FINRA Unscripted

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 hear about the current and future state of AI from three industry leaders.

A broker-deal firm’s anti-money laundering efforts may overlap with any number of other regulatory concerns. On this episode, the second in a two-part series, we’re looking at how AML may overlap with a firm’s efforts to protect senior investors from exploitation and fraud.

Firm regulatory risks and priorities don't exist in a vacuum. And that is perhaps nowhere clearer than when it comes to a firm's anti-money laundering responsibilities. A firm's AML risks can overlap with any number of other priorities. On this episode, the first of a two-part series, we look at the overlapping risks of AML and cybersecurity.

Michael Morris’s research into and advocacy work around the financial security and capability of Americans with disabilities earned him the 2020 Ketchum Prize, the FINRA Foundation’s highest honor. On this episode, we talk to Morris, the founder of the National Disability Institute, about his research and advocacy work and the intersection of race and disability.

For some investors a high-volume trading strategy could be something that they seek. For others it might be a sign of excessive trading. But when does a lot become too much? What does a firm's responsibility when it comes to supervising for this behavior? On this episode, FINRA Enforcement's Chris Kelly joins us to tell us more.

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, Member Supervision's new head of Data Analytics and Technology explains how FINRA is augmenting its examination and risk monitoring program.

FINRA's Research and Development Program is using advanced analytics to change the way FINRA performs its essential regulatory functions. It is designed to be quick and agile, hoping to find transformative new technologies, but willing to fail and fail fast when an idea doesn't work out. On this episode, we learn more.

FINRA’s ombudsman is a neutral party that acts as an impartial, confidential and independent resource to assist in finding solutions to issues or concerns an individual may have with FINRA. On this episode, we talk to FINRA’s Ombudsman to hear she works to prevent real or perceived conflicts of interest.

The only thing many people know about money laundering is what they’ve learned from Hollywood. So if you want to really understand what money laundering is, and more specifically, the efforts brokerage firms must take to prevent and detect it, tune in. On this episode we talk to two FINRA Anti-Money Laundering experts.

With the cancellation of the 2020 FINRA Annual Conference and other in-person events throughout the year, we’ve gone virtual with a variety of on-demand conference panels on regulatory hot topics. On this episode, we’re dropping in for a quick listen to the latest FINRA Virtual Conference Panel with Robert Cook, Bari Havlik and Bob Colby.

As of June 30, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation Best Interest—or Reg BI—is officially in effect. What does a post implementation-date world look like? And how is FINRA working to ensure a consistent approach to examining around and enforcing the new regulation? Tune in to learn more.

You can't talk about investor protection without talking about senior investors. With a substantial increase in recent years in the number of cases involving the exploitation of seniors, FINRA Enforcement has made protecting this segment of the population a priority. On this episode, we hear what FINRA is doing and how firms can work with FINRA in this important effort.

The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike any other crisis in recent history, which presents an opportunity to criminals who are flexible and adaptable. That means firms and regulators must be flexible and adaptable too. So FINRA created a COVID-19 Task Force to help FINRA tackle emerging issues to quickly protect investors and our markets.

Between the level of interconnectedness on the web and the sheer about of data available, we’re living in an era ripe for the perpetration of financial fraud. That makes it more important than ever for FINRA to have a holistic view of emerging trends and risks—and the ability to coordinate closely with other regulators and law enforcement. FINRA’s new National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Programs (NCFC) aims to be the nerve center to do just that.

FINRA Enforcement works on the front lines of investor protection—not just now, as some look to take advantage of these uncertain time to defraud investors or manipulate the markets – but always. On this episode, we meet Jessica Hopper, FINRA’s new Head of Enforcement, to hear what her team is doing today to prevent investor harm and to keep our markets fair.