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HomeWhat Will We Learn from FINRA’s Annual Meeting on 8-12-10?
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 11th, 2010 12:20 PM |
Wall Street’s self-regulatory organization, FINRA, holds its annual meeting tomorrow inWashington D.C.. What will we learn? Will FINRA’s member firms vote for a number of non-binding proposals which would shine real light on the inner workings of this organization? America deserves to learn so much more than has ever been revealed about FINRA.
I have shared with many people that I believe the underlying tone of our markets would improve if FINRA were compelled to open its books and records. Why do I so strongly believe that? True transparency inherently breeds investor confidence. I made this very point to Joe Giannone of Reuters just the other day. Regular readers of Sense on Cents are fully aware of my feelings. Joe highlights the topics surrounding FINRA for a wider audience as he writes, FINRA Faces Calls to Lift Veil on Finances, Pay:
Wall Street regulator FINRA, which demands disclosure and openness from brokers, is under pressure to lift the veil on its own affairs.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a private corporation that regulates the nation’s 4,700 brokerages, will learns at its annual meeting on Thursday how many support a dissident’s call for more transparency. (more…)
Disenchanted FINRA Member Speaks Out
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 15th, 2010 7:53 AM |
In an attempt to draw further attention to the questions of serious ethical issues in and around Wall Street’s self-regulatory organization FINRA, I am highlighting a comment left at Sense on Cents the other day. While protecting the identity of this individual for obvious reasons, I can vouch for the fact that this person works for a FINRA member firm and was present during the road shows promoting the merger of the NASD and NYSE Regulation to form FINRA.
I commend this individual for speaking out. I second the call to fully investigate the FINRA executives involved in the very formation of this organization and then the manner in which it was run.
FINRA and its board need to be compelled to fully open the books and records of this organization and its predecessors. Only then might America learn the answers to the following questions: (more…)
FINRA Board to Form Committee to Review Claims of Schapiro Misconduct
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 12th, 2010 4:53 PM |
When in doubt, form a committee and have more meetings. This rope-a-dope style of leadership is all too prevalent in our nation. Why is it that the Wall Street-Washington incest can not be exposed for what it really is? When will somebody in our country display integrity and leadership while acknowledging the existence and stench of this incest?
Recall that the board of FINRA was meeting this past Wednesday to address allegations of misconduct by Mary Schapiro and other FINRA execs. Although the media has presented this meeting as merely addressing questions of excessive compensation for Ms. Schapiro and others, the allegations of misconduct made by attorneys for Amerivet Securities run far deeper than that.
These allegations address the following: (more…)
FINRA Board to Address Allegations of Schapiro Misconduct
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 4th, 2010 11:40 AM |
Are the wagons circling around Mary Schapiro and her former FINRA colleagues?
Regular readers of Sense on Cents are familiar with the issues and concerns I have raised repeatedly with Wall Street’s self-regulator, FINRA. I continue to believe the issues embedded within this self-regulatory organization lie near the heart of what I deem the Wall Street-Washington nexus.
Perhaps America will learn more about these issues soon. Why? Next week, FINRA’s Board of Directors will address alleged wrongdoings by Ms. Schapiro et al. What are the issues? (more…)
An Open Letter to the Board of FINRA Regarding Auction-Rate Securities
Posted by Larry Doyle on July 27th, 2009 3:17 PM |
To: The Board of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA);
FINRA Investment Committee;
FINRA Audit Committee
From: Larry Doyle, Sense on Cents
Re: Auction-Rate Securities
I am a longstanding Wall Street veteran, a private investor, an avid supporter of free and fair markets, and a financial blogger at my site, Sense on Cents.
I launched my website/blog earlier this year specifically to help people more fully understand the economy and the markets during these challenging times.
In my opinion, the greatest challenge facing our markets and our country at this time is the question of confidence and integrity in the system. Little surprise why the topic of financial regulatory reform is receiving so much attention.
Against that backdrop, I am heartened by recent increased legal action taken primarily by selected attorneys general in pursuing entities involved in the fraudulent marketing and distribution of Auction-Rate Securities. We could debate at length why and how the ARS market failed, but there is no doubt these securities, sold as cash surrogates, were distributed in a fraudulent fashion. Thousands of investors and approximately $165 billion in ARS remain frozen.
I view the ARS market as having three legs — issuers, investors, and distributors (both primary Wall Street banks/brokers and downstream entities). Who was situated at the epicenter of this debacle charged with protecting investors? The SEC and FINRA.
FINRA specifically occupied a position not only as a regulator but also as an ARS investor. Whether FINRA representatives want to believe it or not, any semblance of rational and prudent thought would determine that FINRA was conflicted as a result.
Having written extensively on this topic and engaged FINRA spokesperson Herb Perone on this issue, I call upon you, the members of FINRA’s Board, Investment Committee, and Audit Committee, to release all pertinent details involved with FINRA’s liquidation of their ARS position in 2007.
Why is this necessary? Very simply, in order to regain total confidence in the markets it is of paramount importance that there be complete transparency and integrity on behalf of the regulators. To that end, for the benefit of all issuers, investors, and distributors of ARS, I believe it is incumbent on you to release the following information regarding FINRA’s liquidation of ARS:
1. Date of sale
2. To whom or through whom did the liquidation occur?
3. At what price did FINRA sell their ARS?
4. Why did FINRA decide to liquidate the entire $647 million ARS at that time?
5. Did FINRA possess material non-public information at the time of liquidation and act upon it?
6. Given that FINRA is charged with protecting investors, and given its position in the financial industry, how and why did they not post an investor warning about the freezing and subsequent failure of the ARS market prior to its complete failure in early 2008? How many investors and how many dollars could have been protected in the process?
I issue this letter publicly hoping that others may also be able to utilize the information contained herein and generate the release of this information.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have never owned an Auction-Rate Security. I write merely as a private individual interested in helping the thousands of investors looking for a timely return of their capital.
I thank you.
Respectfully,
Larry Doyle
http://www.senseoncents.com/about/
