SEC Approves Change to FINRA’s BrokerCheck On When to Publish Firings

The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s plan to shorten the waiting period for when certain information reported on Form U5 can be released on BrokerCheck.com from 15 days to three days. This includes information about broker firings. The modification will go into effect on December 12.

Brokerage firms use Form U5 to give notice of when a broker has been let go. This notification is published on BrokerCheck, which is a public database that includes background information about registered brokers, as well whether any of them have a disciplinary history and what that may be.

The 15 days was so that brokers could have time to explain why they were fired. FINRA, however, has now decided that it is important to notify the public of such terminations sooner than that so that the investors who are thinking hiring these brokers receive this employment history right away. The self-regulatory organization says that it believes three business days still gives a broker a chance to comment on his/her firing.

BrokerCheck.com is an excellent resource for looking up information about a broker and his/her history. It’s important as an investor that you do your due diligence when considering whether to have someone handle your investments and finances. You can also get information about a broker from the Central Registration Depository, which is a computerized database. Another way to find out about a broker is to call your state securities regulator and request access to his/her registration, disciplinary, and employment information. You can get information about how to reach your state regulator through the North American Securities Administrators Association’s website.

Unfortunately there are rogue brokers who quickly manage to end up at another broker-dealer even after having just been dismissed by a brokerage firm. Some of these brokers have been known to continue bilking other investors while at their new firm.

At Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas, LTD LLP, our securities fraud law firm is here to help the investors of broker fraud to recoup their money. Contact us today.

BrokerCheck

Form U5

Central Registration Depository

North American Securities Administrators Association

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