October 6, 2017 @ 12:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is a regulator of central importance to the functioning of U.S. capital markets. It regulates nearly 4.000 broker-dealers and almost 650,000 registered representatives.  It is a private, not-for-profit organization. In 2015, FINRA levied $94 million in fines against broker-dealers,… Read More

September 1, 2017 @ 2:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

Congress returns next week hopefully reinvigorated and ready to reduce regulation and pass meaningful tax reform following some time off. Congress has not accomplished too much this year, much like many past years, but hope springs eternal and after a bumpy start of the year… Read More

June 14, 2017 @ 2:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has created a new entity to help it better understand Fintech innovation. Announced today, FINRA has created “Innovation Outreach Initiative” to “foster an ongoing dialogue” with the securities as finance goes digital. FINRA says the initiative will build on… Read More

June 11, 2017 @ 1:45 pm By JD Alois  |  

The number of FINRA approved and regulated crowdfunding portals has been inching higher. Today, there are 29 different Reg CF crowdfunding platforms each targeting the new securities exemption created under the JOBS Act 0f 2012. At the beginning of 2017, that number stood at 22… Read More

June 5, 2017 @ 9:25 am By Joshua G. Hamilton, James H. Moon & Bret M. Geckeler  |  

Crowdfunding regulations were enacted with the goal of providing small businesses access to capital without imposing arduous registration and disclosure burdens.[i]  In that regard, the regulations have shown significant promise. Commentators have rightfully highlighted the substantial benefits to both issuers and investors based on their… Read More

May 31, 2017 @ 5:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has scheduled a symposium in New York City to discuss Blockchain or Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). Blockchain has powered the growth of digital currencies and since the advent of Bitcoin, Blockchain has stolen a growing amount of attention as… Read More

May 20, 2017 @ 4:30 pm By Scott Andersen & George S. Georgiades  |  

With the one year anniversary of Crowdfunding under Regulation Crowdfunding occurring on May 16th, business executives and compliance officers at registered Crowdfunding Portals (CFPs) should be actively preparing for their first regulatory examination by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).   FINRA’s 2017 exam cycle… Read More

May 17, 2017 @ 4:38 pm By JD Alois  |  

At the annual FINRA Conference in Washington, DC, this week FINRA President and CEO Robert Cook took the stage to talk about change.  In a speech entitled A Changing Industry – A Changing Industry, Cook reflected on his initiative to build a better FINRA.  In… Read More

April 13, 2017 @ 3:40 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has filed a regulatory notice and a request for comments regarding capital formation. The review includes aspects of the JOBS Act and crowdfunding. FINRA said the request for comments was part of its FINRA360 initiative, a comprehensive review of… Read More

March 24, 2017 @ 5:20 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Online lending crowdfunding portal Funding Wonder announced on Thursday the launch of its first loan offering which is dedicated for Annapolis, Maryland Dental Fix Rx franchisee, Ryan Clark. This news comes just a few months after the platform was approved by the Financial Industry Regulatory… Read More

March 23, 2017 @ 4:39 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or FINRA is seeking feedback on how to best execute on its mission to regulate members who operate in the securities industry. FINRA has come under criticism in recent years as losing touch with its membership and negating its “Self-Regulatory Organization”… Read More

March 21, 2017 @ 9:55 pm By Scott Andersen & George S. Georgiades  |  

Much excitement has been generated with the enactment of Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) and the ability of non-accredited investors to invest in startup companies in the United States. The SEC recently reported that while early capital raising efforts is still growing, Regulation Crowdfunding has provided… Read More

February 9, 2017 @ 7:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

FINRA, or the “Financial Industry Regulatory Authority”, is one of the most powerful financial regulators in the United States. It is also a private corporation that performs its duties as a “self-regulatory organization” (SRO). FINRA oversees the thousands of broker-dealers and other financial industry participants… Read More

January 20, 2017 @ 1:18 pm By JD Alois  |  

FINRA has published a report (embedded below) on Blockchain or Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and its implications for the securities industry. The publication is entitled; “Distributed Ledger Technology: Implications of Blockchain for the Securities Industry.” FINRA, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, is the self-regulatory organization… Read More

December 28, 2016 @ 7:23 am By Scott Andersen  |  

FINRA recently completed a settlement expelling from FINRA membership UFP, LLC, a registered funding portal that operated under uFundingPortal.com.   The matter marks both early and decisive action by FINRA against a registered funding portal operating under Regulation Crowdfunding.  It establishes that FINRA takes seriously… Read More

December 13, 2016 @ 10:37 am By JD Alois  |  

uFundingPortal (UFP, LLC), disappeared from the ranks of approved Reg CF crowdfunding platforms in early November. Before their removal, a multitude of crowdfunding industry insiders questioned the operation and the investment offers posted on the site. The posted investments lacked transparency while proposing valuations and… Read More

December 12, 2016 @ 8:12 am By JD Alois  |  

uFundingPortal (UFP LLC) went off-line last month after receiving regulatory approval to operate as a Reg CF funding portal earlier this year.  Crowdfund Insider reported the disappearance of the site in November as questionable companies were listed with bare bones information and outlandish valuations. Industry… Read More

November 30, 2016 @ 1:16 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Funding Wonder Crowd, LLC, a small business lending platform operator, announced on Wednesday it was approved by FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) as a licensed Regulation Crowdfunding Portal. Sharing details about the new crowdfunding platform, Michael Mildenberger, CEO of Funding Wonder, stated: “Funding Wonder is… Read More

November 21, 2016 @ 1:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last time we provided an update on the Reg CF crowdfunding sector and approved funding portals there were 17 in operation. Today that number has increased to 21 FINRA approved platforms with several notable updates. Reg CF was created under Title III of the JOBS… Read More

November 9, 2016 @ 2:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

uFundingPortal, a Regulation CF crowdfunding platform that was, until recently, a regulated and FINRA approved platform has been shut down. Today, the site is gone and has been removed from the list of FINRA approved platforms indicative of some sort of transgression regulators could not tolerate…. Read More