FINRA Extends Remote Inspection Provision Through 2024

Posted on October 19th, 2023 at 4:19 PM
FINRA Extends Remote Inspection Provision Through 2024

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has informed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of its intention to continue a temporary program permitting member firms to inspect their brokers' offices remotely.

FINRA officials submitted a request to the SEC on September 22, stating they intend to extend the program until June 2024 unless the SEC raises objections. The program, originally set to expire at the end of the year, was initially introduced in 2020 when in-person inspections were suspended due to COVID-related shutdowns. According to AdvisorHub, FINRA previously extended the relief measure through the end of this year, facing opposition, particularly from state regulators and plaintiff lawyers, regarding its proposed long-term solutions.

Additionally, FINRA has a second rule proposal awaiting approval from the SEC to decrease the examination frequency for brokers' home offices from annually to once every three years. In May, a FINRA official acknowledged the industry's concerns about the transition to new inspection requirements when the pandemic-era exemption from in-person inspections expires at the end of the year but stated that it was too early to decide whether FINRA would seek an extension of that temporary relief.

 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

You guys are good!

Mike L.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

May 9, 2025
FINRA Suspends Former Wells Fargo Advisor Over Unauthorized Transfer in Elderly Client's Account

FINRA has fined and suspended former Wells Fargo financial advisor Jarrett Thomas after he executed a $50,000 transaction for an elderly client despite being informed that she was no longer capable of managing her finances.

May 8, 2025
All 50 States Now Aligned on Annuity Sales Standards

The annuity industry officially has secured uniformity in sales regulations across all 50 states.

May 7, 2025
Jury Finds Investment Advisor Liable for Failing to Disclose Annuity Commissions

A federal jury in Massachusetts has found investment adviser Jeffrey Cutter and his firm, Cutter Financial Group, liable for violating federal securities law by failing to disclose significant upfront commissions and conflicts of interest related to an annuity replacement scheme.