraud, and aggressively stop those who take advantage of vulnerable investors.
To carry out our mission, FINRA monitors and examines for member firm compliance with FINRA rules, MSRB rules, and federal securities laws and rules, and works to detect and address possible fraud or other misconduct. We investigate possible misconduct and bring disciplinary actions for violations of industry rules and regulations. We coordinate closely with the SEC and other federal and state regulators.
We register and administer qualification examinations to securities industry personnel who conduct business with the investing public, and require them to achieve and maintain certification as members of FINRA. We operate a fair and efficient dispute resolution forum for investors, brokerage firms and their registered employees.
We provide BrokerCheck®, a free online tool that allows the investing public to research the background and experience of financial brokers, advisers and firms. We offer investors financial tools and resources through the FINRA Investor Education Foundation®.
Protecting investors—this is our core mission.
Featured
News Release
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.
Speech / Testimony
Testimony by Senior Vice President of Investor Education and President of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation Gerri Walsh Before the Senate Special Committee on Aging
Podcast
This episode originally aired in April 2021.The brokerage industry has an important role to play when it comes to detecting, preventing and reporting fraud. On this episode, we hear from the then-head of FINRA's National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Programs about recent trends and how firms can work to protect themselves and their customers.
News Release
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
News Release
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.
Podcast
The small firm community, those firms with 150 or fewer registered financial professionals, came together in October to discuss and engage on key areas of concern at the Small Firm Conference. On this episode, we're taking you behind the scenes of this year's event with an abridged look at the fireside chat with FINRA CEO Robert Cook and Executive Vice President Greg Ruppert.
News Release
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.
Podcast
For service members, a missed credit card payment might do more than just ding their credit report, it could also jeopardize a hard-fought promotion. And for their spouses, move after move might be more than just a logistical hardship, it might also be the biggest hurdle in their own career growth. The FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship Program is just one program that is aiming to address both challenges.
News Release
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).
Podcast
Shawn Spruce’s advocacy work earned him the 2021 Ketchum Prize, the FINRA Foundation’s highest honor. On this episode, we talk to Spruce about his teaching and outreach as a tireless champion of investor education and expanded financial capability in Native communities.
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