Guidance

Short sales by options professionals established during the course of bona fide market making activities are exempt from the affirmative determination requirements, regardless of whether the short sales constitute a permitted offset under Regulation T.

Requirements under NASD Rule 3030 (formerly Article III, Section 43) for investment seminar activities conducted by dually registered persons that charge fees from participants.

Clarification of NASD Notice to Members 94-44 to situations in which a dually registered person maintains discretionary trading authority, determines portfolio changes, and prepares trade instructions for customer accounts and charges the accounts an asset-based fee.

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.

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).

Q. What is a duplicate disclosure and how is a duplicate disclosure created?

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

1. How do I entitle someone to access an eFOCUS report?
2. Where are eFOCUS filings located in the redesigned FINRA Gateway?
3. How do I transmit an eFOCUS filing to my clearing firm?
4. When are my eFOCUS filings due?
5. Where can I see previously filed eFOCUS reports?
6. How do I amend a submitted eFOCUS report?
7. How do I print an eFOCUS report?

The 4530 Disclosure Timeliness Report Card is produced on a monthly basis to show a firm's performance in timely reporting of disclosure events as required by FINRA Rule 4530(a) and (b). The information in this report comes primarily from the Rule 4530 Application; to read more about the system, please see Disclosure Events and Customer Complaint Filings.

General

1. Do Rules 5110, 5121 and 2310 (the “Corporate Financing Rules”) apply to Regulation A offerings?

Utilize this checklist to determine if a private residence from which an associated person engages in supervisory functions meets the residential supervisory location (RSL) eligibility requirements and conditions. 

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.