FINRA released a podcast summary of FINRA news, notices and compliance resources from August 2017 (see August 2017 Monthly Recap transcript). The podcast highlighted:
- Regulatory Notice 17-25, which explained changes to FINRA rules on arbitration procedures. Under the new rules, the FINRA Office of Dispute Resolution will be required to send an arbitrator list to all parties at the same time, within approximately 30 days of the due date of the last answer. The changes will become effective on September 18, 2017.
- Regulatory Notice 17-26, which detailed the forthcoming transition from a paper version of Form 211 to an electronic version for compliance with FINRA Rule 6342. Firms may begin using the electronic Form 211 on September 11, 2017, and FINRA will no longer accept paper filings as of October 23, 2017.
- Regulatory Notice 17-27, which offered guidance for firms that have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey by detailing procedures for relevant regulatory and compliance issues, such as "emergency office relocations, continuing education requirements, registered personnel engaged in active military duty, regulatory filings, business continuity plans, and customer communications."
In the podcast, FINRA also noted the release of its New Account Application template, and reported the elections and appointments of several new Governors. FINRA also pointed to its Quarterly Disciplinary Review Podcast, which was released on August 16, 2017 and detailed examples of members' misconduct for the prior three months.
FINRA described several upcoming events and conferences, including upcoming seminars on Anti-Money Laundering, and informed listeners that registration is open for the 2018 Annual Conference that will be held next May.
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