He Has a Degree in What?
The Bachelor of Science degree that I earned from the University of Maryland is in ... architecture. No, not English, philosophy or any of a number of fields that feature analysis and writing, but architecture. My family sometimes chuckles at this,...
Law and Order – November 2025
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) posts the disciplinary actions it has taken to its online database. It also publishes a monthly summary of these actions, which is a worthwhile read for those in the industry – if only to gain insight into FINRA’s regulatory priorities. Below,...
Lessons from the Marine Corps Marathon
The last time that I participated in "Show and Tell" had to have been in Ms. Duhamel's class at Patton Elementary a long time ago. A very long time. Yet there I was at a recent ProVisors meeting, asked to bring an item that meant something to me...
With Apologies to Jerry West
I am not ashamed to admit that I am a logo geek. My F3 workout buddies can attest to my collection of pom hats bearing hockey logos from the 1970s, and in fact, if given the chance I would compel a certain hockey team to return to
E-Mail Retention
The broker-dealer and RIA sectors have long been aware that the criteria for maintaining and overseeing digital communications are stringent. And unforgiving. has long been aware that the criteria for maintaining and overseeing digital communications are stringent. And unforgiving. See https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/09/finra-hits-ally-invest-securities-with-850k-fine-over-emails/ for another example. More cases will arise as long as humans...
Law and Order – October 2025
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) posts the disciplinary actions it has taken to its online database. It also posts a monthly summary of these actions, which is a worthwhile read for those in the industry – if only to gain insight into FINRA’s regulatory...
A Recipe for Failure
The firm's surveillance system generated more than 10,000 alerts over a two-month period. It also flagged approximately 15.2 million items over a two-year period with over 5.2 million still unreviewed at the time of the disciplinary action. If that were not enough - and stop me if you have heard this before...
Law and Order – August 2025
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) posts the disciplinary actions it took to its online database. It also posts a monthly summary of these actions, which is a worthwhile read for those in the industry - if only to gain insight into FINRA’s...
Law and Order – July 2025
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) posts the disciplinary actions it took to its online database. It also posts a monthly summary of these actions, which is a worthwhile read for those in the industry if only to gain insight into FINRA’s regulatory...
Compliance Checkup Form
Is your firm operationally ready to handle its compliance responsibilities? Find out with the Compliance Checkup Form.
Because broker-dealers, registered investment advisers and their associates want to spend their time serving their clients, not their regulators.
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