A recent influx of cheating scandals at testing centers has prompted FINRA to create new procedures on how to identify, and eliminate, cheating in the future. Read More

In 2017, NASAA U.S. members reported nearly $486 million ordered returned to investors and nearly $89 million in fines/penalties. Read More

FINRA appears to be softening its enforcement actions in 2017, as it's on pace to deliver only a fraction of the fines it reported last year. Read More

According to this month’s FINRA disciplinary actions notice, a representative from New York, New York was assessed a deferred fine of $7,500 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for 60 days due to the entry of findings that contrary to her member firm’s policies, she used the text-messaging function of a non-firm-issued smartphone to exchange business related messages with a customer. Read More

In this month’s FINRA Disciplinary Actions Notice, a registered representative was suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for three months due to the entry of findings that she instructed her assistant to complete her Firm Element continuing education coursework on her behalf. Read More

A representative from Gig Harbor, Washington submitted an AWC in which he was assessed a deferred fine of $10,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for two years due to the entry of findings that when he was a candidate for the Series 7 exam, he offered $2,000 to an exam proctor for her assistance to help him pass the exam. Read More

The SEC recently issued a $20 million award in a case involving a tipster who came to the agency early on, enabling it to secure a “near-total recovery” of investor funds in a matter. Read More

A representative was fined $10K due to the entry of findings that he inaccurately stated on his Form ADV that he had graduated from and obtained a bachelor’s degree from a university located in Massachusetts. Read More

In FINRA’s October disciplinary action notice, a firm was fined $40,000 due to the entry of findings that its WSPs failed to address many elements of the firm’s due-diligence process for private placements. Read More

A CCO from Longboat Key, Florida was censured and fined $10,000 due to the entry of findings that as his member firm’s CCO and principal responsible for its supervisory control system, he failed to establish, maintain and prepare a report evidencing a supervisory control system with respect to mutual fund switching. Read More