FINRA
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
B/D Acting as a Broker (Agent)
Whenever the firm effects a transaction between two customers accounts or between a customers account and the firm
REMEMBER: A, B, C - An AGENT or BROKER effects a transaction and receives a COMMISSION
Financial Industry Regulatory Association (FINRA)
Primarily responsible for establishing rules and regulating the activities of Broker/Dealers (B/D’s) and their registered reps
FINRA Board of Governors
B/D Acts as a Dealer (principal party to the transaction)
When buying securities from a customer for its own account or selling securities to a customer from its own account. For this service the B/D charges a MARKUP
Registered Representitive
Series 7
General securities registration. It permits a registered rep to sell most types of securities, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
Person NOT Registered with FINRA
May not contact or talk with customers, and if the are working with a registered rep, they can only be paid a salary, either hourly or monthly
Series 9&10
Required for registration as a BRANCH OFFICE MANAGER (BOM)
Each B/D dealing with the public must establish a what?
Firm Element
Series 11
This license is a limited form of registration called an Assistant Representative/Order Processing Registration
- Allows individuals to except unsolicited orders from customers with existing accounts They CANNOT: - Solicit Accounts - Open Accounts - Make recommendations or advise
Regulatory Element
Consists of taking a computer based exam that has information supplied by FINRA.
Persons must take the regulatory exam within 120 days of the second anniversary of their registration approval and then every 3 years
Conduct Rules
Ensure that FINRA member B/D’s adhere to just and equitable principles of trade
Establish guidelines for B/D’s and registered representatives when dealing with customers and with other member firms
Communication under NASD’s Old Rule 2210
Broke communications down into 6 categories:
Communications Under FINRA’s New Rule 2210
The new rule consolidates the old rule into 6 categories
Retail Communications
Any written (including electronic) communication that is distributed or made available to MORE than 25 retail investors within any 30 day calendar period
Examples of communication with no control over who will be viewing the material are:
- newspapers, radio, television, and public websites
Examples of communication with limited control over the audience are:
- Brochures, notices, circulars, research reports, form letters, and reprinted unaltered published articles
Correspondence
Anything written (including electronic) communication that is distributed or made available to 25 or FEWER retail investors within a 30 calendar day period
Institutional Sales Material
Any communicatin that is delivered only to institutional investors
- It does not need to be approved by a principal prior to the material being used
Institutional Investors
Interactive Forums/Public Appearances
Participation in:
Interactive Content
If allowed by the firm, is considered an interactive forum and is typically supervised much like emails and must comply with supervision and record retention rules
Example:
- Social Networking and Blogs
Static Content
Considered “ratail communications” and must be preapproved by a principal before it is posted.
Examples:
- Blog Postings, profile information, content that stays posted until the poster changes it.
Recommendations made during a public appearance or electronic public forum must have?
A reasonable basis for the recommendation, meaning the recommendation must be suitable for the entire audience.
Recomendations in communication with the public must?