211. Suitability
(a) A capital acquisition broker or an associated person of a capital acquisition broker must have a reasonable basis to believe that a recommended transaction or investment strategy (as defined in FINRA Rule 2111) involving a security or securities is suitable for the customer, based on the information obtained through the reasonable diligence of the broker or associated person to ascertain the customer's investment profile. A customer's investment profile includes, but is not limited to, the customer's age, other investments, financial situation and needs, tax status, investment objectives, investment experience, investment time horizon, liquidity needs, risk tolerance, and any other information the customer may disclose to the capital acquisition broker or associated person of a capital acquisition broker in connection with a recommendation. The capital acquisition broker or associated person may not disclaim any responsibilities under this Rule.
(b) The capital acquisition broker or associated person fulfills the customer-specific suitability obligation for an institutional investor, if (1) the broker or associated person has a reasonable basis to believe that the institutional investor is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities and (2) the institutional investor affirmatively indicates that it is exercising independent judgment in evaluating the broker's or associated person's recommendations. Where an institutional investor has delegated decision-making authority to an agent, such as an investment adviser or a bank trust department, these factors will be applied to the agent.
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.01 Reasonable Basis Suitability Obligation. Rule 211 requires a capital acquisition broker to have a reasonable basis to believe, based on reasonable diligence, that the recommendation is suitable for at least some investors. In general, what constitutes reasonable diligence will vary depending on, among other things, the complexity of and risks associated with the security or investment strategy and the capital acquisition broker's or associated person's familiarity with the security or investment strategy. A capital acquisition broker's or associated person's reasonable diligence must provide the capital acquisition broker or associated person with an understanding of the potential risks and rewards associated with the recommended security or strategy. The lack of such an understanding when recommending a security or strategy violates the suitability rule.
.02 Institutional Investor Exemption. Rule 211(b) provides an exemption to customer-specific suitability regarding institutional investors if the conditions delineated in that paragraph are satisfied. With respect to having to indicate affirmatively that it is exercising independent judgment in evaluating the capital acquisition broker's or associated person's recommendations, an institutional investor may indicate that it is exercising independent judgment on a transaction-by-transaction basis, on an asset-class-by- asset-class basis, or in terms of all of its potential transactions.
.03 Regulation Best Interest. This Rule shall not apply to recommendations subject to SEA Rule 15l-1 ("Regulation Best Interest").
| Amended by SR-FINRA-2020-007 eff. June 30, 2020. Adopted by SR-FINRA-2015-054 eff. April 14, 2017. Selected Notice: 16-37, 20-18. |