Prudential Investment Management Consents to FINRA Censure
FINRA says a lapse in sufficient supervision led to retirement plan clients being supplied with inaccurate investment expense ratio and performance information.
Tag: FINRA
‘FINRA Settlement Expungement Process Is Broken,’ Former Regulator Says
FINRA is advancing a proposal to modernize the process by which brokers can clear their records of past customer disputes, but one former regulator questions whether the proposed approach fixes some fundamental issues of transparency and fairness for consumers.
Upset in FINRA Board Large Seat Election
Board of Governors candidate-by-petition Chris Flint has defeated the FINRA-preferred candidate Andrew Duff.
FINRA Pledges Resources to Support Members’ SEC Reg BI Compliance
The self-regulatory organization says it will help members implement the SEC's sweeping new conflict of interest disclosure rules.
Meet Your FINRA Board of Governors Large Firm Candidates
A contested election for a seat on the FINRA Board of Governors will be settled at the annual meeting of member firms on August 19. PLANADVISER spoke recently with both candidates in the tight race for the open large firm seat.
FINRA Share Class Sweep Highlights Importance of Cooperation
The regulator granted significant credit for “extraordinary cooperation” to those firms which were proactive in identifying and fixing issues related to fee waivers for certain mutual fund share classes.
AXA Fined for Misrepresentations About Bond Funds
FINRA claims AXA Advisors sent disclosures to 401(k) plan sponsors and participants that misrepresented the credit quality of bond funds with group annuity accounts.
FINRA Voya Censure Highlights Share Class Pitfalls
In censuring the firm, FINRA highlights the important fact that Voya demonstrated “extraordinary cooperation” and had initiated its own investigation and correction program prior to involvement by regulators.
SEC No-Action Letter Offers Guidance for Processing Rollover Checks
Banc West Investment Services asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to clarify its stance on the potential conflict between FINRA suitability determinations called for by rollover decisions and, on the other hand, SEC demands to forward customer checks within a day of receipt.
Make the Most of FINRA’s 529 Share Class Disclosure Initiative
FINRA is encouraging firms to undertake a qualitative review of their supervisory practices ranging back to 2013—not a full quantitative analysis of individual 529 plan transactions or recommendations.
B/D Attorney: Don’t Be Distracted by FINRA Examination Priorities Letter
Alan Wolper, an attorney with significant experience helping advisers and brokers navigate FINRA and SEC examinations, says the recently published FINRA 2019 priorities list is interesting, but ultimately not all that informative when it comes to helping advisers avoid the most pressing compliance issues.
Former Lead FINRA Enforcer Dissects Regulator’s 2019 Priorities Letter
In a Q&A with PLANADVISER, Mirella deRose draws on her experience leading FINRA enforcement in describing what she sees as the most important elements of the regulator’s recently published member priorities list for 2019.
Texting Your Clients? Don’t Overlook SEC Communication Rules
SEC examiners are concerned that the way mobile and personally owned communications devices are used by advisers pose challenges in their meeting obligations under the Books and Records Rule and the Compliance Rule.
Lincoln Investment Adopts ionlake’s FINRA-Compliant Texting Solution
The messages will be compliant with FINRA regulations and Lincoln’s own internal broker/dealer controls.
New Enforcement Structure at FINRA; Calls for ‘Fintech’ Commentary
FINRA asks advisers to share their insights about “fintech innovation in the broker/dealer industry,” while also unveiling a new structure for its enforcement staff.
SEC’s Inspections and Examinations Office Demands Best Execution
Commentary from Wagner Law Group and Drinker Biddle attorneys highlights what advisers need to know about the SEC’s ongoing analysis of broker/dealer “best execution” issues, as summarized in a recent Risk Alert publication.
Betterment Settles FINRA Allegations Tied to Bookkeeping Practices
Without admitting guilt or even the facts of the case, Betterment has settled various allegations of improper recordkeeping and "window dressing" leveled by FINRA, to the tune of $400,000.
FINRA Seeking Comments on Churning Rules as SEC Considers Action
A new client alert published by the Wagner Law Group urges advisory firms to review and consider an update to anti-churning policies, now that FINRA and the SEC are both engaging in the matter.
Launch of Stradley Ronon Fiduciary Governance Group Reflects Litigation Trends
Amid a glut of retirement plan industry litigation and regulatory change, advisers are asking the twin questions of whether one owes a fiduciary duty to their client, and if so, what exactly those fiduciary duties entail.
FINRA Rep Monitoring Rule Change Could Trigger RIA Compensation Renegotiation
The regulator is reassessing its requirements for RIAs to monitor the outside business activities of their reps; one experts argues it is likely that, if the final rule reflects the proposed rule, many plan advisers who serve plans through an independent RIA (as opposed to the broker/dealer’s “corporate” RIA) will seek to renegotiate their compensation arrangements relating to their independent RIA revenue.