FINRA Plans Fee Increases Amid Rising Costs and Losses

Posted on July 25th, 2024 at 10:51 AM
FINRA Plans Fee Increases Amid Rising Costs and Losses

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has announced plans to raise fees for its approximately 3,300 broker-dealer member firms. According to AdvisorHub, the self-regulator faces soaring costs, as detailed in its annual report published at the end of June.

In 2023, FINRA reported a net operating loss of $119.1 million, nearly doubling its $60.2 million loss from 2022. The organization attributed the increased expenses to a multi-year effort, initiated in 2020, aimed at investing in staff and technology to bolster its supervisory capabilities. These investments led to a $155 million rise in expenses last year.

Compensation and benefit costs saw a significant increase, rising by 12 percent to $981 million, primarily due to a net increase of 300 employees, bringing FINRA's total headcount to 4,200 at the end of 2023. Executive compensation also saw notable changes, with CEO Robert Cook's pay rising 4 percent to nearly $3.84 million and his incentive compensation for 2024 increased to $2.37 million. Other executives, including Chief Information Officer Steven J. Randich and Chief Legal Officer Robert L.D. Colby, also received substantial raises.

To manage those rising costs, FINRA has implemented measures such as controlling wages and offering buyouts to veteran corporate staff. Additionally, the organization tapped into its $1.7 billion investment portfolio to cover some of the increased expenses. However, FINRA anticipates that its costs will continue to outpace revenue increases for several years.

AdvisorHub shared that FINRA has faced bipartisan scrutiny from lawmakers over its resource allocation and skepticism from former regulatory lawyers regarding declines in enforcement. In 2023, FINRA levied $88.4 million in fines, up by $33.9 million from the previous year. It also ordered firms to pay $7.5 million in restitution to harmed investors, expelled five firms, barred 178 advisors, and suspended 257 advisors.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Fantastic news!!!!  Your professionalism, support and expertise were greatly appreciated.  You made a difficult situation much more bearable.

Marci M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

September 6, 2024
Veteran Advisor Exits Industry Amid FINRA Probe into UIT Trading Practices

Gregory Alan Corrie, a 30-year industry veteran based in Boise, Idaho, has opted to leave the securities industry rather than cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations of improper trading of Unit Investment Trusts (UITs).

September 5, 2024
SEC Freezes Assets of Wells Real Estate Investment and Leaders Amid $56 Million Fraud Allegations

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken emergency action against Wells Real Estate Investment, LLC, its CEO Janalie C. Bingham, and Jean Joseph, a previously convicted felon, for allegedly defrauding investors out of $56 million.

September 4, 2024
UBS Fined $850,000 for Supervisory Failures Leading to Investor Losses

FINRA has fined UBS Wealth Management USA $850,000 for failing to supervise an advisor who recommended unauthorized outside investments for over a decade.