FINRA Unscripted

A three-day employee hackathon event a few years ago resulted in an idea that has since transformed the way FINRA’s Advertising Regulation group does its work. 

On this episode, we are joined by Amy Sochard, Vice President of FINRA’s Advertising Regulation program, and Lisa Fair and Saugata Chakraborty of FINRA’s Technology, to hear about the impressive collaborative effort to build a tool to apply advanced analytics and machine learning to the review of firm advertising and public communications materials. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Advertising Regulation Topic Page

Episode 53: Advertising Regulation

Episode 43: The Createathon

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The brokerage industry has an important role to play when it comes to detecting, preventing and reporting fraud. It's not just a regulatory concern, but an important reputational concern for individual firms and the industry as a whole. 

On this episode, we hear from Greg Ruppert, head of FINRA's National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Programs, about recent trends in the fraud space and how firms can work to protect themselves and their customers.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

FTC Scam Alerts

FBI Fraud Resources

IC3 Annual Reports

Episode 60: Introducing Greg Ruppert and the NCFC

Episode 71: Overlapping Risks, Part I: AML and Cybersecurity

Episode 73: Overlapping Risks, Part II: AML and Elder Financial Exploitation

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Last year, as FINRA staff looked to adjust to a new exam and risk monitoring program structure, the industry and the world was struck with an unprecedented global crisis. 

On this episode, the second in a two-part series, we hear from Ornella Bergeron, senior vice president of the carrying and clearing and diversified firm groups; Tom Nelli, senior vice president of exams and standards; Bill St. Louis, senior vice president of the retail and capital markets firm groups; and Tim Thompson, senior vice president of the trading and execution firm group on how FINRA adjusted its Exam and Risk Monitoring program in the face of a global pandemic. Then, we turn to the current year to talk about the new 2021 Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program to discuss insights on recent exam findings and priorities for the year ahead. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode 79: Year in Review: The 2020 Exam and Risk Monitoring Program

2021 Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program

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2020 was a year of great change and transition for FINRA’s Exam and Risk Monitoring Program—and the pandemic wasn’t even the start of it. 

On this episode, the first in a two-part series, we hear from Ornella Bergeron, senior vice president of the carrying and clearing and diversified firm groups; Tom Nelli, senior vice president of exams and standards; Bill St. Louis, senior vice president of the retail and capital markets firm groups; and Tim Thompson, senior vice president of the trading and execution firm group on how the program fared in its first year after a major transformation.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode 50: What to Expect: The 2020 Exam and Risk Monitoring Program

Episode 49: A Career Highlight: Exam and Risk Monitoring Program Transformation Update

FINRA Announces Senior Leadership Team Under New Examination and Risk Monitoring Program Structure

Note: The audio was updated on Thursday, March 25, 2021, for clarity.

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Over the past year, cybersecurity has only increased in importance as huge swaths of the workforce began—and continue—to access networks remotely, resulting in a significant shift to the cybersecurity landscape. 

On this episode, we hear from John Brady, FINRA’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), and Eric Pickersgill, FINRA’s Deputy CISO, on how FINRA handled the transition and areas of focus for the year ahead. 

Plus, we learn why you should think twice before trying to brush that piece of hair or dust off your phone screen. 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Cybersecurity Topic Page

Small Firm Cybersecurity Checklist

Observations on Cybersecurity

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Formal disciplinary action or informal action, settlement or complaint. Or, the one you never hear about: no action. There are a lot of possible outcomes for an Enforcement investigation. And a disciplinary action is far from guaranteed at the outset of the process. 

On this episode, Executive Vice President and Head of FINRA Enforcement Jessica Hopper walks us through the Enforcement process from referral to final outcome for all these possibilities and details the many steps along the way. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

FINRA Enforcement

Monthly Disciplinary Actions

Disciplinary Actions Online Database

Enforcement Process Chart

Office of Hearing Officers

Guide to Disciplinary Hearing Process

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This episode originally aired in September 2020.

Technology is opening up new possibilities when it comes to solving business challenges. And that's important when it comes to optimizing an organization's most valuable limited resource: its people.

On this episode, we hear from Member Supervision's new head of Data Analytics and Technology Kerry Gendron to learn how FINRA is augmenting its examination and risk monitoring program and teaching its employees the art of the possible.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode 67: FINRA’s R&D Program

Episode 49: Exam and Risk Monitoring Program Transformation

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For the last couple of years, FINRA has been working to revolutionize the digital experience of firms, particularly when it comes to registration and disclosure. Now many of these changes have come to life through the new FINRA Gateway and an enhanced Form U4 filing experience.

On this episode, we talk to Credentialing, Registration, Education and Disclosure’s Noah Egorin and Technology’s Claudia Holanda to hear about recent changes and what firms and registered reps alike can expect going forward as FINRA continues to iterate and improve the digital experience.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode 29: CRD Transformation

Episode 36: Digital Experience Transformation

FINRA Gateway

FINRA Gateway Webinars

Financial Professional Gateway (FinPro)

Sign up for FINRA Emails

Send Feedback: [email protected]

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If you've ever been to a FINRA conference or boot camp, participated in a small firm call or graduated from the Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP) program, you've benefited from the hard work of FINRA's Member Relations and Education team. 

Member Relations and Education is responsible for ensuring FINRA's regulatory programs are working for everyone and maintaining a strong relationship with FINRA's member firms. 

On this episode, we talk to Kayte Toczylowski, the group's new head, to hear how they've adapted in the face of COVID-19 and what the future looks like for this group.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Get Involved

Committee Lists and Membership

Conferences & Events Schedule

Virtual Conference Panels 

FINRA Institute at Georgetown CRCP Program

Regulatory Notice 20-42

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Earlier in November, FINRA hosted the virtual AI Conference to bring together regulators and leaders across the financial services industry to discuss the use of artificial intelligence and related opportunities and challenges.

On this episode, we’re dropping in for a quick listen the first of the conference’s sessions, “Industry Views on the Current and Future State of Artificial Intelligence,” with Imperative Execution CEO Roman Ginis, SIFMA Managing Director and Associate General Counsel Melissa MacGregor and Head of Fidelity Labs Mona Vernon, moderated by Haime Workie from FINRA Office of Financial Innovation, as they talk about the role of AI in the securities industry.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

White Paper: Artificial Intelligence in the Securities Industry

Key Topics: FinTech

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