Each year the SEC publishes its exam priorities for the coming year. Join us for today’s podcast as Oyster Consulting’s Capital Markets experts Jeff Gearhart, Frank Childress and Jose Fernandez share their thoughts on the priorities related to broker-dealer trading practices including:

·       Rule 15c2-11 

·       Reg SHO

·       Reg ATS and filing requirements

Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!

Join us for Part 2 of our discussion with Mark Hendrickson from D.A. Davidson Companies about where CAT and CAIS reporting stands today, the pain points firms are facing and what they should be doing to manage the current and upcoming reporting requirements. 

Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!

FINRA’s Consolidated Audit Trail, or CAT, continues to evolve from account-centric trade reporting requirements to now including customer-centric CAIS reporting. 

Today's podcast guest is Mark Hendrickson, Head of Trading and Streetside Operations at DA Davidson Companies. Mark is also an Industry Advisory Committee Member representing clearing firms on the US Advisory Operating Committee of the Consolidated Audit Trail.  Join us as Oyster CEO Buddy Doyle and Consultants Jeffrey Gearhart and Ralph Magee chat with Mark about 

·       the current state of CAT/CAIS reporting,

·       industry concerns, 

·       what we see coming in 2024 and beyond, and

·       how DA Davidson has been proactive and successful in preparing for and executing its CAT requirements. 

Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!

 Many introducing broker-dealers are moving to affiliate with another broker-dealer.  Join Oyster Managing Directors Pete Bowman and Dave Williams as they discuss what affiliation means for broker-dealers, what is driving firms to the strategy, and what part the advisory side of the business plays when firms consider affiliation. 

Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!

Oyster’s Capital Markets experts were recently featured on the Bond Dealer Association’s podcast, “Bonding Time,” discussing issues affecting the U.S. fixed income markets.

 The podcast, hosted by Michael Decker of BDA, covers:

• Fair Pricing for  Fixed Income products and compliance with Rule 2121, and MSRB Rule G30 
• Best execution and the SEC’s new proposal
• The latest on FINRA and MSRB trade reporting, including the proposals to shorten the trade reporting time to one minute
• SEC Rule 15c2-12 disclosure requirements

Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!

Regulatory exams and sweeps are enough to keep any CCO up at night. In today’s podcast, Ed Wegener and Len Derus, both former FINRA regulators, walk through what helps inform regulator decisions about what to look for in an exam, how regulators identify areas for a sweep, and how you can use sweep letters to your advantage.  

Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!

 In order to become a registered broker-dealer, you must be registered with FINRA. Applying for this membership is an extensive process with multiple steps. We receive many, many questions about submitting a New Member Application (NMA) with FINRA and when a firm needs to submit a Continuing Membership Application (CMA). In this episode of the Oyster Stew podcast, Oyster’s Ed Wegener and Lisa Robinson shares their thoughts on fast-track application, when a CMA is necessary, and what to think about before submitting. 

Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!

CEOs of broker-dealers are faced with the continuous pressure to innovate and increase profits. If these aren't happening, there is also pressure to sell.  Successful broker dealers know that understanding how to navigate the demand for innovation and growth, or for changing the business model entirely is key for long-term prosperity. 

In today’s podcast, Pete Bowman, Managing Director of Oyster’s Strategic Planning and Execution team and Dave Williams, Head of Business Development look at the increasing pressures facing broker dealers in today's markets and offer insight into how best to handle them, giving you a better chance of achieving success as well as satisfying clients both old and new.

Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!

Platform technology, regulatory pressure, mergers and acquisitions are all driving financial services firms to re-evaluate their business models.  In today’s podcast, Pete Bowman, Managing Director of Oyster’s Strategic Planning and Execution team and Dave Williams, Head of Business Development share their insights on how some firms are positioning themselves for the future. 

Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!

In December 2022 the SEC offered 4 market structure proposals. The proposal to modernize Rule 605 was met with broad-based industry support.  Oyster Consultant Frank Childress and guest Ted Karn, founder of The Karn Group, walk through what modernizing Rule 605 will mean for the industry, and what firms should be doing to prepare. 

Oyster Consulting has the expertise, experience and licensed professionals you need, all under one roof. Follow us on LinkedIn to take advantage of our industry insights or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Does your firm need help now? Contact us today!