FirstMark Regulatory Solutions

12/06/2016

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/finra-slams-another-bd-record-fine-aml-failures-whats-mitchell-atkins

Today, FINRA announced that it fined another large broker-dealer for, "Significant Deficiencies in its Anti-Money Laundering Program." While this action resulted in a fine of $16.5 million, which is

05/06/2016

Check out this article on email and social media compliance!

http://firstmarksolutions.com/atkins-forbes-email-and-social-media-compliance/

FINRA email and social media compliance requirements decrypted in a discussion with former FINRA regulator, Mitch Atkins of FirstMark Regulatory Solutions.

11/22/2015

Mitch Atkins will present on FINRA L share compliance programs at the FINRA South Region Compliance Seminar in New Orleans on December 2-3, 2015.

09/25/2015

The final installment of this three part series about OFDMI.

Go behind the scenes of the Office of Fraud Detection and Market Intelligence to explore the inner workings of FINRA's detective work.

09/12/2015

Second in a series on Office of Fraud Detection. Excellent article.

FINRA's Office of Fraud Detection and Market Intelligence combines a mixture of high-tech market fraud surveillance with old-fashioned detective work.

09/10/2015

Amazing group of folks running this department FINRA

In the first installment in a three-part series, The Alert Investor takes you behind the scenes at FINRA’s Office of Fraud Detection and Market Intelligence to explore the inner workings of a tenacious group of Wall Street regulators. When you’re trying to fish the bad guys from a sea of more than 6…

09/03/2015

electronic communications supervision - an important issue!

In reading this Bloomberg Business article (“Don’t Use These Lame Acronyms if You Don’t Want to Get Nabbed by the Feds”) this morning, it became obvious that if compliance staff haven’t recently updated their keyword flagging database, now is the time to do so. As the way we communicate rapidly deve…

08/12/2015

A discussion on which aspect of the application process may be appropriate in deciding whether to buy an existing broker-dealer or form a new one.

Going through the FINRA application process is challenging. Is it better to simply buy an existing FINRA broker-dealer? Or does it make more sense to file a

08/06/2015

Does permit branch offices in executive suites? Yes, but be careful. http://goo.gl/GefWYE

These days, it is not unusual for a registered representative of a brokerage firm, or any other small business owner... Continue reading »

07/29/2015

I am often asked what it costs to start a broker-dealer. Here's my short take on it.

FINRA BD startup cost can be substantial so make sure you understand them before getting started. Call Mitch Atkins FINRA NMA expert at 561-948-6511.

07/24/2015

Many clients ask what triggers a CMA Material Change in Business Operations application. Check out this short FirstMark article.
http://mitchatkinsfinracmaconsultant.com/finra-cma-material-change/

Change in business? Consider whether a FINRA CMA material change application is required. Contact an expert - Mitch Atkins with FirstMark at 561-948-6511.