Skip to main content

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. 

5 A B C D E F G H I L M N O P Q R S T V
Regulatory and Compliance Alerts (RCA)
full_html
March 01, 1994
Interpretive Letter
Suitability responsibilities of a discount broker/dealer when a customer is trading in options contracts (under former Article III, Section 2, now Rule 2310).
May 18, 1993
Interpretive Letter

Whether a proposed standby purchase agreement entered into between affiliate of a member and an issuer in connection with a public offering of the issuer's common stock could constitute an option.

February 24, 1993
Interpretive Letter
Application of NASD Notice to Members 90-52 to member firms that do not recommend securities transactions to their customers, but limit their business to accepting unsolicited orders from customers (under former Article III, Section 2, now Rule 2310).
November 13, 1990
Interpretive Letter

Cash rebates issued to pension plan customers with respect to secondary market transactions in outstanding securities (under former Article III, Section 24, now Rule 2740 and IM-2740).

December 22, 1988
FAQ

General

1. Q: Why does FINRA publish the Sanction Guidelines?

A: FINRA publishes the Sanction Guidelines to familiarize member firms and associated persons with the disciplinary sanctions that could result from typical securities industry rule violations.

2. Q: Who develops the sanctions and fines?


FAQ
Continuing Membership Guide - Frequently Asked Questions

About FINRA

Background

In March 2017, FINRA issued a Special Notice on its engagement programs as part of FINRA360. Based on comments and suggestions regarding the usefulness of some advisory committees, their membership and their effectiveness as a vehicle for dialogue between FINRA and member firms, FINRA is making several changes.

Operational Impact of Rule Changes


FAQ
Q1. My firm has been granted an exemption from both the recording and reporting requirements of the OATS Rules and does not currently have an obligation to report to OATS. Does my firm’s OATS exemption extend to the Consolidated Audit Trail (“CAT”) recording and reporting requirements?
A1. No. Neither SEC Rule 613 nor the CAT NMS Plan provide exemptive relief to any class of broker-dealers.

Compliance Tools

The Cross-Market Equities Supervision: Auto Execution Manipulation report is a tool designed to provide firms feedback on exceptions that were generated based on the firm’s order entry and trading activity in a given surveillance period. The report covers auto execution manipulation.  This report is produced on a monthly basis.

Summary Report

The table below provides a reference description for all of the elements found for Auto Execution Manipulation exceptions identified during the month.  


Guidance

In general, a member firm’s office or location is either registered as a branch office, if it meets the definitions contained in Rule 3110(f), or exempt from branch office registration (i.e., an unregistered office or non-branch location), if it fits within an express exclusion from the branch office definition listed in Rule 3110(f)(2)(A)(i)–(vii) or is designated as a residential supervisory location (or RSL) under the terms of Rule 3110.19. 


Technical Documentation
Tips, system visual aids, user manuals, and other tools that should aid smaller member firms in the usage of Web CRD System-related registration activities

About FINRA

Background

In response to the March 2017 Special Notice on Engagement issued as part of FINRA360, FINRA received a number of comments and suggestions regarding ways in which FINRA could help facilitate compliance among its member firms. One of FINRA's defining characteristics as a self-regulatory organization (SRO) is the ability to develop compliance tools and other resources to assist our members with fulfilling their compliance obligations.


FAQ
Read the frequently asked questions for information on filling out each section of the SSOI.

Compliance Tools

The Web CRD Form BD Timeliness Report Card is a monthly analysis of FINRA firms' ability to meet certain filing obligations. In accordance with FINRA rules, firms are required to submit information related to applicant member and/or affiliate(s). This report displays a firm's performance in submitting certain BD amendment filings in the required time frame.


Compliance Tools
The TRACE Treasuries Execution Time Difference report is a monthly summary of execution time comparisons for inter-dealer trades in U.S. Treasury Securities reported to TRACE. Firms are required to report trades in accordance with established FINRA rules and regulations.

FAQ
A list of frequently asked questions related to UPC.

Guidance
In November 2000, the SEC adopted Exchange Act Rule 11Ac1-5. Rule 11Ac1-5 is aimed at improving public disclosure of order execution quality. Under Rule 11Ac1-5, the SEC requires market centers that trade national market system securities to make monthly electronic reports.

Compliance Tools
Reports published for firms to monitor their performance in reporting disclosure and non-disclosure events and CRD late filing fee information.

About FINRA
.floating-navBoxBorder { display: inline-block; width: 100%; margin: 10px; padding: 10px; background-color: #f2f2f2; border: 1px solid #d3d2d2; font-size:.75em; } .exec_quote { vertical-align: middle; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ccc; margin: auto; width: 80%; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1em; clear: both; } .exec_quote p { margin-top: 4px; }

Background

In response to the March 2017 Special Notice on Engagement


FAQ

1. When are books, records and accounts under the “control” of a member firm, associated person or person subject to FINRA’s jurisdiction?

For purposes of Rule 8210, whether a particular document is within a member firm’s or person’s “control” is determined by the facts and circumstances of each situation. Generally, a document will be considered to be in the control of a member firm or person if the firm or person has the legal right, authority or ability to obtain the document upon demand.1


Compliance Tools

The Executing Firm 10 Second Compliance Report Card is a monthly status report for trades that another firm reported on behalf of the market participant. The report contains counts of properly modified late trades, late trades that were not modified, and improperly modified trades.