In FINRA Notice to Members 15-08 , FINRA noted that it regularly conducts a comprehensive review of the examination fee structure, including an analysis of the costs associated with developing, administering and delivering each examination, so that FINRA may better understand whether pricing changes are warranted and evaluate the financial condition of each qualification examination … Continue reading Regulatory Notice: Effective Date for Changes to Qualification Examination Fees→
Executive Summary FINRA is soliciting comment on a proposal to expand dissemination of TRACE data to include additional Securitized Products, specifically, collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBSs) and collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). FINRA is proposing to reduce the reporting time frame for these additional Securitized Products from end-of-day to 45 minutes and, … Continue reading FINRA Regulatory Notice 15-04 Fixed Income Price Dessimination→
Chairman and CEO Rick Ketchum gave testimony before the Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises Committee on Financial Services. For the full text of his testimony, click here
FINRA plans to administer this year's RCA in the May/June timeframe—and will announce the specific date in the Weekly Update email. The RCA is an important part of FINRA's risk-based examination program, in that the information collected from firms helps us better understand firms' businesses so examiners can arrive for examinations focused on any areas … Continue reading FINRA 2015 Risk Control Assessment (RCA) Survey→
On May 12, 2015, FINRA announced that the NAC revised its Sanction Guidelines to call for tougher sanctions against those who commit fraud. For the complete new release, click here.
FINRA is conducting a retrospective review of the membership application rules to assess their effectiveness and efficiency. This Notice outlines the general retrospective rule review process and seeks responses to several questions related to firms’ experiences with these specific rules. The comment period expires May 14, 2015.
Regulatory Notice 15-06 stated that FINRA is soliciting comment on a proposal to require registration as a Securities Trader of associated persons primarily responsible for the design, development or significant modification of algorithmic trading strategies, or who are responsible for supervising or directing such activities. The comment period expires May 18, 2015.
This podcast is the second in a three-part series on topics for firms to consider when planning their Firm Element training, as identified in the CE Council's Spring 2015 Firm Element Advisory.
Marriott Marquis
901 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., DC, United States
FINRA's Annual Conference provides compliance professionals, securities attorneys, and other industry leaders with the opportunity to hear regulatory priorities and share compliance solutions. Click here for further details. FINRA Annual Conference May 27 – 29, 2015 Washington, DC Registration is now open to attend the 2015 FINRA Annual Conference in person or via live broadcast. The … Continue reading 2015 FINRA Annual Conference→
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
101 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA
Registration is now open for FINRA's Small Firm Conference, which focuses on small firms' practices and tips for complying with FINRA rules. Each session begins with a FINRA staff member highlighting key requirements of a rule, and then small firm panelists provide a step-by-step approach for complying with that particular rule. Topics featured at least … Continue reading FINRA Small Firm Conference Registration – California→
FINRA plans to administer this year's RCA in the May/June timeframe—and will announce the specific date in the Weekly Update email. The RCA is an important part of FINRA's risk-based examination program, in that the information collected from firms helps us better understand firms' businesses so examiners can arrive for examinations focused on any areas … Continue reading 2015 Risk Control Assessment (RCA) Survey→
The annual meeting of FINRA firms will take place on or about Thursday, July 30, 2015, to elect one Small Firm Governor, one Mid-Size Firm Governor and one Large Firm Governor to the FINRA Board of Governors (FINRA Board). A formal notice of the meeting, including the precise date, time and location, will be mailed … Continue reading FINRA Board of Governors Election: Petitions for Candidacy Due→
The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Lilac Meeting Room
70 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard, IL, United States
Designed for compliance and legal professionals at FINRA member firms, these events offer an opportunity to hear about current regulatory issues while engaging in a direct dialogue with FINRA District Office staff. - See more at: Regional Event.
The SEC approved FINRA’s proposed rule change to adopt NASD Rule 3010(e) (Qualifications Investigated) relating to background checks on registration applicants as FINRA Rule 3110(e). FINRA Rule 3110(e) becomes effective on July 1, 2015. 3110(e) is based in part on substantially similar provisions in NASD Rule 3010 (e) and includes new provisions relating to the … Continue reading Effective Date of consolidated FINRA Rule 3110(e)→
FINRA is soliciting comment on proposed amendments to the FINRA rules governing communications with the public. The proposed amendments would revise the filing requirements in FINRA Rule 2210 (Communications with the Public) and FINRA Rule 2214 (Requirements for the Use of Investment Analysis Tools) and the content and disclosure requirements in FINRA Rule 2213 (Requirements … Continue reading FINRA Requests Comment on Proposed Amendments to Rules Governing Communications With the Public→
Westin Galleria
5060 West Alabama, Houston, TX, United States
Half-day Compliance Boot Camps focus on basic regulatory requirements and compliance responsibilities. Participants are required to complete approximately three hours of assigned pre-course readings and online coursework prior to attending the session. Pre-course work is assigned and distributed approximately one week before the session. This course is designed for compliance professionals who are new to … Continue reading FINRA Boot Camp: Supervision and Branch Office Inspections→
Only a few weeks remain for you to enroll in the initial course of the FINRA Institute at Wharton Certified Regulatory and Compliance ProfessionalTM (CRCPTM) program. Week I: Foundation takes place July 12 – 17, 2015, on the Wharton campus in Philadelphia, and focuses on case studies and interactive discussions designed to provide participants with … Continue reading FINRA Institute at Wharton CRCP Program Week I→
SEC Washington D.C. headquarters
100 F Street N. E., Washington D.C., DC, United States
WASHINGTON — The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) today announced the opening of registration for their 2015 National Compliance Outreach Program for Broker-Dealers. The program is intended to provide an open forum for regulators and industry professionals to discuss compliance practices and exchange ideas on effective compliance structures. The … Continue reading SEC and FINRA to Hold National Compliance Outreach Program for Broker-Dealers→
The comment period ends July 27, 2015 on FINRAs concept proposal to restructure the registered representative-level qualification examination program into a format whereby all potential representative-level registrants would take a general knowledge examination and an appropriate specialized knowledge examination to reflect their particular registered role. For purposes of the proposal, the general knowledge examination would be … Continue reading Comment Period Ends: Concept Proposal to Restructure Qualification Examination Program→
The SEC requested comments on a proposal to amend FINRA Rule Series 9100, 9200, 9300, 9550 and 9800 to (1) modify the evidentiary standard that must be met to impose a temporary cease and desist order; (2) adopt a new expedited proceeding for repeated failures to comply with temporary or permanent cease and desist orders; (3) ease administrative burdens in temporary cease and desist proceedings; (4) harmonize the provisions governing how documents are served in temporary cease and desist proceedings and expedited proceedings; (5) clarify the process for issuing permanent cease and desist orders; and (6) make conforming changes throughout FINRA's Code of Procedure.
Ballots for FINRA's election to fill one small firm seat, one mid-size firm seat and one large firm seat on the FINRA Board of Governors must be submitted prior to the Annual Meeting scheduled for July 30, 2015.
FINRA Board
1735 K Street NW, Washington DC, DC, United States
FINRA will conduct its annual meeting of firms on Thursday, July 30, 2015, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time at 1735 K Street, NW, in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the meeting is to elect individuals to fill one small firm seat, one mid-size firm seat and one large firm seat on the FINRA Board of … Continue reading Notice of Annual Meeting of FINRA Firms→
The SEC requested public comment on a proposal to amend FINRA Rule 2210 (Communications with the Public) to require a readily apparent reference and hyperlink to BrokerCheck® on: (1) the initial webpage that the member intends to be viewed by retail investors; and (2) any other webpage that includes a professional profile of one or more registered persons who conduct business with retail investors. These requirements would not apply to a member that does not provide products or services to retail investors, or to a directory or list of registered persons limited to names and contact information.
FINRA Rule 2040 ("Rule") governs the payment of transaction-based compensation by member firms to unregistered persons. The new amendment to the Rule is effective August 24, 2015. The amended It expressly aligns the rule with Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (SEA or Exchange Act) and its related guidance to determine whether … Continue reading Effective Date of FINRA Rule 2040 – Payment to Unregistered Persons→
FINRA Notice to Members 15-07 noted that the effective date of Rule 0190 is August 24, 2015. Rule 0190 is based largely on NASD IM-2420-1(a) (Transactions Between Members and Non-Members; Non-members of the Association) and provides that a member firm will be considered as a non-member of FINRA from the effective date of any order … Continue reading Effective Date of FINRA Rule 0190→
FINRA Notice to Member 15-07 noted that the amendments to FINRA Rule 8311 would be effective August 24, 2015. In general, the amendments to FINRA Rule 8311 eliminate duplicative provisions in NASD IM-2420-2 and clarify the scope of the rule on payments by member firms to persons subject to suspension, revocation, cancellation, bar (each a … Continue reading Effective Date of amended FINRA Rule 8311→
The comment period ends on August 24, 2015 for a FINRA proposal to reduce the delay period for the Historic TRACE Data Sets from 18 months to six months. For more information, see Regulatory Notice 15-24.
FINRA is soliciting comment on a proposal to create a new Academic TRACE Data product that would be available to institutions of higher education. FINRA and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) have been engaged in ongoing dialogue to support a coordinated approach to potential rulemaking in this area. The comment period expires September 14, … Continue reading Comment Period Ends: Academic TRACE Data product→
FINRA Boca Raton District Office
5200 Town Center Circle Suite 200, Boca Raton, FL, United States
FINRA Half-day Compliance Boot Camp focuses on basic regulatory requirements and compliance responsibilities. Participants are required to complete approximately three hours of assigned pre-course readings and online coursework prior to attending the session. Pre-course work is assigned and distributed approximately one week before the session. This course is designed for compliance professionals who are new to the role or those looking to reinforce their understanding of regulatory requirements and compliance responsibilities.
Rule change to amend Section 4(c) of Schedule A to the FINRA By-Laws to establish an administration and delivery fee for the new Municipal Advisor Representative Examination (“Series 50 examination”). Click here for full discussion of rule change.
Rule change to adopt NASD Rule 3040 (Private Securities Transactions of an Associated Person) as FINRA Rule 3280 (Private Securities Transactions of an Associated Person) in the consolidated FINRA rulebook without any substantive changes. FINRA also proposes to update cross-references within other FINRA rules accordingly.
