Wednesday, January 9, 2013

FINRA’s 2012 Year in Review


FINRA just released its 2012 Year in Review Report.  In its opening remarks, FINRA’s Chairman and CEO, Richard Ketchum, stated, “FINRA fulfilled its role as the first line of defense for investors through a comprehensive and aggressive enforcement program, supported by a realigned and more risk-based examination program and the provision, for the first time, of cross-market surveillance programs that more effectively detected electronic manipulative trading. Protecting investors and helping to ensure the integrity of the nation’s financial markets is at the heart of what we do every day.

Regulatory

FINRA noted that one of its regulatory highlights was the success of its referral program in which the Office of Fraud Detection and Market Intelligence (“OFDMI”) shares regulatory intelligence with the SEC and other law enforcement agencies. Its intelligence stems from OFDMI’s fraud and insider trading surveillance of nearly all U.S. equities markets.  In 2012, FINRA referred a total of 692 matters to the SEC and other law enforcement agencies, of which 347 involved insider trading and 260 involved fraud. 

Disciplinary and Enforcement

In addition to its referrals program, FINRA brought 1,541 disciplinary actions against registered firms and individuals, levied fines in excess of $68 million, and ordered $34 million in restitution to harmed investors.  FINRA expelled a total of 30 firms from the securities industry, barred 294 individuals, and suspended 549 brokers from associating with FINRA-regulated firms. 

Some of the complex products involved in 2012 disciplinary and enforcement actions were non-traded REITs, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and structured products.  Other enforcement actions involved research analyst conflicts, mispricing, and improper reimbursement fees to lobbying groups. 

Another critical aspect of FINRA is its examinations of member firms and associated persons.  In 2012, FINRA initiated 1,846 routine examinations, over 800 branch office examinations, and 5,100 examinations resulting from customer complaints, terminations for cause, and other regulatory tips.  FINRA’s exam procedures were made more efficient due to advances in technology which has provided FINRA with a modernized framework that allows it to identify and prioritize areas of risk exposure at firms. 

Investor Protection

Of grave importance to investors was FINRA’s new suitability rule that was implemented July 9, 2012.  The rule requires broker-dealers and/or their associated persons “to have a ‘reasonable basis’ to believe a recommended investment is suitable for the customer, based on information obtained through ‘reasonable diligence’ to understand a customer’s investment profile.”  For more investor information on FINRA’s suitability rule, click here.

FINRA also proposed an investor-protection initiative in 2012 that attempts to address conflicts of interest relating to recruitment compensation practices of member firms offering incentives to recruit registered representatives.  Currently these compensation arrangements are not disclosed to the representative’s customers when they are asked to transfer their accounts to a representative’s new firm.  The rule would require the member firm to provide certain disclosures before a customer makes the final determination to transfer an account to the new firm.  The view the text of the proposed rule, click here.

In September 2012, FINRA obtained approval to file proposed rules that would require firms to include a reference and a link to BrokerCheck on their websites to make it easier for investors to obtain information on firms and brokers. FINRA also increased the user friendliness of BrokerCheck by including a zip code search and a combined search function that provides for easier access to the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) database. 

In November 2012, FINRA Dispute Resolution released data which reflects the outcomes of cases heard under its all-public panel program that was implemented in February 2011 which allows investors the option of a panel comprised of all public arbitrators versus a panel made up of one arbitrator with securities industry experience (nonpublic arbitrator) and two public arbitrators. The all-public panel option represents an investor-friendly change to the program, designed to ensure a fair playing field for all parties. To date, the data indicates that in cases decided by three public arbitrators, customers were awarded damages 51 percent of the time, whereas in cases decided by a panel including one nonpublic arbitrator and two public arbitrators, investors were awarded damages 32 percent of the time.  For the full data report, click here.

Notably, FINRA and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation have continued to enhance its outreach strategies and investor education by distributing educational brochures, holding live events, and creating an Outsmarting Investment Fraud curriculum.  The Foundation also put  more focus into providing services for military families through their military financial readiness project. 

Crowdfunding

A hot new topic in 2012 was “crowdfunding” since new provisions relating to crowdfunding were introduced in the April, 2012 JOBS Act.  To ensure that the capital-raising objectives of the JOBS Act can be advanced while simultaneously protecting investors, FINRA has requested and solicited comments on specific rules it should adopt for registered funding portals that become FINRA members.  In addition, FINRA has also asked for comments on the application of its existing rules to broker-dealers engaging in crowdfunding activities. 



If you’re a FINRA member firm, associated person, or an investor involved in a potential FINRA-related claim, contact the experienced attorneys at Cosgrove Law Group, LLC for assistance. 

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Former Morgan Stanley Branch Manager Awarded $1 Million in Compensatory Damages in a FINRA New Years Day Award.

In 2011, Claimant Gregory Carl Torretta (“Torretta”) filed a claim with FINRA against Respondent Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (“Morgan Stanley”) for violations of FINRA rules, breach of employment contract, and wrongful termination.

Torretta was a former branch manager at Morgan Stanley at a two-branch complex in Garden City, New York. His termination allegedly stemmed from his oversight of another manager who was underperforming in his duties. The unidentified manager complained to Torretta about the oversight process in an email that was copied to Torretta’s boss. The email also implied that Torretta had discussions about leaving Morgan Stanley and suggested that Torretta encouraged the manager to follow him.

Despite denying the allegations of having those discussions with the manager, Torretta was given the choice to voluntarily resign or be terminated. Torretta chose to voluntarily resign. The key issue in the case was Morgan Stanley’s own procedures for handling such matters which Torretta alleged were not followed.

In Torretta’s statement of claim, he requested compensatory damages in the amount of $4.5 million. At the close of the hearing, Torretta requested compensatory damages ranging from $8 million to $9 million.

The hearing took place in New York City in front of Chairperson Marguerite Filson, Public Arbitrator Paul Blederman, and Non-public Arbitrator Joel Morton Newman. On January 1, 2013, the panel awarded Torretta $1 million in compensatory damages. In customary fashion, the panel did not explain the award.

If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated from a FINRA Member Firm, please contact the experienced attorneys at Cosgrove Law Group, LLC.

For a copy of the opinion, see FINRA Cause No. 11-01914.