At the beginning of each year, FINRA publishes its Annual Regulatory and Examination Priorities Letter to focus on key issues to FINRA's regulatory programs. In January 2017, FINRA published its Annual Regulatory and Examination Priorities Letter. The letter provides information about areas FINRA plans to review in its 2017 exams. It's based on observations from regulatory programs as well as input from various stakeholders (member firms, other regulators and investor advocates). Firms find the annual Priorities Letter useful in reviewing their compliance programs and to address their internal training and communications.
Common Themes for FINRA Annual Priorities Letter
Common themes in the Priorities Letter are:
- Compliance
- Supervision
- Risk Management
- Promoting Investor Confidence
New Areas of Focus for FINRA
New areas of focus in 2017 will be:
- Recognizing the vital role small firms play in promoting capital formation.
- Introduction of a Compliance Calendar.
- Publishing a directory of compliance service providers.
- Publishing common examination findings that can help inform firms of deficiencies FINRA has observed.
High-risk and Recidivist Brokers
FINRA is devoting particular attention to firms’ hiring and monitoring of high-risk and recidivist brokers, including whether firms establish appropriate supervisory and compliance controls for such individuals.
Sales Practices
Investor protection lies at the heart of FINRA’s mission and as such, protecting senior investors will remain a top priority in 2017.
Financial Risks
During 2016, FINRA assessed liquidity management practices and identified firms that:
- Lacked liquidity risk management plans.
- Did not conduct stress tests.
- Applied insufficient rigorous assumptions in their stress tests or maintained insufficient sources of funding.
Cybersecurity Risks
Cybersecurity threats remain one of the most significant risks many firms face. In 2017, FINRA will continue to assess firms’ programs to mitigate those risks.
Market Integrity
Detecting and deterring manipulation remains a critical priority for FINRA.
Conclusion
FINRA urges compliance staff, supervisors and senior business leaders to consider the topics addressed in their Regulatory and Examination Priorities Letter. Applying the information as part of firms’ compliance, supervision and risk management practices can better protect investors, the markets and firms themselves.
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