Technology has long played a central role in financial services innovation. It continues to do so today as many firms in the securities industry introduce new digital investment advice tools to assist in developing and managing investment portfolios. FINRA undertook a review of selected digital investment advice tools to assess these developments.

FINRA is conducting a retrospective review of the NASD Rule 1010 Series (Membership Proceedings) (collectively, MAP rules), which govern FINRA’s Membership Application Program (MAP).1 The purpose of the review is to assess whether the rules are meeting their intended investor protection objectives by reasonably efficient means and to take steps to maintain or improve the effectiveness of the rules while minimizing negative economic impacts.

On April 20, 2015, FINRA launched a significant new initiative—the FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors (HELPSTM)—to broaden its investor protection efforts. As part of FINRA’s commitment to the protection of senior investors, the Helpline is intended to be the “go-to” resource for senior investors with securities-related questions and concerns.

One of the primary missions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) is the protection of investors, of which senior investors are an important and growing subset. As part of a collaborative effort, staff of the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”)1  and FINRA (collectively, the “staff”) conducted 44 examinations of broker-dealers in 2013 that focused on how firms conduct business with senior investors as they prepare for and enter into retirement.

FINRA is conducting a retrospective review of its gifts and non-cash compensation rules, and is publishing this report on the assessment phase of the review. The purpose of the review is to assess whether the rules are meeting their intended investor protection objectives by reasonably efficient means and to take steps to maintain or improve the effectiveness of the rules while minimizing negative economic impacts.

FINRA is conducting a retrospective review of its communications rules, and is publishing this report on the assessment phase of the review. The purpose of the review is to assess whether the communications rules are meeting their intended investor protection objectives by reasonably efficient means and to take steps to maintain or improve the effectiveness of the rules while minimizing negative economic impacts.

Conflicts of interest can arise in any relationship where a duty of care or trust exists between two or more parties, and, as a result, are widespread across the financial services industry. While the existence of a conflict does not, per se, imply that harm to one party’s interests will occur, the history of finance is replete with examples of situations where financial institutions did not manage conflicts of interest fairly.

Today in the United States, nearly 40 million people are age 65 and older. This number is expected to more than double to 89 million by 2050.

In 2009 FINRA conducted a voluntary firm survey to determine preparedness for a pandemic in light of current events involving influenza A (H1N1). This survey continues FINRA's efforts to assist firms with business continuity planning by facilitating the exchange of information.

With the aging of the baby boom generation, a growing number of our nation’s investors are at or near retirement age. Indeed, data presented at the first “Seniors Summit” held by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in July 2006 indicated that 75% of the nation’s consumer financial assets, valued at $16 trillion, are held by households headed by someone who is 50 or older. Within the next 20 years, 75 million people will have celebrated their 60th birthday.