FINRA Alters Remote Inspection Proposal to Satisfy Critics

Posted on January 3rd, 2023 at 1:02 PM
FINRA Alters Remote Inspection Proposal to Satisfy Critics

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has amended its proposal to permit financial advisory firms to conduct their internal inspections remotely beyond year-end 2023 to satisfy state regulators and investor advocates.

FINRA’s amendments would require advisory firms to consider additional risk factors when determining whether a location is eligible for remote inspections. For instance, FINRA specifically has asked firms to evaluate a location based on its trading volume, product complexity, and whether its clients are particularly vulnerable. Furthermore, the amendments would mandate financial advisory firms to “make more frequent use of unannounced, on-site inspections” for locations where “red flags” are present or are suspected.

FINRA’s amendments also propose prohibiting remote-inspections eligibility for advisory firms that have registered with FINRA within the past 12 months, as well as for firms that are required to adhere to more stringent compliance measures than the rest of the industry based on past misconduct. Finally, FINRA added a clause to its proposed remote inspection agenda that would allow it to determine that an advisory firm cannot conduct remote inspections of location “in the public interest and for the protection of investors.”

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, advisors, law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

 


It was really fun seeing you fight for us. You have an amazing way of thinking out of the box.


 

Beth M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

October 29, 2025
FINRA Foundation Study Reveals Alarming Investor Susceptibility to Fraudulent Offers

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) has released preliminary findings from its upcoming report, Investors in the United States: A Report of the National Financial Capability Study.

October 28, 2025
UBS Seeks Court Order Against $1.4 Billion Florida Advisory Team Over Client Solicitation Allegations

UBS Wealth Management USA has filed a lawsuit and requested a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a $1.4 billion advisory team that recently departed to join Elevation Point, a West Palm Beach-based registered investment advisor launched just 15 months ago.

October 27, 2025
FINRA Panel Orders Charles Schwab to Pay Damages Over Structured Product Losses Sold by Vora Wealth Management

A three-person FINRA arbitration panel ordered Charles Schwab & Co. to pay $165,440 in compensatory damages to a former client of Vora Wealth Management, after losses tied to complex structured products.