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
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Structured Product Reports

FAQ
1. How do I submit form filings to Web CRD? Upon completion of a filing...

Compliance Tools

The Municipal Continuing Disclosure Report displays statistics about transactions that your firm effected with customers. The report provides relevant information about the availability of official statements, annual financial filings, and event filings on the MSRB's Electronic Municipal Market Access system (EMMA) at the time the securities were sold or purchased. Specifically, the report shows counts of transactions with customers for which official statements and/or current annual financial filings were not available on EMMA at the time the transaction occurred.


Compliance Tools
The TRACE Detail Data Download is designed to accompany the TRACE Quality of Markets Summary Report Card as a tool to help a firm analyze and improve its compliance-related activities associated with reporting transactions via TRACE.

Guidance
This document provides guidelines regarding the use of the Trace Reporting and Compliance Engine and TRACE trademarks. Any use of these trademarks must be in accordance with these guidelines.

FAQ

General Ledger


1. A person (GL Clerk) who has limited roles that do not meet the criteria under Rule 1220(b)(3)(A)(i)a. or b., is responsible for making journal entries into the member’s general ledger some of which represent material amounts for the firm. The journal entries serve to record the firm’s transactions on its books and records but do not affect the movement of money or securities or otherwise commit the firm’s capital. The GL Clerk is not permitted to commit the member to any contract or agreement (written or oral).


Guidance
The timely receipt of firms’ annual audited financial statements is critical to FINRA’s ability to carry out its regulatory obligations.

About FINRA

Background

Advanced data analytics is a critical function within FINRA and an important component of our efforts to be a risk-based and data-driven organization.7 This work, which supports our examination, surveillance and enforcement functions among others, is conducted in a number of areas throughout FINRA, but primarily within Market Regulation Surveillance, Research, Methodology, and Governance (SRMG), the Regulation Operations Advanced Analytics Team (AAT), the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), and Technology.


FAQ
Regulation NMS Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility Plan Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ
1. What is meant by a "Queue?" A Queue is an online electronic listing...

Compliance Tools

The Municipal Trades Below Minimum Denomination Report displays statistics about transactions your firm effected with customers where the denomination was below the minimum denomination provided to DTCC’s New Issue Information Dissemination Service (NIIDS) and/or reference data obtained from Thomson Reuters.  This report is designed to aid firms in monitoring their compliance with MSRB Rule G-15(f).  MSRB Rule G-15 (f) requires, with some exceptions, that firms should no


About FINRA

Background

A critical part of the registration process in the securities industry is the background investigation of applicants for registration and the timely and accurate reporting of information to the Central Registration Depository (CRD) system via the Form U4 (Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer).


FAQ
Following are FAQs about FINRA’s research conflicts of interest rules.

FAQ
1. What is E-Bill and what can I do in E-Bill? E-Bill is FINRA's financial system that enables entitled users to view accounting details of the firm's Flex-Funding and Renewal accounts, fund the accounts, pay annual renewal assessments, and view and pay FINRA invoices.

Compliance Tools

In Regulatory Notice 23-17, FINRA announced its decision, effective November 30, 2023, to discontinue collecting INSITE data, pursuant to Rule 4540, at this time. As a result, effective November 30, 2023, the Canceled and As-Of Trades Report was retired from the FINRA Report Center.


FAQ

1. Where can I access a list describing the exams listed in CRD?

A listing of the exams available in CRD can be found on the Qualification Exams page.

2. How long is an exam window in CRD?

Exam windows are valid for 120 days. Provided that an exam candidate is not subject to a waiting period after a previous failed attempt, the exam window start date will be the day following the submission of the exam enrollment request.


Guidance
The Joint NASD/Industry Task Force urges mutual funds to include these definitions in their prospectuses and other relevant materials as soon as is reasonably practicable.

About FINRA

Background

FINRA administers qualification examinations that are designed to establish that persons associated with broker-dealers have attained specified levels of competence and knowledge pertinent to their function. Over time, the qualification examination program has increased in complexity to address new products and functions, and related regulatory concerns and requirements.


Guidance

To assist firms in complying with SEC Rules regarding financial and operational matters, FINRA has published and will periodically update certain interpretations provided by the staff of the SEC's Division of Trading and Markets.


FAQ
Back-to-back scheduling is a feature that allows the scheduling of two appointments for the same day and same test center in one transaction. The following are frequently asked questions related to back-to-back scheduling.

Video

State and national securities regulators and legislators came together on November 6, 2019 in Gaithersburg, MD to talk to area savers and investors about how to make informed investment decisions and to protect their retirement savings from fraud. Hear from FINRA Foundation President, Gerri Walsh, about how Marylanders are doing with their finances.


Compliance Tools

The tables below provide a reference description for all of the elements found in all views of the TRACE Quality of Markets Corporate Bond and Agency Debt Report Cards. (See TRACE Quality of Markets Report Card Figures 1 - 3 for a sample report.)

Term

Definition