Recent Study Shows FINRA Enforcement Actions Declined Last Year

Posted on March 17th, 2023 at 10:09 AM
Recent Study Shows FINRA Enforcement Actions Declined Last Year

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law


The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) reported only $45 million in fines
last year in comparison to $103 million in 2021, according to an annual report on FINRA
disciplinary enforcement.
The 2021 fine total was boosted by a record penalty levied against Robinhood, but the
2022 fine total still would be 2% less than in 2021 if the Robinhood penalty was disregarded.
FINRA ordered nearly $21 million in restitution last year, which constituted a 55% reduction
from $47 million in 2021. The decrease in restitution primarily can be attributed to a decline in
the number of “supersized” restitution orders, or restitution orders totaling $1 million or more.
FINRA ordered only three “supersized” restitution orders last year, which totaled $17 million,
compared to ten totaling $42 million in 2021.
Total monetary sanctions, which includes fines, restitution, and disgorgement, reached
$72 million in 2022, which constitutes a 52% decrease from $150 million in the previous year.
Furthermore, FINRA initiated 463 disciplinary actions in 2022, compared to 534 in 2021, which
constitutes a 13% decline. Although FINRA’s data illustrates a downward trend in enforcement
actions since 2017, which is the year Robert Cook became the new FINRA CEO, it is predicted
that FINRA likely will bring more enforcement actions related to Regulation Best Interest (Reg
BI) in 2023.
Eccleston Law LLC represents financial advisors and investors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory and disciplinary matters. 

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

You were most helpful with my FINRA deposition. You are a good lawyer and a good person.

Dan B.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

February 10, 2026
Merrill Lynch Expands Client Disclosures on Crypto and AI Risks

Merrill Lynch updated its required client disclosure brochure to address, for the first time, the evolving risks tied to cryptocurrency-linked investments and the firm’s expanding use of Artificial Intelligence tools.

February 9, 2026
FINRA Orders Osaic Unit to Pay Over $5 Million for Misleading Bank Deposit Program Disclosures

The Financial Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ordered independent broker-dealer Osaic and its acquired firm, American Portfolios Financial Services, to pay more than $5 million after finding that American Portfolios misled customers about how it calculated fees in its bank deposit program.

February 6, 2026
Delaware Regulators Fine Kovack Advisors $985,000

Kovack Advisors Inc., the registered investment adviser affiliate of independent broker-dealer Kovack Securities Inc., agreed to pay a $985,000 fine to Delaware securities regulators.