The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is considering a significant potential change in how it governs certain areas of conflicts of interest by consolidating its rules on Outside Business Activities (OBA) and Private Securities Transactions (PST). This proposal could bring much-needed clarity and efficiency to compliance processes for member firms. Current Landscape: OBA and PST Rules At present, OBAs and PSTs are governed separately under FINRA Rules 3270 and 3280. These rules outline how registered representatives must disclose and seek approval for activities and private securities transactions outside their primary roles with their member firms. While these rules aim to […]
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FINRA
RegEd Advances its Market-Leading Compliance and Registration Management Solutions to Ensure the Industry’s Seamless Transition to FINRA’s New API Platform
The enhancements come as the result of more than a year of direct collaboration with FINRA to secure readiness for the change while delivering additional efficiencies across the rep compliance lifecycleRegEd, the leading provider of compliance and RegTech solutions for the financial services industry, today announced significant enhancements to its industry-leading suite of compliance and registration management solutions. These advancements will enable firms to transition without disruption to FINRA’s new API platform ahead of the sunset of its Web EFT application on April 30, 2025, while realizing additional efficiency and effectiveness across a range of critical rep compliance processes. As […]
Continue readingMore TagRegEd to Showcase AI-Powered Advertising Review Solution at 2024 FINRA Advertising Regulation Conference
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the industry’s leading enterprise advertising compliance review solution, powered by advanced capabilities that integrate AI technology to drive speed to market and reduce risk. RegEd, the leading provider of compliance technology solutions to insurance companies, broker-dealers and other financial services firms, is pleased to announce its participation at the FINRA Advertising Regulation Conference in Washington, DC, Sept. 26-27, 2022. FINRA’s Advertising Regulation Conference presents an extensive agenda tailored for both newcomers and seasoned professionals in communications compliance and marketing. Attendees will benefit from interactive sessions led by industry and regulatory experts, focusing […]
Continue readingMore TagNavigating Regulatory Disparities: Broker-Dealer Branch Office Inspections
Introduction The financial services industry is constantly evolving, and regulatory bodies play a pivotal role in protecting investors as well as maintaining the integrity and stability of the markets. Recent enforcement events are at the center of a regulatory conundrum. Maine has sanctioned at least 28 broker-dealers so far this summer for failing to conduct annual onsite branch office inspections, drawing attention to the compliance challenges broker-dealers faced due to the lack of uniformity within the regulatory landscape. Maine isn’t the only state with an annual onsite branch office inspection requirement. The Regulatory Dilemma The heart of the issue lies […]
Continue readingMore TagRegEd Announces Next-Generation Trade Supervision and Account Monitoring Solution to Advance Investor Protection
RegEd SmartCompli, Powered by InvestEdge, Delivers the Most Advanced, Comprehensive Solution in the Industry Today RegEd announced SmartCompli, which employs advanced technology and a proprietary data model that aggregates and normalizes trade, account and KYC data, from all major clearing and custody firms, as well as direct business. SmartCompli is integrated with RegEd’s market-leading Xchange Registration solution, enabling instant validation of advisor credentials to ensure that trades are made compliantly. This eliminates the need for firms to manage data exports on a continuous basis. Joe DiAngelo, EVP Sales at RegEd discussed the typical challenges confronting the industry. “Today firms have […]
Continue readingMore TagRegEd to Showcase Innovative Technology for Advertising Review at 2022 FINRA Advertising Regulation Conference
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the industry’s leading enterprise advertising compliance review solution, powered by advanced capabilities that integrate AI technology to drive speed to market and reduce risk. RegEd, the leading provider of compliance technology solutions to insurance companies, broker-dealers and other financial services firms, is pleased to announce its participation at the FINRA Advertising Regulation Conference in Washington, DC, Oct. 20-21, 2022. FINRA’s Advertising Regulation Conference offers a comprehensive agenda designed for new and experienced communications compliance professionals. Industry and regulatory speakers gather at the conference to facilitate interactive, forward-looking discussions on current practices, policies, […]
Continue readingMore TagFINRA Publishes 2022 Report on Exam and Risk Monitoring Program
The newly released 2022 Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program reflects an evolving securities industry. “Today’s securities industry landscape is highly dynamic in terms of business models, technologies, products, and compliance practices. This report looks at these significant changes through the lens of FINRA’s commitment to investor protection and market integrity so that firms’ compliance programs can benefit from our findings about emerging and ongoing issues,” stated Greg Ruppert, executive vice president, member supervision, in a press release announcing the release of FINRA’s 2022 exam report. Exam findings in key areas Focus areas highlighted in the report include: FINRA’s initial findings from its […]
Continue readingMore TagFINRA CEO to SIFMA Audience: Protecting Investors and Addressing Workplace Evolution are Priorities for 2022
Investor protection remains atop FINRA’s priorities for 2022. “There will be a theme around retail-investor protection,” CEO Robert Cook said, during a recent webinar hosted by SIFMA. And FINRA will proceed with some existing initiatives as well as launch new efforts in 2022, he told SIFMA President & CEO Kenneth Bentsen, Jr., in a virtual Q&A session. FINRA will also revisit rules and regulations in light of changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the industry’s shift to remote work, Cook noted. In doing so, the regulator could modify or extend some short-term responses to make them long-term changes. […]
Continue readingMore TagFINRA Weighs Lasting Impact of Remote Work
FINRA is preparing for a “new normal” in which firms will work remotely even after the pandemic passes. For example, FINRA is considering changing how it defines “branch office” and “office of supervisory jurisdiction” for supervision and inspection purposes based on industry feedback. “Many” commenters that responded to a request for feedback on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic urged the regulator to revisit the definitions under FINRA Rule 3110 because firms have shifted to remote work. “Several commenters expressed concern that without amendments, personal residences of many associated persons will need to be registered (and inspected) to facilitate remote […]
Continue readingMore TagFINRA Extends Remote Branch Inspections Until End of 2022
FINRA has proposed to extend temporary relief allowing firms to conduct their 2022 branch inspections remotely through year-end. If approved by the SEC, the extension of FINRA Rule 3110.17 would extend COVID-related branch office inspection relief that is now scheduled to end on June 30. “The proposed additional six-month extension would provide further clarity to firms on regulatory requirements and account for the time needed for many firms to carefully assess when and how to have their employees safely return to their offices in light of vaccination coverage in the U.S. and transmission levels of the virus, including any emergent […]
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