Chapter 10- Self Regulatory Organizations Flashcards
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Federal regulator
Main purpose to protect investors, maintain fair orderly and efficient market, and facilitate capital formation
SEC jurisdiction
Exchanges, certain regulators (FINRA) and financial firms that conduct securities business and their employees are under SEC jurisdiction
SEC also has an enforcement arm to prosecute offenders
Self Regulator Organizations (SROs)
are supported by its own members
Sets rules, regulations, and penalties
Allows its members to vote
Examples are FINRA, CBOE, MSRB as well as all National Exchanges
These are NOT government agencies
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
non-profit SRO, whose members include virtually all securities firms doing business in the US
Firms that are a part of FINRA are refereed to as a “member firm”
Purpose of FINRA
Standardize practices in the industry
Establish and enforce fair and equitable rules for trading of securities
establish a disciplinary body to enforce the rules to protect investors
FINRA’s main rule
“A member, in the conduct of its business, shall observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade”
This rule can be applied to any facet of a RR’s behavior
Municipal Securities Rule making Board (MSRB)
SRO Charged with primary rule making authority over municipal securities dealers and municipal advisors in connection with their municipal securities and municipal advisory activities
Rules are approved by the SEC and enforced by SEC and FINRA
North American Securities Administration Association (NASAA)
Voluntary Association. Represents the concerns of the states, Canada, Mexico, us virgin islands, and Puerto Rico
Seek to investigate violations, and pursue enforcement actions and educate the public about investment fraud
All disciplinary Actions taken by an SRO are…
Subject to SEC review
Series 7 exam is for…
qualifies individual to work with the public in the solicitation, purchase and/or sale of most securities products.
AKA- Registered Representative license or Stock Brokers License
Series 6
License which qualifies individual to work with public in redeemable securities of investment companies (mutual funds), securities of closed end companies during distribution, and variable contracts by insurance companies
For closed end funds they can only sell New Issues
Series 82
Limited to solely effecting sales of private securities offerings
Series 79
Limited Representative investment banking,
Required for advising on or facilitating debt or equity securities offerings though a private placement or a public offering
Series 22
Direct Participation Representative
required for activities in the investment banking or securities business that are limited solely to the solicitation, purchase, and or sale of equities interests in or debt of direct participation programs
Series 57
Securities trader and algorithmic trading strategy developers
Required for OTC equity trading, NASDAQ equity trading, Proprietary trading and persons primarily responsible for design development or significant modification to an algorithmic trading strategy
Series 99
Operations Professionals
The supervisor of the back office of a Brokerage firm
Series 27
Financial and Operations Principal (FINOP)
required for the person responsible for the preparation of a firm’s financial statements and net capital computations
Series 24
Principals registration
actively engaged in management of the firms investment banking and securities business
Series 65 or 66
An Investment Advisor
Required if you are paid for your advice even if no transactions take place
Some exceptions if advice is incidental and no additional charge for the advice. Lawyers, Accountants, Teachers, and Engineers (LATE).
Associated persons
Persons affiliated with a member firm who have obtained a special knowledge licenses (s-6 or s-7) or persons servicing as partner, officers, directors, or branch managers, for a member firm are considered “Associated Persons”
Employees in a clerical or ministerial capacity are not associated person
Persons who have passed only the SIE are not associated persons
Unregistered persons (non-associated persons) may not
Discuss investment products or services offered by the firm
solicit new accounts or orders
pre-qualify prospective customers as to financial status and investment objectives
Unregistered persons (non-associated persons) may
Extend invitations to firm-sponsored events
Inquire whether the customer wishes to discuss investments with a registered person
Determine whether the customer wishes to receive investment advice
Preform general clerical or ministerial functions
The following person are not required to be registered with FINRA
Persons whose functions are solely clerical and ministerial
Members who are not actively engaged in the investment banking or securities
Persons whose function is exclusively to effecting transactions on the floor of the exchange and are registered as a floor member with that exchange
transactions in commodities or futures provided that they are registered with a registered futures association
Form U-4
used to become registered in the appropriate jurisdiction and/SROs.