FINRA REQUIRES THAT EVERY BROKERAGE FIRM CREATE WRITTEN POLICIES ON ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING (AML)

FINRA requires that every brokerage firm put into writing its policies on Anti-Money Laundering (AML). FINRA's Content Outline for the Securities Industry Essentials Exam lists the AML Compliance Program in Section 3.2.3, thus warning SIE Exam candidates that they should expect questions on the exam.

Bob Eder in his book Study for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam discusses these rules designed to prevent money laundering in detail. Here is an example from Bob Eder's book:

Written Procedures                                                    (3.2.3)

A brokerage firm must put in writing its safeguards against money laundering. FINRA Rule 3310 requires that every firm registered with FINRA put in writing its compliance policies and procedures regarding anti-money laundering.

EXAMPLE

FINRA walks in unannounced to the main offices of XYZ Brokerage. Co. Mr. James, FINRA's chief investigator, asks to see a copy of XYZ Brokerage Co.'s procedures and safeguards against money laundering. XYZ's president confesses that XYZ has no such written procedures. Mr. James on the spot writes up a FINRA complaint on his portable laptop.

Here is the link to FINRA's Content Outline for the SIE Exam. See the references to Anti-Money Laundering in FINRA's Content Outline, in Section 3.2.3.

Study for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam is available from Amazon in both paperback and Kindle e-book versions. Here is the link to Bob Eder's book on Amazon.

For questions about Bob Eder's Study for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam, or questions in general about the SIE exam, or about Anti-Money Laundering,  feel free to email Bob Eder at bobeder@bobeder.net.

Bob Eder received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Utah, Quinney College of Law, in 2001. See Bob Eder's Author Page on Amazon.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SIE EXAM INCLUDES QUESTIONS ON DEPOSITORY CLEARING CORPORATIONS, SO BE PREPARED!

Planning to take the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam soon? Be prepared for questions asking about depository clearing corporations. Can you say in one sentence the purpose and function of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTC)? No response? Then you are like most SIE candidates, so don't feel too bad! Bob Eder's Study for the SIE Exam covers the definition and functions of the DTC, as well as the Options Clearing Corporation and ACATS. Here is a section from Bob Eder's book taken from page 12: Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. (DTCC) (1.1.4)  "The Depository Trust provides clearing and transfer services to the brokerage industry in the U.S. and throughout the world. With volume of securities trades approaching millions on a daily basis, imagine brokerage operations without a centralized entity that could match buys with sells, and keep brokerage firm back offices running smoothly and efficiently. What chaos without an organization like the
Read more

TAKING THE SIE EXAM? DID YOU KNOW THAT THE LARGEST SECTION OF THE TEST IS SECTION 2 PRODUCTS AND THEIR RISKS?

Have you looked at FINRA's SIE Exam Content Outline or Test Specifications? You would find that the largest percentage of questions on the SIE Exam comes from Section 2, Understanding Products and Their Risks . Forty-four percent of the questions on your test will come from this Section. For example, Section 2 covers Equity Securities, including knowledge of voting rights, convertible securities, and selling control or restricted stock. Bob Eder in his Study for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam has detailed coverage of these items. Here is a sample of Bob Eder's treatment: Control Stock (2.1.1) Control stock denotes shares that have been purchased by a control person or by an affiliated person. When a person owns shares in a company in which he/she is an officer, controlling person, termed an "affiliated person," there are also restrictions on the sale of that stock. The SEC calls the shares, "control shares." Only control or affiliated perso
Read more

SEC CHARGES 10 BROKER/DEALERS/INVESTMENT ADVISERS WITH FAILURE TO KEEP RECORDS OF "OFF-CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS" WITH CLIENTS

FINRA makes available a Content Outline for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam for those planning to sit for the exam. This Content Outline describes the subject matter of the SIE Exam. The SIE Content Outline includes Section 3.2.4 which covers Books and Records Regulations, and it encompasses the use of social media to communicate with clients, digital messaging, and internet communications. From time to time, the SEC issues press releases about penalties and charges brought against broker/dealers and advisers. Here is a recent one that imposes penalties on 10 firms for inadequate Record-Keeping of electronic communications, called "Off-Channel Communications." We include the SEC Release here because it demonstrates that a broker or adviser must treat the rules as having real life consequences, potentially bringing serious penalties and large fines for non-observance. Students who plan on sitting for the SIE Exam should pay careful attention to the SEC Release as
Read more