The Financial Regulatory Authority released its 2023 Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program which identifies the year’s areas of examination focus for FINRA Member Firms. The Report addresses several key topics from financial crimes to financial management.
On Feb. 9, 2022, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) released its 2022 Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program (Report), in which it identifies its areas of examination focus for FINRA Member Firms (Firms) in 2022.
2022 Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program identifies areas of examination focus for FINRA Member Firms in 2022. The Report addresses key topics from four categories: Firm Operations, Communications and Sales, Market Integrity, and Financial Management.
For Investment Advisers On December 18, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) adopted Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2020-02 (“PTE 2020-02”), subjecting 401(k) rollover subject to ERISA’s fiduciary rules (sometimes). The exemption, called Improving Investment Advice for Workers and Retirees, expands the definition of fiduciary advice under ERISA to recommendations about rollovers and IRA investments. So now, in addition to best interest, fiduciary and disclosure standards imposed by the SEC and FINRA, investment advisers, broker-dealers, banks, and insurance companies (“Financial Institutions”) now have to prove compliance with the DOL’s “Impartial Conduct Standards.” Failure to comply can result in substantial penalties.
The exemption went into effect on February 16, 2021, dashing any hopes that President Biden’s administration might revisit or postpone it. But don’t panic if you are not ready. The DOL and the IRS have agreed to extend their non-enforcement po
Thursday, February 18, 2021
On Feb. 1, 2021, the Financial Regulatory Authority (FINRA) released its 2021 Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program (Report), in which it identifies its areas of examination focus for FINRA member firms (Firms) in 2021. The Report replaces the prior format for examination focus, the Risk Monitoring and Examination Program Priorities Letter. In the introduction to the Report, FINRA acknowledges the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, its regulatory notice in response, and the challenges Firms have faced in response. The report stresses, however, that while FINRA has been in contact with firms throughout the pandemic, it is not ready to address any specific COVID-19-related issues and that such issues will be covered in a future publication.