Guidance
We offer guidance to firms in the form of podcasts, webinars, FAQs, reports, and more. Use the toggle below to find guidance by topic, type or date.
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A Few Minutes With FINRA
Chip Jones and Susan Schroeder discuss the 529 Plan Share Class Initiative. Under the program, firms can self-report to FINRA by April 1, 2019, supervisory violations related to 529 plan share-class recommendations and include a plan to remediate the issue; and in response, FINRA Enforcement will recommend that FINRA accept a settlement that includes restitution for the impact on affected customers and a censure, but no fine. (7 min. 33 sec.)
January 28, 2019
Video
Watch the video report featuring highlights from the December 2018 Board of Governors meeting and read FINRA President and CEO Robert Cook’s email to firms.
December 21, 2018
Podcast
Cybersecurity is a major challenge for everyone – but it can be a particularly big challenge for those in the financial industry. That’s why FINRA released a new report highlighting effective cybersecurity practices for FINRA member firms. Learn more in this episode of FINRA Unscripted.
December 20, 2018
A Few Minutes With FINRA
FINRA’s Senior Vice President of Member Relations and Education Chip Jones, leads a discussion with Chief Information Security Officer John Brady, Senior Director Steve Polansky and Kansas City Surveillance Director Dave Kelley, on FINRA’s 2018 report on selected cybersecurity practices. The discussion includes an overview of the report, which highlights effective practices in five challenging areas that firms should consider to strengthen and further develop their cybersecurity programs—as well as core cybersecurity controls for small firms. (30 min. 17 sec.)
December 20, 2018
Email to Firms
The FINRA Board of Governors meets this week in New York for the final time in 2018. Read President and CEO Robert Cook’s email to firms previewing the agenda.
December 10, 2018
Report / Study
FINRA’s examination, surveillance and risk monitoring programs play a central role in supporting FINRA’s mission of investor protection and market integrity.
December 07, 2018
Podcast
In an era when much of our lives happen online, cybersecurity is more important than ever. But what do you do to protect your personal information? We all have a role to play in keeping ourselves secure. This National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, tune in to learn more about how you can keep yourself, your family and your clients safe online.
October 23, 2018
Video
Watch the video report featuring highlights from the September 2018 Board of Governors meeting and read FINRA President and CEO Robert Cook’s email to firms.
October 05, 2018
Exemptive Letter
Application for Exemptive Relief from Trade Reporting Obligation for Certain Transactions on an Alternative Trading System
October 01, 2018
Email to Firms
The FINRA Board of Governors meets this week in New York. Read President and CEO Robert Cook’s email to firms previewing the agenda.
September 25, 2018
Guidance
New member firms must file certain retail communications prior to first use with FINRA’s Advertising Regulation Department. A retail communication, as defined in FINRA Rule 2210, means any written (including electronic) communication that is distributed or made available to more than 25 retail investors within any 30 calendar-day period.
September 17, 2018
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) covering reporting of corporate and agencies debt, reporting of mortgage and asset backed securities to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE)
September 14, 2018
Report / Study
Technology Based Innovations for Regulatory Compliance in the Securities Industry outlines recent regulatory technology (RegTech) developments within the securities industry and potential opportunities and implications these technologies may have for broker-dealers.
September 10, 2018
Report / Study
September 10, 2018
Compliance Tools
FINRA has created this page to provide information for the small firm community—those firms with 150 or fewer registered representatives. This page contains current and past communications, links of interest to small firms, and other information.
August 01, 2018
Compliance Tools
A resource where small broker-dealer firms can get help navigating FINRA’s systems and resources.
Call (833) 26-FINRA (833-263-4672)Monday – Friday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time
As part of our ongoing efforts to provide support for small firms, and in response to the FINRA Special Notice on Engagement and FINRA360, FINRA developed the Small Firm Helpline to assist broker-dealers that need general help navigating FINRA’s systems and resources.
July 30, 2018
Get Involved
The FINRA Board of Governors meets this week for the third time in 2018. Read President and CEO Robert Cook’s email to firms previewing the agenda.
July 16, 2018
Compliance Tools
Protecting investors means protecting their data, too. Our Small Firm Cybersecurity Checklist supports small firms in establishing a cybersecurity program to:
July 12, 2018
Podcast
What is FINRA’s Dispute Resolution forum? How might I end up with a case in arbitration or mediation? What does the process look like? FINRA’s Head of Dispute Resolution, Rick Berry, answers these questions and more in this episode of FINRA Unscripted.
June 19, 2018
Podcast
FINRA can’t predict the future, but like a weatherman, it can make predictions based on circumstances that exist today. FINRA’s Office of Emerging Regulatory Issues (ERI) looks to predict what storms may be brewing in the securities market and what areas they are likely to impact.
June 05, 2018
Guidance
In the near-future, FINRA is introducing a new TRACE Markup/Markdown Analysis Report on the Report Center. The report displays a firm's markup and markdown behavior compared to the industry and provides the underlying details used to calculate the markup or markdown.
May 23, 2018
Email to Firms
The FINRA Board of Governors meets this week for the first time in 2018. Read President and CEO Robert Cook’s email to firms previewing the agenda.
May 07, 2018
Guidance
The staff granted an exemption from FINRA Rule 5130 with respect to purchases of “new issues” by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
April 16, 2018
Interpretive Letter
A member firm may include related performance information in institutional communications concerning variable contracts, subject to the stated conditions discussed in the letter.
April 16, 2018
Compliance Tools
Large Options Positions Report (LOPR) – Listed
FINRA is providing Listed LOPR exceptions from FINRA’s Listed LOPR Audit Exception Report. The LOPR Listed report contains three types of exceptions for exchange-traded options: The Effective Date, LOPR Reporting Exceptions and In-Concert Exceptions.
April 11, 2018