Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

FINRA Expected to Address Retail Investor Exposure to Complex ETFs

Posted on May 10th, 2022 at 1:21 PM
FINRA Expected to Address Retail Investor Exposure to Complex ETFs

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently requested comments on whether stricter measures ought to be implemented to curb retail investor access to complex ETFs. 

Market players are apprehensive as the crackdown could restrict investor access to leveraged and inverse products as well as cryptocurrency-linked funds and defined-outcome strategies. FINRA is evaluating whether to require a “knowledge check” for retail investors as well as a mandate to seek FINRA approval for the advertising of complex ETFs. Further, FINRA is seeking to restrict push notifications on digital devices and increase supervision of investment recommendations. “Whenever you single out a certain group of products, especially when you call them complex, it scares people”, according to Bruce Bond, chief executive officer at Innovator, which oversees $6.8 billion across a portfolio primarily composed of defined-outcome ETFs. 

Current regulations initially were adopted when most investors accessed the markets through their financial professionals. However, FINRA is evaluating whether the current regulations protect “self-directed” retail investors, who primarily trade commission-free. FINRA is not the only regulatory body attempting to address complex ETFs. The International Organization of Securities Commissions launched an initiative last month to revise its ETF principles and good practices it had adopted in 2013. Additionally, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced last October that it is evaluating whether to strengthen the rules pertaining to leveraged and inverse ETFs. 

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

 
 

Tags: eccleston law, finra, etfs

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

I just received this letter from the CFP Board. Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!

David Y

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1778171646 Law
May 7, 2026
FINRA Bars Former Raymond James Broker for Refusing Testimony in Unauthorized Trading Probe

A former registered representative with Raymond James has been barred from the securities industry after refusing to cooperate with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) investigation into alleged unauthorized trading activity.

1778084309 Law
May 6, 2026
FINRA Outlines Key Rulemaking Priorities and Recent Developments in Quarterly Agenda

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently released its Quarterly Regulatory Policy Agenda, offering a detailed view of its rulemaking priorities, pending proposals, and recently approved regulatory changes.

1778000603 Law
May 5, 2026
Commonwealth Financial Network Resolves SEC Conflict of Interest Case

Commonwealth Financial Network has agreed to pay $5 million to resolve a long-standing conflict of interest case brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to reporting by ThinkAdvisor.