FINRA Unscripted FINRA

The market for crypto assets has seen continued growth and firms are looking for ways to get involved in the digital asset space. So far, about two dozen firms have been approved by FINRA to provide services in securities backed by digital assets. And more firms are looking to follow in their footsteps. On this episode, we hear about some common sticking points in these new and continuing member applications and how FINRA is working to support innovation while protecting investors in this dynamic environment.

In 2020, a surge of new investors entered U.S. securities markets for the very first time, and the FINRA Foundation and its research partners at NORC at the University of Chicago jumped into action to get to know just exactly who these investors were. Two years later, they followed up to see where those investors are now.

Earlier this year, FINRA announced the creation of a new team, the Office of Regulatory Economics and Market Analysis, which brings together FINRA's Office of the Chief Economist and the Office of Financial Innovation. On this episode, we talk to three leaders from the new group to hear about its mandate and how the new team works to inform FINRA's regulatory policies and programs to advance its mission of investor protection and market integrity.

FINRA's new Machine-Readable Rulebook is designed to enhance firms' compliance efforts, reduce costs and aid in risk management, with a lot to gain for firms of all sizes and various business models. On this episode, we hear what exactly the Machine-Readable Rulebook is, how it works, and how you can start taking advantage of all it has to offer.

Succession planning is important not just for customers and representatives but can even be a matter of life or death when it comes to the continued existence of a firm. On this episode, we hear how and why firms should plan for the expected and unexpected in life.

The best tool FINRA provides when it comes to firms developing their annual compliance program is now available. On this episode, three Member Supervision senior leaders join us to dig into some of the new and noteworthy regulatory topics in the 2023 Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program.