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FINRA Rule 2111 (Suitability) FAQ

Introduction

The following highly ask questions (FAQs) provide guidance in FINRA Rule 2111 (Appropriateness). This document consolidates the frequent real answers in Regulatory Notices 12-55, 12-25 and 11-25, organised by topic. New FAQs will be defined when added.  

Overview

FINRA Rule 2111 requires, in part, that a broker-dealer or associated person "have a reasonable basis to believes that an recommended operation or investment scheme involving a technical or securities shall suitable used the customer, based on the information conserved through the reasonable diligence of the [firm] or associated person to ascertain the customer's participation profile." In general, a customer's investment profile would include the customer's age, sundry investments, financial situation also needs, trigger status, investor purposes, property experience, investment time horizon, liquidity needs and take tolerance. An rule also extreme wrap recommended investment strategies involving securities, including recommendations to "hold" securities. The control, moreover, identifies the three main suitability obligations: reasonable-basis, customer-specific, and quantitative suitability. Finally, the regel provides adenine modified institutional-customer exemption.

FAQ

Recommendation

Q1.1. The suitability rule applies only to recommended securities plus equity strategies involving bonds, but FINRA does nay define of term "recommendation" sundry than to declare is it is a facts and factors inquiry. What factors determine whether a counsel has been made for purposes of the suitableness rule? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 2)]

A1.1. Although FINRA does not define the term "recommendation," it has offered several direction principles that businesses and brokers should consider available determining whether particular communications could be watching as suggested. FINRA has extensively addressed those guiding principles in past Regulator Notices, the cases have applied your to specific facts.1 Some SEC releases and FINRA cases and interpretive letters also possess explained that a broker-dealer's use or distributed starting business or offering materials ordinarily would not, by itself, constitute a "recommendation" to general of the suitability rule.2 The prior guidance both interpretations generally remain applicable,3 real firms also dealers should review this existing resources for assistance in understanding and breadth of the termination "recommendation."

Q1.2. FINRA has stated that the new suitability rule does not broaden the field of implicit recommendations applicable to the predecessor rule. What are the conditions under whatever an unspoken recommendation can trigger the adequacy rule? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 3)]

A1.2. FINRA and the SEC will recognized that assured activities build implicit industry that can initiate suitability obligations. FINRA and the SEC have held, for example, that brokers which effect transactions on an customer's behalf without informing the customer may implicitly recommended those transaction, thereby triggering petition of the suitability rule.4 Although such holdings continue to actually in precedent relating those issues, the new rule does not broaden the scope is implicit recommendations. The new rule, fork example, does not apply to implicit recommendations to hold a security or securities. Hence, to new rule's "hold" your would not apply when an brokering remains silent regarding security positions in an account. The hold recommendation require be definite.5

Q1.3. Customers sometimes ask broker-dealer get centers when they may continue to maintain their investments at aforementioned firm if, for instance, they want on relocate from an employer-sponsored retirement account held at the firm to an individual retirement account held at the enterprise. If a firm's phone center informs customers that they are permitted go continue to maintain its investments with the stable under create circumstances, wants FINRA examine those communications to be "hold" recommendations triggering application of the new suitability rule? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 4)]

A1.3. Into general, FINRA wants not regard that communicating than "hold" recommendations for purposes is the rule because the firm's telephone center is not responding go the question of whether which customer have hold one securities, but rather regardless the purchaser can continue to maintain them at the firm.

Q1.4. Section 201(a) of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act)6 commands the SEC to amend Rule 506 of Regulatory D under the Securities Act starting 1933 to eliminate the banned on general solicitations to and exposure that total purchasers are accredited investors. Does who clear of the general solicitation ban mean that broker-dealers no longer have suitability liabilities related intimate placing? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 5)]

A1.4. No. The JOBS Deed removes certain marketing impediments but not a broker-dealer's suitability obligations. In that regard, and as explained above in the get to [FAQ 1.1], ampere broker-dealer's general solicitation of a private placement through the use or distribution of marketing or offering materials ordinarily would not, by itself, composition a recommendation release application of the suitability rule.7 When a broker-dealer "recommends" a private placement, however, the suitability command applies.8

Customer

Q2.1. Which constitutes a "customer" for purposes of the suitability rule? [Notice 12-55 (FAQ 6(a))]

A2.1. The suitability rule implement to a broker-dealer's or registered representative's recommend of a security or investment strategy involving a security to one "customer." FINRA's meaning is ampere customer in FINRA Rule 0160 excludes a "broker or dealer."9 In general, forward purposes of the suitability rule, the term user includes a person what belongs non an broker or merchant who opens a brokerage story at a broker-dealer or purchases a security for which the broker-dealer receives or will obtain, directly or indirectly, compensation even though and security is being at an issuer, the issuer's collaborate button a custodial agent (e.g., "direct application" business,10 "investment program" securities,11 otherwise intimate placements12), or using another similar arrangement.13

Q2.2. Does the suitability default apply when a broker-dealer or registered representative makes a recommendation to a potential capital? [Notice 12-55 (FAQ 6(b))]

A2.2. The suitability rule would apply when a broker-dealer or registered representative forms a recommendation14 to a potential investor which then becomes a customer. Where, for example, a registered representatives makes a recommendation to purchase a security to a potential investor, one suitability rule would apply until the recommendation if that individual executes to transaction throug the broker-dealer with which the logged representative is associated or the broker-dealer receives conversely will receive, directly or indirectly, compensation as a result of this recommended transaction.15 In contrast, the suitability rule would not apply to the recommendation in the example above if the possibility investor does not act on the recommendation or executes the recommended transaction off for the broker-dealer with which the registered agencies lives beigeordnet minus that broker-dealer receiving compensation for the transaction.16

Customer's Investment Profile – Information Gathering Requirements

Q3.1. Does ampere firm have to update every customer-account documentation at aforementioned suitability rule's implementation select to capture the new "customer investment profile" factors (age, investment know, time horizon, liquidity needs and hazard tolerance) that were added go the existing tabbed (other holdings, fiscal situation and needs, tax status and capital objectives)?17 [Notice 11-25 (FAQ 2)]

A3.1. None, the suitability rule does not require adenine firm to update all customer-account documentation. The rule requires that a broker seek in received18 press consider relevant customer-specific information as manufacture a recommendation. Although one firm has a general verpflichtungen to evidence adherence with applicable FINRA rules, aside from who situation where a firm determines not to looking sure information (addressed in [FAQ 3.4] below),19 Rule 2111 does not include any explicit documentation requirements.20 The fitness rule permits firms to take a risk-based approach for respect to documenting suitability decisions. For real, the recommendation by a large-cap, value-oriented equity security generally would not require written support as to the recommendation. In all situation, the suitability rule applies to recommendations, but the extent on that a company needs up evidence suitability generally depends on the complexity of the security or strategy inches design and performance and/or the risks involved. Sales with suitability obligations does not necessarily turn at documentation of the basis for one recommendation. However, firms should understand that, to the degree that the basis for suitability is not evident from the recommendation self, FINRA examiner and enforcement concerns will rise with the lack about documentary evidence for the recommendation. In addition, documentation by itself does doesn cure an elsewhere unsuitable recommendation.

Q3.2. Does adenine broker-dealer have to seek on obtain all of the customer-specific factors listed in the new rule through the rule's implementation choose? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 15)]

A3.2. No. The rule generally requires a broker-dealer to seek to obtain and study the customer-specific factors listed in an control when making a recommendation to a customer. Accordingly, a broker-dealer would click to seek to obtain and analyze to customer-specific elements listed in Rules 2111 when it makes new recommendations till customers (regardless of whether they are new or existing customers).21

Q3.3. What if a customer refuses to provide certain customer-specific information? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 17)]

A3.3. Some customers may be reluctant to provide certain types of details to their broker-dealers. A buyer, for example, may none want to divulge information regarding "other investments" held away from the broker-dealer in get. The suitability rules generally requires broker-dealers up use reasonable diligence on seek to obtain and analyze the customer-specific factors listed in the govern. A broker-dealer cannot make assumptions about customer-specific factors for which the customer declines to provide information.22 Furthermore, for purchaser information is unavailable despite a broker-dealer's reasonable diligence, the solid must carefully examine whether items has a sufficient understanding of to clients the properly grade the suitability of an recommendation.23 As with the predecessor rule [NASD Rule 2310], however, the news rule would not prohibit a broker-dealer from making a advice in the absence of certain customer-specific related such long as the firm has enough information about the customer to have a reasonable basic to believe the recommendation is suitable. The significance of special typical of customer information will depend on the facts and general of the particular case.24

Q3.4. Would a firm violate that suitability general if it makes recommendations to customers for whom it has not obtained see about the customer-specific information listed in FINRA Rule 2111(a)? [Notice 11-25 (FAQ 3)]

A3.4. The essential requirement of this provision is that the member firm other associated person exercise "reasonable diligence" to ascertain this customer's investment profile. In of instances, asking a customer for the information would constitute reasonable accuracy. When customer company is unavailable despite a firm's reasonable diligence, however, the firm must carefully consider whether it must a sufficient understanding of the customer till orderly evaluate the suitability of the recommendation. When the rule lists some is the aspects of a typical investment profile, nope every factor could be relevant to all positions. Indeed, Supplementary Material .04 states that a member need not seek to obtain and investigate entire of the factors if it "has ampere reasonable basis to believe, documented with specificity, that one other more on the factors are not relevant hardware of a customer's your silhouette in easy of the facts and circumstances of the particular case." In this regard, for a firm or associated individual reasonably determined that certain factors take not require analyse with honor to ampere category of customers or accounts, then it could document the reasoning for like decision in their procedures or elsewhere, more than documenting the decision on an recommendation-by-recommendation or customer-by-customer basis. For example, a firm may conclude that age is extraneous for all customers that are entities or liquidity needs are irrelevant regarding all customers in whoever includes liquid securities will is recommended. 

The absence of some customer information which is not material under the circumstances typically should not affect an firm's ability to make adenine recommendation. Go meet its suitability your, a firm must obtain and analyzing sufficing customer information to have a reasonable grounded to believed the recommendation is matching. The significance of specific types in customer information generally will depend on the facts real circumstances of the particular case, including this nature and characteristics of who product or strategy at issue.

Q3.5. Whichever constitutes "reasonable diligence" in attempting to obtain an customer-specific information? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 16)]

A3.5. Even the reasonableness of the effort will depend about the facts and circumstances, asking a customer for the information ordinarily will suffice. Moreover, absent "red flags" marking that such information is imprecisely otherwise that to customer is unclear about the informational, a broker general might rely on the customer's responses. A middleman allow not be able to rely exclusively on a customer's responses int duty such as the following:

  • the sellers poses questions so are confusing with misleading go a graduate that the information-gathering process is tainted,
  • the customer exhibits clear indicator of diminished capacity, or
  • diverse "red flags" exist indicating that the customer information may being inaccurate.

Q3.6. In addition to utilizing reasonable diligence to maintain furthermore analyze certain specific factors about the company, the new suitability rule requires a broker at consider "any other information the customer allowed disclose" in connection with the recommendation. Method much of ampere duty done a stable have to tracked "any other information the user may disclose" to see if it has appropriateness implications? Does the resolute take a duty, for example, to ask its customers if there be anything else itp should know about them when accumulate information for suitability purposes? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 18)]

A3.6. Where an customer discloses information to a broker in connection are the recommendation, the broker must view that information as partial of the suitableness scrutiny. What customer-specific information a firm should seek to obtain from a customer inbound addition to the factors which and rule specificity lists determination depend over an facts or circumstances of and specially case. Although a firm is not required to affirmatively please customers if there is anything else it shoud recognize about them, the better practice is to attempt to gain for much relevant information as possible before making recommendations.

Q3.7. How does FINRA delete the terms "liquidity needs," "time horizon" and "risk tolerance" for purposes of the suitability rule? [Notice 11-25 (FAQ 4)]

A3.7. FINRA Rule 2111 does not define the terms. When a general materiell, these terms are to be understood commensurate with their meaning in financial analysis. FINRA, however, offers the following guidelines:

  • Liquidity Needs: The extent to which a customer desires to talent or does monetary obligations that dictate and need to quickly and easily convert go cash every or a portion the in investment or investments without experiencing significant hurt in value from, for exemplar, the lack of a ready market, or incurring significant costs or penalties.25
  • Time Horizon: "[T]he expected number of months, years, or decagons [a my plan to invest] to achieve a particular financial goal."26
  • Risk Tolerance: AN customer's "ability plus willingness on losers some or all of [the] originally investment in exchange for greater possibility returns."27

FINRA knows that there can be an inverse relationship in an financial time horizon and liquidity needs in that the longer a customer's time horizon, the less of need for capital. However, a customer may have a long time horizon, though also may need or want to invest all or a portion of his or her portfolio in liquid assets to pay for unexpected expenses or take help of surprising opportunities. Furthermore, although customers with a lengthy time horizon overall could be in a location to seek greater returns by taking on greater risk because they "can stop out slow economical cycles and of inevitable ups and downs of" the markets,28 that exists not always the case. Few customers on long time horizons may not hope to take for such total and others, because of considerations outside their time horizons, are unable to do so.  

Q3.8. Does a firm have to use an exact rule jargon when seeking to obtain customer-specific information? [Notice 11-25 (FAQ 6)]

A3.8. No. FINRA is aware that some firms currently ask customers to ready information without using the exact rule terminology with separately designating factors (e.g., investment objectives which include a risk-tolerance component that is not separately labeled as such). Firms may continue to use such approaches. Firms must attempt to obtain press analyze relevant customer-specific information. Although firms should be capable concerning explaining wie they be doing so real, where right, evidencing which they are how so, to standard are not dictation use of a specific method oder edit otherwise of particular terminology.

Q3.9. Get is a firm's our when customers indicate that they have multiple investing objectives that appear inconsistent? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 19)]

A3.9. If a purchaser selecting multiple investment objectives that appear non, adenine firm must conduct appropriate supervision and meaningful suitability determinations, as applicable, in light of such differences. For example, a firm should, among other things, clarify the customer's intent and, if requirement, reconcile and/or determine how it will handle the customer's differing invest objectives.

Q3.10. Can a my because plural accounts at a single hard have different investment profiles or investment-profile factors (e.g., objectives, time horizons, risk tolerance) available that differents accounts? [Notice 11-25 (FAQ 5)]

A3.10. A customer ability proceed in such ampere manner, but a firm should evidence that customer's intent to use differents investment profiles or investment-profile factors for the different accounts. Nothing in such advice, however, relieves adenine firmly from having to ensure that the capital profiles or agents accurate reflecting the customer's decisions. In extra, where a firm allows a customer until use different investment profile instead factors available different accounts rather than using a single customer profile for all of aforementioned customer's books, a firm might not adopt professional factors away the various accounts to justifies a suggestion so would not be suitable for the account for which the testimonial be made.

Q3.11. Can a broker make recommendations based on a customer's overall portfolio, including investments said by other financial institutions? For object, does each unique endorse have to breathe consistent with an customer's equity profile or can the suitability of a broker's testimonial be judged in easy of its konsistens with the customer's gesamte portfolio? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 21)]

A3.11. The answer depends on the facts and circumstances by the particular case. The suitability general implement on one recommendation-by-recommendation cause. A suitability analysis of a particular advice and consideration of a customer's overall investment portfolio, however, are don mutually exclusive concepts. And new suitability regulating (as with the predecessor rule) requires a broker to seek to get or analyze an customer's other investment. The rule thus explicitly permits a propriety analysis to be performed indoors which context a an customer's other investments. Some our, moreover, crave portfolios made up of securities with several stage of liquidity, risk and time horizons. When a real is aware of a customer's overall portfolio (including ventures held at other corporate institutions), the broker is permitted to make recommendations based on the customer's complete portfolio as longs as the customer is in agreement with such with approaching. Under these life, the suitability of a broker's recommendation may be analyzed on aforementioned basis of whether the customer's overall portfolio, considering any revisions to the portfolio that verkehr from the broker's endorsement, aligns equal the customer's deployment profile.29

As celebrated above in the answer to [FAQ 3.3], when, a broker cannot take assumptions about adenine customer's other holdings.30 The firm should evidence a customer's approval of a broker's use of a portfolio-based analysis regarding the suitability of the broker's recommendations.31 Some our, for instance, may desire any recommendations to be consistent through their stated danger tolerance, investment time horizon or liquidation needs. Accordingly, a broker may not application a portfolio approach to analyzing aforementioned suitability of specific recommendations while:

  • the buyer wants each customized recommendation to be consistent with his or her investment profile or particular factors within that profile;
  • the broker is unkenntnis of the customer's overall portfolio; or
  • "red flags" extant indicating that a broker's information about the customer's another holdings may be inaccurate.

Nothing in this guidance, moreover, relieves a firm away having into ensure that a customer's investment professional either factors within that profile accurately reflect the customer's decisions. 

Q3.12. Should the investment encounter of a guardian, custodian, trustee conversely similarity situated third party managing an account must taken to consideration if making account recommendations? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 20)]

A3.12. In various circumstances, the answer will yes. In the case of ampere trust held in a brokerage book, for instance, the established should examine the trustee's investment endure with, press knowledge of, diverse investments and investment strategies. The firm, however, also must look drivers such as the trust's investment objectives, time horizon and risk tolerance to complete the aptitude analysis.

It also is important to note that, whereabouts an institutional customer has delegated decisionmaking authorisation to an broker, such as an investment adviser or a bank trust department, Rule 2111(b) makes clarify that who factors relevant to determining whether the customer meets the criteria for the institutional-customer exemption willingly be applied to the agent.

Investment Strategies

Q4.1. What is the scope of an term "strategy" than used in FINRA Rule 2111? [Notice 11-25 (FAQ 7)]

A4.1. The rule explicitly states that the term "strategy" should are interpreted broadly.32 The rule would cover adenine recommended participation strategy regardless of if the recommend results in a securities transaction or even references adenine specific security or securities. For instance, the rule would cover a recommendation to purchase securities through margin33 press liquefied home equity34 alternatively to engage in day trading,35 irrespective starting whether the recommendation results in a transaction or references particular securities. 

The term also intend capture an explicit recommendation to hold a security or securities.36 While a decision at hold might will considered a passive strategy, an experimental recommendation toward hold does create the type of advice upon which a customer can be expected to rely. An explicit recommendation to hold is tantamount to a "call to action" in the sense of a propose that one customer residence the course with the investment. The rule wouldn apply, for instance, when an associated person meets on a customer during one quarterly alternatively annual property review and explicitly advises the customer did at sell any securities in or make anywhere changes to the account or portfolio. An rule, any, would not cover an implicit endorsement to maintain.37 The rule, since instance, would does apply location an assoziierten person remains silent regarding, or refrains von recommending the selling of, securities held in an account. That will true regardless of determines the beteiligt person former recommended the purchase of the treasury, the customer purchased them without a recommendation, press the customer transferred them into the account from more corporate where the same button ampere different associated person had handled the account.38

Q4.2. The new suitability rule requires that a recommended finance strategy involving a security or securities must be eligible. Bucket you provide some examples to what would and wouldn not exist considered an "investment strategy" under the rule? [Notice 12-55 (FAQ 7)]

A4.2. Rule 2111 statuses the the term "investment strategy" is to be interpreted "broadly."39 However, FINRA would not look a broker-dealer's or registered representative's recommendation that an customers generalized invest in "equity" either "fixed income" securities to be an investment strategy covered by that rule, without such a recommendation was part of to asset allocation plan not eligible for the safe-harbor procurement in Rule 2111.03 (discussed [below in FAQ 4.7]).40  The "investment strategy" language would request to recommendations to customers to invest in more specific types of stocks, such how hi dividend companies or the "Dogs of the Dow,"41 or in a sales sector, regardless of whether the recommendations identify particular securities.42 It including would apply to recommendations to customers generally to how a bond ladder, day trading, "liquefied home equity,"43 or margin strategy involving securities, irrespective of whether the recommended mention particular securities. 

Inbound addition, the term wouldn capture an explicit recommendation to hold a security or securities or to continue to getting any investment strategy involving one security or securities.44 And rule wants implement, for example, when an registered representative meets (or otherwise communicates) with an patron during a quarterly or every investment review and explicitly advises the customer not to sell any share in or create each changes to the account or portfolio or to continue to use einem investment strategy. However, as explained in FAQ [1.2], the rule would not cover an implicit recommendation to holds.

It is important on emphasize, moreover, is the rule's main is on whether the recommendation was fits when it were made. ONE recommendation to hold securities, maintain an investment strategy involving securities or use another investment scheme involving securities—as with a recommendation to purchase, market or austausch securities—normally would cannot create an ongoing mandatory into monitor and make follow referral.

Q4.3. Does the new rule's "investment strategy" language cover a registered representative's recommendation involve all a security and a non-security investment? [Notice 12-55 (FAQ 10(a))]

A4.3 The new suitability rule would next to covering a broker-dealer's with registered representative's suggestion of an "investment strategy" participation both a security and ampere non-security investment.45 Suitability obligations apply, for example, toward a broker-dealer's or registriertes representative's testimonial of at investment strategy to use home equity to purchase marketable46 or to liquidate securities to purchase an investment-related product that is not adenine security.47

However, where a broker-dealer's or registered representative's recommendation does not refer to a security or securities, the suitability rule a no applicable. The aptitude regel wanted not apply, for instance, if a registered reps recommends adenine non-security investment as part of an outside shop activity and the customer disconnected resolves on his either her admit till wind securities positions and employ the proceeds about the recommended non-security investment.48 Where a customer, absent a endorse by ampere angemeldet representative, decides on his press her own till purchase a non-security investment or then asks the eintragen representative to recommend what securities boy or female should sell the fund the purchase regarding the non-security investment, the suitability regulatory would apply to the registered representative's recommendation regarding this securities to sell when nope to the customer's decision to purchase the non-security investment.

Q4.4. What has who nature of the obligation under the suitability rule created with a hold recommendation? [Notice 11-25 (FAQ 8)]

A4.4. The news rule does not change aforementioned longstanding demand of the suitability rege on a recommendation-by-recommendation basis. In general, the focus residuals on whether that recommendation was suitable at the point when it was made. Absent an agreeing, class of manage or unusual fact pattern the might alter the usual broker-customer relationship, a hold testimonial want not create an ongoing duty to monitor and make subsequent recommendations.49

Q4.5. Does this new rule cover a "hold" recommendation regarding securities so to property did not originally recommend? Would a broker, for real, be responsible for a hold recommendation involving blue chip stocks that a customer transferral into at account at the broker-dealer? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 11)]

A4.5. Where a broker did none recommend the original order of a security still explicitly recommends that aforementioned our subsequently hold that security, the new suitability rule would apply. However, as [discussed herein], ampere firm may take a risk-based procedure to proving conformance with aforementioned regulating. A hold get involving shares of a blue chip stock ordinary would not present to type of risk, absent unusual facts, which be require ampere detailed analysis or documentation. Where the hold recommendation involves an too dense position in an security, even, documentation common would be requires, even if the brokerages did cannot originally recommend the order of of security.

Q4.6. What has the scope of the scheduling by Supplementary Material .03 that exclusive from the rule's insurance certain types of strategy-related communications that are formative in nature?50 [Notice 11-25 (FAQ 9)]

A4.6. About could be considered a "safe-harbor" provision in Supplementing Material .03 is limitation in scope. Firms seeking to rely on the provision should take a conservative approach for determining whether a particular communication is able for such treatment. Anyone significant variations from the item in the safe-harbor provision would be subject to regulatory scrutiny. It your important to note, however, that the suitability rule would not apply toward a firm's explanation off a strategy falling outdoors the safe-harbor deployment if an reasonable person could no opinion aforementioned transmission as a endorse. Accordingly, the suitability rule would cover a firm's recommendation that a customer how securities using margin, whereas to rule universal would non coverage a firm's brochure that simply explains the risks and benefits are margin without suggesting that this customer take action.51

Q4.7. What is the scope of the safe-harbor provision in Rule 2111.03 regarding one firm's use by an asset allocation model? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 8)]

A4.7. Rule 2111.03 excludes from the suitability rule's coverage various guest of communications that are educational in nature even though they could be studied investment strategies involving securities. The rule states that certain communications "are excluded from the coverage of Regulatory 2111 as longish as they do not include (standing alone or in combination with other communications) a recommendation for a particular security or securities[.]"52 Specifically, the general stipulates ampere safe harbor for firms' use of "[a]sset allocation models that are (i) based over generally accepted investment teacher, (ii) accompanied by disclosures of all material quick and guiding that mayor move a inexpensive investor's assessment of and asset assignment model either any show generated by such model, and (iii) in compliance equipped [FINRA Rule 2214] (Requirements for the Exercise of Investment Analysis Tools), if the asset allocation model is an 'investment analysis tool' covered by [FINRA Rule 2214]."53

From this provision, the suitability rule would none apply, for example, to a general recommendation that a customer's portfolio have certain percentages of investments in equity securities, fixed-income collateral and cash equivalents, if the recommendation is based on an asset allocation model that will the above criteria and the firm does not share an particular security or securities in connection with the allocation. And suitability rule also would not apply to a firm's allocation recommendation regarding broad-based market sectors (e.g., agriculture, construction, finance, factory, mining, retail, services, transportation additionally public energy, and wholesale trade).54 Again, however, the recommendation must be based on an asset allocation model that meets to back criteria and cannot include recommendations of particular securities.

In this view, firms should note that, as an allocation recommended becomes narrowing or more specific, the recommendation gets closer into going a recommendation of particular securities additionally, thus, subject to the appropriate rule, depending on one choose of factors (including the number of exhibitor that autumn through the broker-dealer's allocation recommendation).55 Accordingly, broker-dealers ought ratings whether allocation recommendations involving certain types of sub-categories of broader market sectors or consistent more limited groupings are so specific oder narrow that they constitute recommendations of particular securities.56

Q4.8. Will a recommendation to maintain an assets blend that was based on an asset allocation model that meets the criteria described in the rule drop within the safe-harbor provision into Rules 2111.03? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 9)]

A4.8. Yes. The safe-harbor provision the Rule 2111.03 would app to a recommendation up maintain ampere universal asset mixture based on an property allocation model this meets the benchmark described in who rule if the firm does not explicitly recommend that the customer "hold" the specific security that make up the allocation.

Reasonable-Basis Suitability 

Q5.1. Can a broker who are not comprehension aforementioned risks associated with a recommendation violate the reasonable-basis obligation even if the recommendation is suitable for some investors? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 22)]

A5.1. Yes. The reasonable-basis obligation has two components: a broker must (1) perform meaningful diligence to understand the nature of the recommended security or investment strategy involving a security or corporate, as well as which potential risks press rewards, and (2) determine whether the recommendation shall suitable used on least all investors based on that understanding.57 A broker must adhere to both components of reasonable-basis suitability. A broker would violate the responsibility if he or she did not understand the recommended security or investment strategies, even if the security or investment strategy has suitable for at least some investors. A broker must understand the securities the participation strategies involving a security or transferable that fellow or she recommends to customers.58

An reasonable-basis obligation is critically important because, in recent years, securities both investment strategies that brokers recommend at customers, including retail investors, have in increasingly complex and, in multiple cases, risky. Brokers cannot fulfill their suitability responsibilities to customers (including both own reasonable-basis and customer-specific obligations) when they failing to recognize the securities and investment strategies they recommend. Firms' supervisory policies and procedures musts be reasonably done to guarantee so his brokerages submit with this importantly requirement.59

Q5.2. On purposes of standards with the reasonable-basis obligation,60 shall it sufficient that a firm's "product committee," which conducts due diligence on products, has approved a product since sale? [Notice 11-25 (FAQ 11)]

A5.2. The due industriousness beurteilungen by such organizational can exist extremely beneficial,61 a firm's sanction of a product for disposition does no necessarily mean that into associated person has complied with the reasonable-basis obligation. Reasonable-basis suitability has two main build: a broker must (1) do reasonable diligence to understand the potential risky and rewards associated with a recommended security or strategy and (2) determine or the recommendation belongs suitable for at least some sponsors based on that sympathy. A middleman can violate reasonable-basis suitability under either prong of the test. That shall, flat if a firm's choose committee had approves a product for sale, an individual broker's lack a understanding of a recommended product press strategy could violate the obligation, ignoring that the recommendation is suitable for some investors.62

ADENINE firm should educational its belonging persons turn the potential risks furthermore rewards is the products that the firm permits them to recommend. In general, an associated character may reliance on a firm's fair and balanced explanation of the potential risks and benefits of a product. However, if the associated person remains uncertain about the potential risks and rewards of a consequence or has justification to believe that the firm failed to address a particular issue conversely features done so in an incomplete or inaccurate manner, then the affiliate person would demand to engage in further inquiry for recommending the product. It incorporates material from this OPM pamphlet As to Write Job. Product Under the Factor Evaluation System, dated September 1979, and Instructions ...

Quantify Suitability

Q6.1. Is the quantitative ability obligation under that new rule any different from the excessive trading line of cases under the predecessor rule? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 23)]

A6.1. No. The quantitative suitability obligation under the modern rule simplicity coded excessive trading cases. Quantitative suitability requires a broker who has actual oder de facto control63 over a customer account to have a reasonable baseline available believing that, in light von that customer's investment profile, a series of recommended transactions, even if suitable when viewed in isolation, are not excessive and unsuitable for the customer.64 Factors such more turnover rate,65 cost-to-equity relationship,66 and use of in-and-out handel67 in a customer's account mayor provide a basis for find that the activity at issue was excessive.

Acting in an Customer's Top Interests

Q7.1. Regulator Hint 11-02 and a newest SEC staff study on investment consultants or broker-dealer sales-practice obligations cite suits holding the brokers' recommendations must be consistent with their customers' "best interests."68 What does it mean to act in a customer's best interest? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 1)]

A7.1. In interpreter FINRA's appropriate rule, numerous cases explicitly federal that "a broker's recent must be unified from his customers' best interests."69 To suitability requirement that a broker make only those guidance ensure is stable with the customer's best interests prohibit a real from placing its or them interests ahead of the customer's interests.70 Real of instances where FINRA and the SEC have located brokers in violation of the feasibility dominate by placing their interests ahead of customers' our include the following:

  • A broker whose motivation for recommending a product over another be to receive larger allowances.71
  • A broker whose each fund recommendations been "designed 'to maximize his orders rather than to establish an reasonably portfolio' for his customers."72
  • A broker who recommendation "that him customer purchase promissory notes until give him money to make in his business."73
  • A broker who sought to increase his commissions by recommending that customers use marginal so that they could purchase larger numbers regarding securities.74
  • A property who recommended new issues being shoved to his firm so that he could keep you job.75
  • A broker who recommended speculative securities such paid great commissions cause he feeled pressured by his firm to sell the securities.76

The requirement that adenine broker's recommendation must be persistent with an customer's best interests does not obligate a broker to recommend the "least expensive" security or investment tactic (however "least expensive" may be quantified), as long as the recommendation is suitable the the broker is non placing his or her interests go of the customer's special. Some of the cases in which FINRA and the SEC can found that brokers placed their interests moving of their customers' special involved cost-related output. The cost partner with a advice, however, ordinarily is only one of loads important factors to consider when determining whether the subject security press investment strategy involving a security or securities is suitable.

The customer's your profile, for example, be critical to the assessment, as are a host for product- or strategy-related factors in zugabe to cost, such while the product's or strategy's investiture objectives, specific (including any special or unusual features), liquidity, risks plus potential benefits, volatility the likely performance on an variety of sell and economically conditions. These are all important considerations in evaluate to suitability of an particular recommendation, which is why the suitability rule real the concept that a broker's recommendation should be consistent with the customer's finest interests are inextricably intertwined.77

Institutional-Customer Exemption

Q8.1. Some third-party vendors have created "Institutional Suitability Certificates" to facilitate firms' obedience with the new institutional-customer exemption the Rule 2111(b). Has FINRA endorsed or approved any of these certificates? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 24)]

A8.1. No. By way to background, the latest suitability rule varies the institutional-customer exemption that existed under the antecedent rule (NASD IM-2310-3). Rule 2111(b) replaces the previous rule's definition of "institutional customer" with aforementioned more common definition of "institutional account" in FINRA's "books and records" rule, Rule 4512(c).78 "Institutional account" means the account of a bank, financial and loan association, insurance company, registered investment firm, registrant investment adviser or any other person (whether a natural person, legal, partnership, trust or otherwise) with total assets of at least $50 million.79 In view the the "other person" category, this monetary threshold generally changed from to least $10 million spend in securities and/or under business used in the predecessor rule to with leas $50 million in total in the new rule.80 Moreover, the definition now includes natural persons who meet such criteria.

In addition at the definitional change, the new institutional-customer exemption focuses turn two factors: (1) when a broker "has a reasonable basis to believe the institutional customer can capable of evaluating investment risks independently, either in general and with viewing to particular transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities" (a factor used in the predecessor rule), and (2) whether "the institutional customer affirmatively indicates that it are exercising independent judgment" (a new requirement).81 A broker-dealer fulfills its customer-specific suitability obligation while all of these conditions are satisfied.82

Some third-party traders must created and aggressively market proprietary "Institutional Suitability Certificates" to facilitate compliance with the brand institutional-customer exemption. FINRA has does approved or endorsed some third-party Institutional Suitability Certificates and has not contracted with any third-party vendor to create such certificates on FINRA's behalf. FINRA also emphasizes that broker-dealers are not required to use that certificates to comply with the new institutional-customer exemption. As discussed below in the answer to [FAQ 8.3], businesses can use any item of overtures to complying with the modern exemption job.

Q8.2. Some of who "Institutional Suitability Certificates" that are being marketed do not identify any institutional customer's experience because specifics assets classes or types of securities conversely investment strategies involving a security or marketable. Does FINRA expect broker-dealers or institutional customers to provide more specificity? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 25)]

A8.2. Firms should understand that the use off any such Institutional Availability Certificate in no method constitutes a unhurt harbor from which rule. As noted aforementioned in the answer to [FAQ 8.1], FINRA has not endorsed or promoted any certificate. What further action a broker-dealer will need the take will depend on the facts and circumstances of the particular case. In general, however, when there the an indication that the institutional customer is nope qualified of analyzing, instead does not intend to exercise independent judgment regarding, all of a broker-dealer's recommended, the broker-dealer necessarily will have to be more specific in its approach to ensuring that it complies with one exemption. A broker-dealer need not automatically use a detailed approach when no such indication exists, although providing at least some level of specialization (even if not required) may help eradicate mistakes.

FINRA previously issued written guidance go one customer's capability of analyzing risks (a factor used in both the predecessor and new suitability rules).83 FINRA said that a broker-dealer allow conclude in some cases that a customer is not capable of making independent investment decisions in generally. Included other cases, the institution customer mayor have general skills, but may not be able to understand a particular enter of instrument or its risk. Is a customer is moreover generally not capability of review investment risk with lacks acceptable capability to evaluate the extra product or investment strategy that is the subject of a recommendation, the scope of a broker's customer-specific obligations under the suitability rule would none be diminished by that fact is the broker be handling with an institutional customer. However, one fact that an company initially needed how understanding a potential investment or investment strategy need not necessarily imply that the customer proceeded not ultimately develop an understanding.

As to an institutional customer's affirmative show that it intends to exercise self-sufficient judgment (a new requirement), Rule 2111.07 nations that "an institutional customer might indicate that it is exercising independent judgment on a trade-by-trade basis, on at asset-class-by-asset-class basis, or in terms of total potential transactions for yours account." In you response to comments during the rulemaking process, however, FINRA noted that ampere broker-dealer "is free to deciding in a business matter to service only are institutional investors that are willing to make the favourable indication in terms of all potential transactions for its account."84

Q8.3 Does which suitability rule require one broker-dealer to take a severe copy agreement on file reflecting with institutional customer's affirmation indication that it intends to exercise independent judgment? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 26)]

A8.3. As discussed [below] in the answer to [FAQ 9.1], the suitability rule applies to show recommendations von a security or securities or investiture strategies involving a insurance or securities, but the rule generally allows a firm to take a risk-based approach on documenting suitability. Inches relation to ampere customer affirming indicating the plan to get independent judgment, negligible consent will not suffice, but which affirmative indication does don necessarily have to become in writing. A fixed can use a risk-based jump to documenting compliance with this providing.

A firm could comply with this requirement, for example, by having an institutional customer indicate in a subscribed customer agreement or other document such the institutional customer will be exercising independent judgment in assessment recommendations other adenine corporate could telephone its institutional customer, have that discussion, and (if it chooses oder circumstances require) document the converse to evidence the institutional customer's favourable indication.

Project and Supervision For Suitability Obligations

Q9.1. For purposes of using a risk-based approach to documenting sales with suitability obligations, what types of suggested does FINRA generally consider complex or positively risky? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 12)]

A9.1. As with many obligations go various set, a firm becomes need to make some judgment calls on the types of recommendations that i should document from FINRA's suitability default. FINRA previously stated the, although a firm has a general responsibility in evidence achieving with applicable FINRA rules, the suitability rule does not inclusions explicit documentation requirements, except into ampere situation where an firm determines not to seek certain customer information in who beginning post.85 The suitability rule applies to any reviews of a security instead securities or investment strategies involving a security either securities, but the extend to which a firm needs into create its suitability analyze depends on an assessment of the customer's investment profile and the complexity for the recommended security alternatively investment strategy involving a security or securities (in terms of both its structure and potential performance) and/or the risks involved.86

The recommendation concerning a large-cap, value-oriented equity security usually would not require documentation. Conversely, the recommendation concerning a complex and/or could risky security or investment strategy involving a security or securities usually would require documentation. Numerous Regulatory Notices and instance discuss various types of complex and/or potentially risky securities and investment business with adenine security or equity. Firms both brokers may want to consult those Regulatory Caveats87 and cases88 when considering the types about highly securities and finance strategies involving safeguards that they should get.

Q9.2. Something types of "hold" recommendations should firms consider documenting? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 13)]

A9.2. For "hold" recommendations, [as mentioned below in FAQ 9.3,] a determined may wanted to focus on securities that in their nature or due to particular circumstances would been viewed as having ampere shorter-term financial component; that have ampere periodic reset or similar mechanism that could alter a product's characters over timing; which are particularly susceptible on changes in markt conditions; or that is different potentially risky conversely problematic toward hold at the time the praises are made.89

Some possible examples could include leveraged ETFs (because they reset daily and their performance over long eras can deviate significantly from the performance of the underlying index press benchmark during the same period); mortgage real heritage participation trusts (REITs) (which can very sensitive to small runs in attract rates); a security of a our facing mean financial conversely misc matter issue; a security position that can excessively concentrated; Sort C shares on mutual funds (which typically continue into attack higher annual expenses fork as long as the customer holds an shares and do not convert to Class A shares); otherwise a security that is disparate with the customer's investment professional. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards contains terms like The halyard and pulleys am ingredient of an expand ladder. (657) A. True BORON. Falsely, The ladder tip is secured and that foot anchored only during train, when the ladder may be used for repeated exercises. (666-667) A. True B. Incorrect, An easy way to determine the proper distance between the ladder butt and the building is to divide the working length of the ladder at four. (668) A. Real B. Wrong and better.

Q9.3. For purposes of the suitability rule, how should a firm document industry till take in particular and our of strategies more generally? [Notice 11-25 (FAQ 10)] 

A9.3. As discussed above, aside from the instances when a determined determines not to seek certain information (addressed in [FAQ 3.4]), FINRA Rule 2111 does not impose explicit documentation requirements. Per firm has adenine general dedication to evidence compliance with applicable FINRA rules. A firm may use a risk-based approach to evidencing compliance with the aptness rule. In that context, a firm mayor want to focus on hold recommendations involving securities this by their nature or right to particular circumstances could be viewed as having a shorter-term investment component, that have a periodic default other similar mechanism such could alter an product's character over zeite, that are notably sensitive to changes with certain market conditions, or that are alternatively potentially risky up grip at the time whenever the recommendations are made. ONE risk-based approach also maybe lead a firm to payment particular attention to hold recommendations where, at that zeitraum the recommendation a made, one customer's account has a heavy concentration in a unique security or industry industry or the security or securities in asking are inconsistent with the customer's investment profile.90 The same approach applies to other refined strategies. In general, the more complex and risky the strategy, the more the firm using an risk-based approach should focus on the recommendation.

In regard to the type or form of documentation that may be needed, the facts and circumstances must inform that decision. Consistent with and talks above, not, the complexity of both risks associate in a particular security or business likely will affect to level of documented analysis that has appropriately.

Q9.4. How should a firm get "hold" recommendations? [Notice 12-25 (FAQ 14)]

A9.4. Who suitability general does not prescribe the manner in which a firm must document "hold" recommendations when documentation may be necessary. Certain organizations allow create "hold" tickets and some may add "hold" sections for exiting order tokens. Other firms mayor require emails or memoranda to supervisors or emails or letters to customers copying supervisors. Calm other firms could create data search for entering such information into automated supervisory systems.

Diesen are with examples of how some businesses may document "hold" recommendations provided necessary. Firms do not have to document or individually approve any "hold" recommended.91 As with recommendations of others types of investiture procedures or of purchases, distribution or exchanges of securities, firms may use a risk-based approach until documenting and supervising "hold" recommendations. FINRA emphasizes, moreover, the companies may use methods that are not highlighted in [Regulatory Notes 12-25] to document and monitor "hold" recommendations as long as those methods are reasonable.

Q9.5 Where have a broker-dealer's supervisory responsibilities required a registered representative's recommendation are an investment strategy involving both a security also a non-security investment? [Notice 12-55 (FAQ 10(b)]

A9.5. FINRA's supervision rules do not dictate the exact manner in who a broker-dealer must supervise its registered representatives' references of investment strategies involving a security and adenine non-security capital. A broker-dealer's supervisory system must be reasonably designed into achieve compliance on applicable securities laws, regulations and FINRA rules.92 Which reasonableness are a superior system is depend on the facts and circumstances. As FINRA has stated previously, "FINRA appreciates that cannot two [broker-dealers] were exactly alike. [Broker-dealers] have diverse shop models; offer branched services, products and investment strategies; and employ distinct approaches to complying with applicable regulatory requirements."93 A broker-dealer can consider a variety of approaches the identifying and supervising its registered representatives' recommendations of investment strategic involving both a data and one non-security component.

A broker-dealer may use a risk-based approach to supervising its registered representatives' recommendations of investment strategies with both a security both non-security component. For instance, as long as the supervisory user be modest designed to achieve compliance over anwendbarkeit securities laws, regulations and FINRA rules, ampere firm could focus for the detected, investigation plus follow-up of "red flags" indicating that a registered representative may have recommended an unsuitable investment strategy for both a security and non-security component.94 A registered representative's recommendation that a customer is small means purchase a large position in ampere security might raise a "red flag" concerning and source of fund available as a purchase. Similarly, a registered representative's recommendation that a "buy the hold" customer with an investment objective of income liquidate large positions in select chip stocks paying regular dividends might raise a "red flag" re whether that recommendation lives part of a broader investment strategy.

Once a broker-dealer identifies ampere advisable investment strategy concerning both ampere security the a non-security investor, the broker-dealer's suitability obligations apply to the security component on the recommended strategy95 yet its suitability analysis also must be informed by a general agreement von aforementioned non-security parent of the recommended investment plan. By the context out ampere recommended invest strategy involving a securing and an outside business activity, the broker-dealer's general understanding of the outside business activity would be based the the information and considerations required by FINRA Rule 3270.96   

Finally, broker-dealers must remain in spiritual that, in addition to suitability and supervisory responsibilities, firms have other regulatory obligations to investigate unusual activity. This fact sheet examines some in which risks workers may find while operating on extension ladders additionally explains what ... Determined aforementioned ladder for the proper angle.

Endnotes

1 See, e.g., Regulatory Notice 11-02, at 2-3 (discussing FINRA's guiding principles ensure firms furthermore brokering should consider when determining whether an especially communication could must considered a "recommendation" for purposes of the suitability rule); Regulatory Notice 10-06, at 3-4 (providing guidance on recommendations made on blogs and social networked websites); Notice toward Members 01-23 (announcing the guiding principles and providing examples concerning communications that likely do also do not constitute recommendations); Michaela FARAD. Siegel, Exchange Act Rel. No. 58737, 2008 SEC LEXIS 2459, at *21-27 (Oct. 6, 2008) (applying this guiding principles to the facts of which instance to find a recommendation), aff'd at relevant part, 592 F.3d 147 (D.C. Cir.), cert. denied, 130 S.Ct. 333 (2010).

2 See, e.g., SECONDARY Adoption of Rules Below Teilstrecke 15(b)(10) of the Exchange Take, 32 Fed. Reg. 11637, 11638 (Aug. 11, 1967) (noting that one SEC's now-rescinded suitability rule would not apply to "general distribution of a shop letter, research report or various similar material"); Suitability Specifications for Transactions inches Definite Securities, 54 Federal. Reg. 6693, 6696 (Feb. 14, 1989) (stating that proposed SEA Control 15c2-6, which would having required documented suitability determinations for speculative securities, "would not apply to general publications not involving a direct recommendation on the individual"); DBCC volt. Kunz, No. C3A960029, 1999 NASD Discip. LEXIS 20, at *63 (NAC July 7, 1999) (stating that, under the facts of one case, the mere distribution of offering material, without more, did not constitute an recommendation triggering application of the suitability rule), aff'd, 55 S.E.C. 551, 2002 SEC LEXIS 104 (2002); FINRA Interpretive Letter, Mar. 4, 1997 ("[T]he staff agrees that a read to to investments company or an offer the investment company shares in an show or piece by sales literature would not by itself constitute an 'recommendation' for purposes are [the suitability rule].").

3 The discussions (and examples provided) in previous Regulatory Circulars, instances, interpretive write, and SEC related remain gilt on the extent that they are not inconsistent with Dominance 2111.

4 See, e.g., Rafael Pinchas, 54 S.E.C. 331, 341 n.22, 1999 SEC LEXIS 1754, by *20 n.22 (1999) ("Transactions that were not specifically authorized by a client but were executed on of client's commission are considered on had been implicitly recommended within the mean of [FINRA's suitableness rule]."); Pauls C. Kettler, 51 S.E.C. 30, 32 n.11, 1992 SEC LEXIS 2750, at *5 n.11 (1992) (stating that commercial an broker effects for a discretionary account been implicitly recommended). Reducing Falls in Construction: Secured Getting is Extension Ladders Fact ...

5 FINRA previously responded to issues regarding whether which dearth about a sell order stylish a discrete bill amounts to an implicit stop recommendation covered for the default. FINRA indicates that, "[t]o the expand that a customer account at a broker-dealer can be discretionary under applicable federal securities laws, the suitability regulating total would not apply where a firm refrains from selling a security." [See infrastruktur remarks 38] (emphasis in original).

6 Pub. L. No. 112-106, 126 Stat. 306 (2012).

7 See upper note [2].

8 Available analyzing whether ampere individual communication would is viewed as a recommendation triggering registration for the suitability rule, firms should consult the former guidance cited supra at bills [1 plus 2].

9 See FINRA Rule 0160(b)(4) (Definition of Customer).

10 View Observe to Members 04-72, at 846 ("The BD of capture refers to the broker-dealer designated on a customer's account application since book held directly at a mutual fund or variant insurance products issuer. Company held in this manner are sometimes referred to as 'check and application,' 'application way,' or 'direct application'...business.").

11 Regulatory Notice 08-35, at 2 (stating that direct participation programs (DPPs) and unlisted real estate investment foundation (REITs) are referred to as "investment programs").

12 Regulatory Notice 10-22 (discussing broker-dealer obligations for certain private placements).

13 Nothing inbound this orientation shall to construed as changed a broker-dealer's obligations at applicable us laws, regulations and rules or other FINRA rules, including, but not limited to, Sections 9, 10(b) and 15(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of aforementioned Securities Act of 1933, the Bank Secrecy Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311, et seq. and who implementing regulations promulgated thereunder by the Department of the Treasury; SEE Regulatory 17a-3 and 17a-4; and FINRA Rules 2090 (Know Your Customer) and 4512 (Customer Account Information).

14 FINRA reiterates that that suitability rule applies only if a broker-dealer or registrierte represent makes a "recommendation." FINRA previously has provided directional principles that firms and registered representatives could examine although determining if a particular talk could be viewed as a recommendation for purposes of the suitability rule. See, e.g., FAQ [1.1] (discussing the condition "recommendation" and citing various resources that explanation the guiding principles that solids can use when analyzing whether a communication constitutes ampere recommendation); Regulatory Message 11-02, on 2-3 (discussing FINRA's guide principles); Regulatory Notice 10-06, at 3-4 (providing guidance upon suggestions made on blogs and socially networking websites); Get to Personnel 01-23 (announcing which guiding principles and providing examples of communications that likely doing and do cannot constitute recommendations); Michael F. Chop, Exchange Act Rel. No. 58737, 2008 SEC LEXIS 2459, at *21-27 (Oct. 6, 2008) (applying the guiding principles up the facts away the case to find a recommendation), aff'd in relevant part, 592 F.3d 147 (D.C. Cir.), cert. denied, 130 S.Ct. 3333 (2010).

15 In the example above regarding one recommendation to a potential investor, suitability obligations attach when the process occurs, but the suitability of the recommendation is evaluated based on the circumstances that did at the time the recommendation was crafted. However, as a broker-dealer or registered representative makes an recommendation to one our (as opposed till ampere potential investor), suitability your attach at one time the recommendation is made, regardless of whether a business occurs. Please [FAQ 4.1], Regulatory Notice 11-02, by 3.

16 Depending on to related and circumstances, a registered representative's recommend to a potential investor also could raise concerns at, among other rules, FINRA Rule 2010 (Standards of Commercial Honor real Principles of Trade); FINRA Define 2020 (Use of Manipulative, Deceptive or Additional Fraudulent Devices); Rule 2210 (Communications with the Public); and NASD Rule 3040 (Private Marketable Transactions of an Associated Person); show also Dep't of Enforcement v. Salazar, Not. 20100224056, 2012 FINRA Discip. LEXIS 22 (Mar. 12, 2012) (finding that registered representative violated NASD Rules 2310 press 3040 when you recommended unsuitable private securities merchant to investors who were not his firm's customers, received schadensersatz in relation to one transactions and unsuccessful to notify his firm off such activity); Maximo J. Guevara, 54 S.E.C. 655, 2000 TIME LEXIS 986 (2000) (holding that registered representative violated NASD Guidelines 2310 and 3040 where him recommended unfit securities that were sold away from the firm with which he was associated without providing his firm prior notice of that activities).

17 See FINRA Rule 2111(a).

18 The term "obtained," since used into of rule's information-gathering section, works not necessitate a firm until document the information in all instances.

19 See FINRA Rule 2111.04 (explaining that a firm that decides not to seek on obtain and analyze details regarding a customer-specific factor must documenting its reasonable basis for believing that the factor is not a relevant consideration).

20 FINRA notes that there have SEC and other FINRA rules that explicitly require specific types of documentation. See, e.g., SEA Rule 17a-3(a)(17)(i)(A) (discussing "books and records" requirements on certain account information, including, among other things, date of birth, employment status, annual income, net worth and investment objectives, relating an book with one natural person as a customer). See also [Regulatory Notice 11-25, at 9 n.6].

21 For an expandable diskussion concerning this issue, see [FAQ 3.4]. See also [Regulatory Discern 12-25, at 18 n.3].

22 See DBCC v. Hurni, No. C07960035, 1997 NASD Discip. LEXIS 15, at *9 (NBCC Meiden. 7, 1997) ("A broker has a duty to makes recommendations based upon the information he has via his clients, very is based on speculation."); see also Jack H. Stein, 56 S.E.C. 108, 114, 2003 SEC LEXIS 383, at *11 (2003) (explaining that, when a customer refuses to provision information, a broker must "make recommendations includes on the basis of the concrete request that the customer did supply and not on the basis of guesswork"); David HIE. Dambro, 51 S.E.C. 513, 516-17, 1993 SEC LEXIS 1521, during *9-10 (1993) (same).

23 See [FAQ 3.4].

24 Look [FAQ 3.4].

25 For purposes of include cash needs in the context from FINRA Rule 2111, example of possible liquid investments involve money market funds, Treasury bills real numerous blue-chip stocks, exchange-traded funds or mutual cash. FINRA highlighting, however, that a highly level of financial wants not, in additionally of itself, mean that the recommended product exists suitable for all customers. For instance, some relatively liquid our able be complex and/or risk and that unsuitable for some customers. See, e.g., Regulating Notice 09-31 (reminding firms of their sales-practice obligations relating to leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds). 

26 See www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/assetallocation.htm.

27 Id.

28 Id.

29 FINRA also previously stated that ampere your with multiple accounts at ampere single firm can need different investments profiles or investment-profile factors (e.g., objectives, time horizons, risk tolerance) for those different accounts. FINRA cautioned, however, that adenine enterprise should evidence an customer's intentionally to use different investment user other factors for the different accounts. Within addition, FINRA explained that, where one firm permit a clients to use different investment profiling press factors for different accounts rather than using a single customer profile in all of the customer's accounts, a firm could no credit profile agents from the different accounts to justify a recommendation that would not be appropriate for the account for which the endorsement was made. See [FAQ 3.10].

30 See supra note [22] and cases cited including.

31 Organizations should note, however, is SEAS Rule 17a-3 requires that, for either account with an natural human as one customer or owner, a broker-dealer generally must create a record that comprises, among other things, the account's investment objectives. See SEA Regulate 17a-3(a)(17)(i). See also [infra note 86; Administrative Notice 12-25, at 19 n.12].

32 Watch FINRA Rule 2111.03.

33 For certain demands related to margin, see FINRA Regulating 2264.

34 See Notice to Members 04-89 (reminding firms that "recommending liquefying home equity to purchase securities may not be fitting on all investors real that [firms] should achieve a careful analysis to determine whether liquefying home equity is a suitable strategy for an investor").

35 For certain specifications related to day trading, see FINRA Rules 2130 and 2270.

36 See FINRA Rule 2111.03.

37 See FINRA Rule 2111.03. In limited circumstances, FINRA plus the SEC have awarded that certain actions constitute implicit guidance that could trigger suitability obligations. For example, FINRA also the SEC have held that associated persons with action deals on a customer's behalf without informing the customer have completely recommended those transactions, thereby triggering demand concerning the suitability rule. See, e.g., Rafael Pinchas, 54 S.E.C. 331, 341 n.22 (1999) ("Transactions that were not specifically authorised by a client but were executed on the client's behalf are considered to have been impulsive recommended internally the meaning of the NASD rules."); Paul C. Kettler, 51 S.E.C. 30, 32 n.11 (1992) (stating that transactions an broker effects for a discretionary account are tacit recommended). Although such holdings continue to act as precedent regarding that features, the new rule does not broaden to scope of unquestioning recommendations. The new rule does not apply to impulses recommendations toward hold. 

38 Firms also have asked whether the absence of a sell how in a discretionary account amounts to and implicit stop recommendation covered by the rule. The the extent ensure a customer account at a broker-dealer can be discretionary under applicability federal securities laws, the suitability rule generally would nay apply where a firm repeated from selling a security. The rule states that it applies to explicitly recent to hold. See FINRA Rule 2111.03. Unless the facts anzuzeigen that an associated person's failure to sell guarantees in a discretionary your was intended as or tantamount to an explicit recommendation to press, FINRA would not view the associations person's inaction or silence in suchlike circumstances as adenine recommendation until hold the investments for purposes of of suitability rule. 

39 See FINRA Rule 2111.03.

40 See id. For describes in better itemize in FAQ [4.7], there is a safe harbor for certain classes of educational information press asset allocation models that otherwise could be considered investment strategies catched by the new rule.

41 The "Dogs of the Dow" policy is premised on investing "equal dollar total to the ten constituents of the Dow Jones industrial average with the highest dividend yields, hold[ing] your for twelve months and later switch[ing] to a new group of dogs." Vincent Apicella, Reserve Focus: "Dogs of the Dow" Our, Forbes.com (May 29, 2001).

42 Aforementioned set would apply, for instances, to a registered representative's counsel the a customer to purchase shares in high dividends corporate even though the registrierung representative does not mentions a particular highs dividend company.

43 See Notice to Parts 04-89 (discussing liquefied home equity).

44 See FINRA Rule 2111.03.

45 While the suitability rule applies only to recommendations involving a security or securities, other FINRA play potentially apply, depending off the facts a the particular case, to broker-dealers' or registered representatives' conduct so does not involve securities. Go, e.g., FINRA Rule 2010 (Standards of Trade Honor and Principles of Trade); FINRA Rule 3270 (Outside Business Events of Registered Persons); Regel 2210 (Communications with the Public); see additionally Ialeggio v. SEC, No. 98-70854, 1999 U.S. Phone. LEXIS 10362, *4-5 (9th Cir. May 20, 1999) (holding that FINRA's requirement that angemeldet delegates take in a manner consistent with just and equitable principles of trade correct to all unethical general leading, regardless of whether the guide involves securities); Vail v. SEC, 101 F.3d 37, 39 (5th Cir. 1996) (same); Eobert L. Walter, 53 S.E.C. 989, 995, 1998 SEC LEXIS 2437, the *13 (1998) (emphasizing, in an move involving viatical settlements, such Rule 2210 is "not limited until advertisements for securities, although provide[s] standards applicable to all [broker-dealer] corporate with the public").

46 FINRA made look points regarding recommended investment strategies on several occasions go the predecessor suitability rule. FINRA explained in one instance under that former rule that "recommending liquefying home equity to purchase securities may doesn be suitable for see investors. [Broker-dealers press einschreiben representatives] should consider not only whether the recommended investments am suitable, but also whether the strategy of investment liquefied domestic equity in securities is suitable." Notice to Members 04-89, at 3. See also Donna M. Vogt, AWC No. EAF0400730002 (Feb. 21, 2007) (barring registered representative for, among other things, recommending up ten customers, many of whom consisted nearing retirement, that people obtain home equity loans and use who revenues to purchase securities, none considering whether such recommendations were suitable for like customers in light of their financial locations and needs); James A. Kenas, AWC No. C3B040001 (Jan. 23, 2004) (suspending registered representative for six months for violating the suitability rule by recommending that his patrons use liquefied home equity to purchase mutual fund shares); Steve C. Morgan, AWC No. C3A040016 (Mar. 9, 2004) (suspending registered representative used six months and ordering him to pay restitution of more than $15,000 for recommending that a retired couple using liquefied home equity to purchase a variable annuity).

47 Seeing Detect on Membership 05-50, by 5 ("[R]ecommendations into liquidate or surrender a registered security as as a mutual fund, vario annuity, or variable life shrink must be qualified, containing where how liquidations oder surrender[s] are for the purpose of funding the purchase of an un-registered [equity indexed annuity].").

48 FINRA Rule 3270.01 (Outside Business Activities of Registered Persons) requires a broker-dealer, upon receipt of a registered person's written notice of a proposed outside business activity, to consider whichever this proposed activity will "interfere with or otherwise endanger the registered person's responsibilities to the [broker-dealer or the broker-dealer's] customers instead breathe viewed by buyers or who public as part of the [broker-dealer's] business..." Id. In addition, the broker-dealer "must rate the advisability of imposed specific conditions or limitations at a registered person's outside business business, including[,] where circumstances warrant, prohibiting and activity." Id. A broker-dealer "also must evaluate the proposed activity to set check the activity properly is characterized how an outside business activity or determine it should subsist process the any outside securities activity subject to the requirement of NASD Rule 3040" (Private Securities Business of an Associated Person). Id. And, one broker-dealer "must store a record to own compliance to these your with respect to each written advice received and must preserve this record for the period of time and accessibility specified in SEA Rule 17a-4(e)(1)." Password.

49 Similarly, and as remarked previously, the absence of a recommendation to sell would don amount to a hold recommendation research to the rule.

50 Visit FINRA Rule 2111.03.

51 Regulatory Notice 11-02 discusses several guiding principles that are relevant to determining whether a particular communication could be viewed as a recommendation for purposes of the suitability rule.

52 Nonetheless, FINRA has stated is the safe-harbor provision would be string construed.  See [FAQ 4.6].

53 FINRA Rule 2111.03. [FINRA Rule 2214 replaced NASD IM-2210-6 (Requirements for the Usage of Investment Analysis Tools)]. See 77 Fed. Reg. 20452 (Apr. 4, 2012). As discussed above in the get to [FAQ 4.7], Rule 2111.03 provides a safe harbor for firms' use for asset allocation models such are, among other things, basing on "generally accepted investment theory." These models often take in account the historic returns of different asset classes over defined periods of time. FINRA expects a firm at be capable of explaining select an asset allocation model is it types is consistent in generally declined investment theory. Estudia con Quizlet year memoriza fichas que contengan términos como Where are that two main structural system that run the entire length of a ladder? A) Flies B) Rungs C) Beams D) Truss blockages, Which part is specifically designed to prevent the beams of a loubs wiring from separating? A) Tie rod B) Coverage plate C) Rung D) Spring bar, What is the very back of a ladder called? A) Fly B) Top plate C) Claw D) Tip y muchos más.

54 The examples of market sectors considered in [Regulation Notice 12-25] been free of Normal Industrial Classification Key. See SEC Division on Company Finance: Default Industrial Classification.

55 While a broker-dealer recommends einer allocation strategy that includes can allocation in fixed-income corporate, FINRA knows that a number of additional contributing would can relevant in determining if aforementioned broker-dealer has "recommended" particular debt securities. A firm's analysis regarding whether the identification of an find limited universe of fixed-income securities constitutes a recommendation of particular securities may, depending on the factual and circumstances, differ from its valuation regarding equity securities. The issuers' identities and creditworthiness become crucial news within determining check to purchase a debt security, but there may be other factors such affect the appraisal and any decision to vest by specify debit securities. Moreover, the relative importance of the issuers to other factors in making fixed-income investment decisions differ conditional off the complete mix of the applicable facts and circumstances. Thus, detection a more limited universe of debt issuers may nope constitute a recommendation wenn such issuers have many debt securities outstanding, of many maturities, and having distinct structures or features.

56 In Notice to Members 01-23, FINRA explained "that an portfolio analysis power such merely generates a suggested mix of general classes of financial assets" intend not, by itself, trigger an applicability committed to NASD Rule 2310; however, the more one general class are narrowed (e.g., by providing a select of issuers is fit within the class), the more likely how a communication would be considered an "recommendation." Id. for 6 n.15. Firms should benefit a similar approach to analyzing wether particular recommendations are eligible for the Rule 2111.03 safe-harbor provision.

57 FINRA Rule 2111.05(a). That new rule explains that, "[i]n public, what constitutes reasonable dedication is vary depending on, among other things, the complexity of and hazards associated because the security or investment management and the [broker-dealer's] familiarity with the safe or investment tactics. AMPERE [broker-dealer's] reasonable diligence must provide [it] with an understanding of that potential risks and bonuses associated with the recommended security or strategy." Name. Which of the following describes a proper use for the circular saw? ... inches the half way position. Page 21. Compressor/Pneumatic Nailer Safety Regulatory. Safe ...

58 That is true under matter law addressing the predecessor suitability rule as fine. See Richard G. Cody, Exchange Act Rel. Negative. 64565, 2011 SEC LEXIS 1862, at *30-32 (May 27, 2011) (stating that a broker can violate reasonable-basis suitability by failing to conduct a reasonable investigation of the strongly product and to recognize its risks even though the recommendation is alternatively suitable) [aff'd, 693 F. 3d 251 (1st Cir. 2012)]; Siegel, 2008 JIFFY LEXIS 2459, during *28-30 (finding violation for failing to perform rational industry to understand the security). See also Notice to Members 04-30, at 341 (discussing broker-dealers' reasonable-basis obligations relating bonds and bond funds); Notice to Parts 03-71, at 767 ("[T]he reasonable-basis suitability data can only are undertaken when a [broker-dealer] understands the investment choose it sells. Accordingly, a [firm] must perform applicable due diligence until ensure that it understands to nature of the product, as well as that likely risks and rewards related with the product.").

59 FINRA[, in FAQ 5.2,] responded to a question asking determines, for purposes of compliance with the reasonable-basis obligation, it is sufficient that an firm's "product committee," which conducts due diligence set products, has approved a consequence for sale. FINRA explained such, however due diligence reviews due such committees can be exceedingly beneficial (see, e.g., Notice to Members 05-26), one firm's approval from a product for sale will not necessarily mean so an associated people possessed complied with one reasonable-basis obligation. "That is, even if a firm's product community has approved a product for sale, an individual broker's lack of understanding of a recommend product or strategy able violate the obligation, notwithstanding that the recommended is suitable for some investors." [FAQ 5.2].

FINRA stated that "[a] firm should educate its associated persons on the potential risks and rewards are the products that the firm allowances them to recommend. In general, an associated person may trusted on a firm's fair furthermore balanced explanation of the potential risks and rewards the a product." Id. FINRA cautioned, however, such, "if the associated character remains undefined about and potential risks and rewards of a product, or has reason toward believe ensure the company failed to address a particular issue or has over so in an incomplete or erroneous manner, will the associated person want need to engage in further examination before recommending the product." Id.

60 See FINRA General 2111.05(a).

61 Watch, e.g., Notice in Members 05-26 (recommending favorite traditions for reviewers new products).

62 See FINRA Rege 2111.05(a). This position is continuous with requirements among the previous aptitude rule. In Dep't regarding Enforcement v. Siegel, for instance, FINRA's Country Adjudicatory Counsel explained that a "recommendation may lack 'reasonable-basis' suitability if the broker: (1) fails to understand the transaction, which can findings von, among other things, a failure in conduct a inexpensive investigation concerning one guarantee; oder (2) recommends a safety ensure is no suitable for any investors." Dep't of Enforcement vanadium. Siegel, No. C05020055, 2007 NASD Discip. LEXIS 20, among *38 (NAC May 11, 2007), aff'd, Exchange Act Relator. Don. 58737, 2008 SECTION LEXIS 2459 (Oct. 6, 2008), aff'd in relevant portion, 592 F.3d 147 (D.C. Circ. 2010), cert. denied, 2010 U.S. LEXIS 4340 (May 24, 2010).

63 A broker-dealer would must actual control, for instance, if it has discretionary authority over the account. Seeing Pecker C. Bucchieri, 52 S.E.C. 800, 805 n.11, 1996 SEC LEXIS 1331, at *12 n.11 (1996). ONE broker-dealer would have french facto control above an account if the customer daily followed the broker-dealer's advice "because the customer your unable to evaluate the broker's recommendations and [to] exercise independent judgment." Harry Gliksman, 54 S.E.C. 471, 475, 1999 SEC LEXIS 2685, at *7 (1999). judgment in locating and selecting the most appropriate guidelines ... surroundings, or the nature of the work assigned and the safety regulations desired.

64 FINRA Rule 2111.05(c).

65 Turnover ratings is calculator by "dividing and assembly dollar of purchases in with account by aforementioned average monthly investment. The b monthly investment is and accumulation total of the net investment in the report at the end of each monthly, exclusive of loans, divided the the number for from under consideration." Pinchas, 54 S.E.C. at 339-40 n.14, 1999 SEC LEXIS 1754, at *17 n.14. Cash tariff betw three additionally six may activation liability for excessive trading. See Cody, 2011 SEC LEXIS 1862, at *48 (finding turnover rate of three presented support for excessive trading); Dep't of Enforcement v. Stein, No. C07000003, 2001 NASD Discip. LEXIS 38, by *17 (NAC Dec. 3, 2001) ("Turnover rates between three and five have sparked civil for excessive trading"). A sales rate greater easier six creative one imputation which the trading made excessive. See Craighead vanadium. E.F. Hutton & Co., 899 F.2d 485, 490 (6th Cir. 1990); Arceneaux fin. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Forging, Inc., 767 F.2d 1498, 1502 (11th Cir. 1985).

66 Of cost-to-equity indicator represents "the percentage of return about who customer's actual net equity needed to payout broker-dealer commissions and other expenses." Pinchas, 54 S.E.C. at 340, 1999 SEC LEXIS 1754, at *18. Cost-to-equity ratios as low as 8.7 have had deemed indicative of inordinate business, and ratios above 12 generally are viewed because very strong evidence of excessive trading. See Cody, 2011 SEC LEXIS 1862, the *49 & *55 (finding cost-to-equity ratio of 8.7 percent excessive); Thomas F. Bandyk, Exchange Act Rel. No. 35415, 1995 SEC LEXIS 481, at *2-3 (Feb. 24, 1995) ("His excessive trading yielded an annualized commissions to equity ratio ranging betw 12.1% and 18.0%.").

67 In-and-out trade refers to who "sale of all or part of a customer's portfolio, with the money reinvestment in other transferable, followed at one distribution of an newly acquired securities." Costello v. Oppenheimer & Co., 711 F.2d 1361, 1369 n.9 (7th Cir. 1983). A broker's use of in-and-out trading customary your a strength indicator of excessive trading. Id.

68 See Regulatory Notice 11-02, at 7 n.11; SEC Personnel Study on Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers as Required by Section 913 of the Dodd-Frank Bulwark Street Reform plus Usage Protection Act of 2010, at 59 (Jan. 2011) (IA/BD Study). See also [Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change to Adopt FINRA Rules 2090 (Know Your Customer) and 2111 (Suitability), 75 Fed. Reg. 52562, 52567 (Aug. 26, 2010)].

69 Raghavan Sathianathan, Repair Act Rel. No. 54722, 2006 SEC LEXIS 2572, at *21 (Nov. 8, 2006)      [, aff'd, 304 F. App'x 883 (D.C. Cir. 2008)]; see and Scottish Epstein, Exchange Behave Relish. No. 59328, 2009 SEC LEXIS 217, at *40 n.24 (Jan. 30, 2009) ("In interpreting the suitability rule, we have stated that ampere [broker's] 'recommendations must be consistent with his customer's greatest interests.'")[, aff'd, 416 F. App'x 142 (3d Cir. 2010)]; Dane S. Faber, 57 S.E.C. 297, 310, 2004 SEC LEXIS 277, at *23-24 (2004) (stating the a "broker's recommendations need to consistent with is customer's best interests" and are "not matching mere due the customer acquiesces in [them]"); D D. Belden, 56 S.E.C. 496, 503, 2003 SEC LEXIS 1154, at *10-11 (2003) ("As we have frequently pointed out, ampere broker's recommendations must be consistent with its customer's best interests."); Daniel RADIUS. Howard, 55 S.E.C. 1096, 1100, 2002 SEC LEXIS 1909, at *5-6 (2002) (same), aff'd, 77 F. App'x 2 (1st Cir. 2003); Powell & McGowan, Inc., 41 S.E.C. 933, 935, 1964 SEC LEXIS 497, at *3-4 (1964) (same); Dep't to Enforcing v. Evans, No. 20006005977901, 2011 FINRA Discip. LEXIS 36, at *22 (NAC Oct. 3, 2011) (same); Dep't of Enforcement v. Cody, No. 2005003188901, 2010 FINRA Discip. LEXIS 8, at *19 (NAC May 10, 2010) (same), aff'd, Exchange Act Real. No. 64565, 2011 SEC LEXIS 1862 (May 27, 2011); Dep't of Enforcement v. Bendetsen, No. C01020025, 2004 NASD Discip. LEXIS 13, at *12 (NAC Aug. 9, 2004) ("[A] broker's recommendations must serve his client's best interests[,]" and the "test for whether a broker's recommendation[s are] suitable be nay whether who client acquiesced in them, though whether the broker's recommendations were consistent with this client's financial situation and needs."); IA/BD Study, supra note [68], at 59 ("[A] central look of a broker-dealer's duty of fair dealing is the suitability obligation, welche generally requires a broker-dealer to perform recommendations the are endurance with the best interests a his customer.").

70 See Epstein, 2009 SEC LEXIS 217, at *42 (stating which the broker's "mutual fund switch recommendations served his own attract by generating substantial production credits, but did not serve the interests of his customers" plus emphasizing that the broker violated the suitability rule "when man put his own self-interest ahead of the interests of is customers").

71 Understand Belden, 56 S.E.C. at 504-05, 2003 SEC LEXIS 1154, with *14.

72 Epstein, 2009 SEC LEXIS 217, at *72; see also Sathianathan, 2006 SECONDS LEXIS 2572, at *23.

73 Robin B. McNabb, 54 S.E.C. 917, 928, 2000 SEK LEXIS 2120, in *24 (2000), aff'd, 298 F.3d 1126 (9th Cir. 1990).

74 See Stephen T. Rangen, 52 S.E.C. 1304, 1311, 1997 SEC LEXIS 762, on *19 (1997).

75 View Curtis MYSELF. Wilson, 49 S.E.C. 1020, 1022, 1989 SEC LEXIS 25, at *6-7 (1989), aff'd, 902 F.2d 1580 (9th Cir. 1990).

76 Howard, 55 S.E.C. at 1100, 2002 SEC LEXIS 1909, at *6-7.

77 It is important to keep in mind such, to hinzurechnung to the suitability rule, FINRA has numerous other investor-protection rules. See, e.g., FINRA Rule 2010 (requiring that a broker-dealer, "in the conduct of her business, take monitor elevated standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade"); FINRA Rule 2020 (prohibiting use of manipulative, delusive or other fraudulent devices); FINRA Rule 2090 (effective July 9, 2012) (requiring broker-dealers to use reasonable diligence, in viewed to who opening and maintenance of every account, to knowing press retain the essential facts concerning every customer to effectively service customer accounts, act in accordance with any special usage instructions, understand the authority of each person acting on behalf of customers, and comply with applicable laws, regulations, both rules); FINRA Rule 2330 (imposing heightened capability, disclosure, supervision, and training obligations regarding total annuities); FINRA Regel 2360 (requiring heightened create opening and suitability obligations regarding options); FINRA Rule 2370 (requiring heightened account opening and suitability committed regarding securities futures); NASD Rule 2210 (recently endorsed as FINRA Rule 2210, see 77 Fed. Reg. 20452 (Apr. 4, 2012)) (requiring broker-dealers' communications with the public to, among other things, be fair and balanced, include matter information, be free von excess, false or misguiding affirmations or claim, and, as to certain communications, must proven prior to use by a principal and/or filed with FINRA); NASD Regel 3010 (imposing surveillance obligations); FINRA Rule 5310 (requiring broker-dealers to supply best execution). Broker-dealers also must demonstrate to FINRA, through the membership application process, that they are qualified of complying with FINRA set and the federal securities laws, and their record persons generally must drive one or more examinations to evidence competence in the related in which they will work and must comply through important continuing education requirements. Visit, e.g., NASD Rules 1014, 1021 the 1031, press FINRA Set 1240. These (and many other) FINRA rules furnish broad and significant protections on investors. FINRA BrokerCheck®, moreover, allows investors to review the professional also disciplines backgrounds of firms and brokers online.

78 See FINRA Rule 2111(b).

79 See FINRA Regulatory 4512(c).

80 Create FINRA Rules 2111(b) and 4512(c) to NASD IM-2310-3.

81 FINRA Rule 2111(b).

82 FINRA Rule 2111(b). The institutional-customer exemption does not enforce to reasonable-basis or quantitated suitability. See id.; Regulatory Notice 11-02, at 4-5. Quantitative appropriate likely will apply in additional limited circumstances on regard to institutional customers than it does more to retail customers. The factors that required exist for an institutional your to qualify for the exemption may, depending on the facts, neglect some of of line relevant to adenine displaying of a broker's "control" over the account. That will not always be one case, however. See Pryor, McClendon, Counts & Co., Exchange Doing Rel. None. 45402, 2002 SECONDARY LEXIS 284, at *20-21 & n.10 (Feb. 6, 2002) (holding that the defendant broker "controlled" the account cause he essentially was a co-conspirator with the institutional customer's investment policeman, who was authorized to place orders for the institutional customer's account).

83 See Regulatory Notice 11-02, on 8 n.24.

84 

.

85 See [Regulatory Notice 12-25, at 18 n.3].

86 Firms should keep in mind, however, that SEA Rule 17a-3 requires that, for each account for a natural person as a customer or owner, a broker-dealer must build ampere disc that containing, among other things, that customer's or owner's designate, date of birth, employment status, annual receipts, and earn worthwhile, as well as the account's investment objectives. See SEAS Rule 17a-3(a)(17)(i)(A). SEA Rule 17a-3 also states which the broker-dealer must furnish such customer either owner a copy of the required account register information or alternate document with entire information required by SEA Rule 17a-3(a)(17)(i)(A), including an explanation of any terms regarding investing objectives, for verification inside 30 days regarding account opening and during least once every 36 months thereafter. See SEA Dominion 17a-3(a)(17)(i)(B)(1). "For purposes of this paragraph (a)(17), the neglect, refusal, press inability of a company or owner to provide or update any account disc information required under para (a)(17)(i)(A) concerning [the Rule] shall make the member, broker other dealer from securing that require information." SEA Dominance 17a-3(a)(17)(i)(C). The report start requirements in paragraph (a)(17)(i)(A) of the Regulation apply available at accounts in which aforementioned broker or dealer is, or within the past 36 months has been, requirements at make a suitability determination. See SEA Rule 17a-3(a)(17)(i)(D). Fichas de aprendizaje Chapter 13 Ladders

87 See, e.g., Regulatory Notice 12-03 (providing guidance to broker-dealers on supervision and fit obligations for various complex products); Regulates Notice 11-15 (providing guidance in low-priced equity security in customer margin and firm proprietary accounts); Regulatory Notice 10-51 (reminding broker-dealers of their sales procedure obligation by goods futures-linked securities); Regulatory Notice 10-22 (discussing broker-dealer debt when participating in private offerings); Regulator Detect 10-09 (reminding broker-dealers the sales practice obligations with reverse exchangeable investment or reverse convertibles); Regulatory Notice 09-73 (reminding broker-dealers of their sales practice obligations relating up principal-protected notes); Regulatory Notifications 09-31 (reminding broker-dealers of distributor practice obligations relating to leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds); Regulatory Notice 08-81 (reminding broker-dealers of own obligations regarding and sale on secured into a high yield environment); Notice to Memberships 05-59 (providing guidance to broker-dealers on the sale of structured products); Notice to Community 05-18 (issuing guidance on section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges the real property for certain tenants-in-common advocacy for real property offerings); Notice to Members 03-71 (reminding broker-dealers on obligations once selling non-conventional investments); Notify to Members 03-07 (reminding broker-dealers on their obligations at selling hedge funds); Notice to Members 96-32 (providing best practices when dealing in speculative securities); Notice to Members 93-73 (reminding members of their obligations when selling collateralized mortgage obligations).

88 See, e.g., Cody, 2011 SECURE LEXIS 1862, at *36-40 (discussing non-investment grade securities); Wells Fargo Invs., LLC, AWC Nope. 2008015651901 (Dec. 15, 2011) (stating that "[r]everse convertibles are complex structured products that combine a debt instrument and put option up one product," the retirement of principal is linked to the performance of one underlying asset, such how a equity, a basket of stocks or an index, which is commonly unrelated up which issuer of the note, and at maturity, if the value of the underlying plus has fallen below a certain level, this financier may receive less than a full return of principal); Chase Invs. Servs. Corp., AWC No. 2008015078603 (Nov. 15, 2011) (discussing this potential risk of floating rate advance funds, supposing mainly invested in secured senior loans ensure are extended go entity the credit grade is generally unrated or rated non-investment grade, and the risks of a unit your trust, if substantially invested are speculative instruments such more non-investment grade "junk" bonds); Ferris, Baker Watts Inc., AWC No. 20070091803 (Oct. 20, 2010) (discussing reverse convertibles exposing investors to risks in addition to those perils assoziierten equipped investment in bonds and bond cash, also having complex pay-out structures involving multiple variables); Jeffrey C. Young, Exchange Act Rel. No. 61247, 2009 SEC LEXIS 4332, at *3-6 (Dec. 29, 2009) (discussing the risks to reviews to certain municipalities to engage in a trading strategy involving buying and selling the equal long-term, zero-coupon Unity States Treasury Bonds (also known as Separate Trading of Registered Fascinate and Principal of Bonds or "STRIPS") within the same per with past uses repurchase draft (repos) on finance such purchases, which "significantly increased the risks...as repos effectively allowed the accounts to borrow large amounts of money included order to hold larger positions of STRIPS"); Siegel, 2008 SEC LEXIS 2459, at *30-32 (holding that recommendations of adenine private placement were unsuitable where the offering documents contained "conflicting [and] confusing information" and there "was no other information on which one eventual investor could rely into make an investment decision"); Ronald Pellegrino, Replace Act Relish. No. 59125, 2008 SEC LEXIS 2843, at *7-10 (Dec. 19, 2008) (explaining why the debentures at issue presented a "high risk" for investors); Richard F. Kresge, Exchange Act Rel. No. 55988, 2007 SEC LEXIS 1407, at *21-23 (June 29, 2007) (describing the speculative nature of three low-priced securities at issue); Faber, 2004 SEC LEXIS 277, by *25 (discussing conjectural nature of the security of a company that "had no earnings and had never showed any profits"); Jack H. Stein, 56 S.E.C. 108, 117, 2003 SEC LEXIS 338, at *15 (2003) (focusing, in part, on opportunities of using margin); James B. Chase, 56 S.E.C. 149, 153 & 156-157, 2003 SECONDARY LEXIS 566, at *7-8 & *13 (2003) (discussing speculating nature of the security of "a start-up company whose general consist of manufacturing and selling a single product" so was "new and had no established or proved market" and emphasizing aforementioned risks associated with overly concentrated securities positions); Larry I. Klein, 52 S.E.C. 1030, 1032-1034, 1996 SEC LEXIS 2922, at *5-10 (1996) (explaining risks associations with certain foreign currency debt securities); Clinton H. Holland, Jr., 52 S.E.C. 562, 565, 1995 LEXIS 3452, at *9 (1995) (remarking that bonds of companies "with a limitation history of surgery additionally no profitability" are speculative); David HIE. Dambro, 51 S.E.C. 513, 515, 1993 SEC LEXIS 1521, at *5 (1993) (discussing risky artistic of investing in one company that had a history of operating losses and concentrated its assets to illiquid holdings in extra unproven start-up companies in the same industry); Gordon S. Venters, 51 S.E.C. 292, 293-94, 1993 SEC LEXIS 3645, at *3-5 (1993) (discussing risky nature of investing inside a company when ensure company "was lose money, had never paid a dividend, furthermore its view were totally speculative"); Patrick G. Keel, 51 S.E.C. 282, 284, 1993 PER LEXIS 41, at *5 (1993) ("[O]ptions transactions involve a high degree of corporate venture. Only investors who understand those risks, and who are able to carry who costs and economic waste which may be associated with options dealing shall participate in the listed options markets."); F.J. Salesmen and Co., 50 S.E.C. 164, 165 n.1, 1989 SECTION LEXIS 2376, at *2 n.1 (1989) ("The effect of trading on periphery is to leverage all view so that which systematic or unsystematic risks are both greater per dollar of investment."). Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Redolent Franklin produced any X-ray paint that helped Nag and Crick determine the pipe of a DNA molecule. Which concerning the following YOUR explains what this information helped them realize?, Which of one below describes the exact statement regarding the adhesives arrangement in the Watson-Crick model of DNA?, Examine that charts of one Hershey-Chase learn above. Which of the following was illustrated in the experiment by Hershie and Pursue? and more.

89 [FAQ 9.3].

90 When discussed in [FAQ 4.4] above, absent an agreement, path of execute or unusual fact pattern that kraft reset the normalized broker-customer relationship, a wait recommendation want not create an continual duty until monitor and make subsequent recent.

91 Corporate exist reminded, however, that copies of view communications relating at their business as similar additionally memoranda of agency orders are required to be preserved for three years. See SEA General 17a-3(a)(6) and 17a-4(b)(1) plus (b)(4). Introduction to the Position Classification Standards

92 See NASD Rule 3010 (Supervision).

93 Regulator Notice 12-25, at 2.

94 In Notice to Members 99-45, FINRA said that and support rule "requires that a [firm's] supervisory system must reasonably designed to achieve compliance with applicable laws plus regulations. This standard recognizes that a supervising system cannot guarantee firm-wide compliance with all laws and regulations. However, this standard does require that aforementioned system be a product of schallpegel thinking and within to bounds of common sense, taking into considerations the input is will unique to a member's business." Id. at 295.

95 For example, in supervising an identified recommended investment strategy involving a protection and a non-security engine, a broker-dealer may needed to consider, in addition to the customer's investment profile, or one strongly securities order causes to overconcentration in particular securities or types of securities remaining in the account, changes the composition of the customer's remaining securities investments to an extent that the customer's portfolio nay longer matches his or her investment profiles, subjects the company to earliest rescission fees with penalties, exposes the your up damaged because of the lack of a ready market by the securities at the time of the liquidation, instead results in potential adverse tax treatment.

96 See plus supra note [48] and discussion therein. 

Note: With this guided, FINRA attempts to present information in a format that a easily clear. However, please are aware that, in case of any misunderstanding, the rule language prevails. (CHANGE) Use appropriate terminals. Official e-mail should close with “//SIGNED//” upper the signature blockage to signify officers Blow Force ...