FINRA is a not-for-profit organization that regulates the U.S. securities industry and protects investors. Operating for over 85 years, it oversees more than 3,250 brokerage firms and over 625,000 registered representatives, working to ensure capital markets function fairly for all participants.
The organization manages several critical functions across market surveillance, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution. Its market surveillance operations monitor billions of market events in real time to detect manipulation and misconduct. FINRA operates the largest dispute resolution forum for securities disputes, handles firm examinations for compliance with federal securities laws, and develops regulatory rules that govern the industry. With more than 3,600 staff members, it combines enforcement capability with educational initiatives that include guidance on emerging areas such as crypto and blockchain.
FINRA provides public-facing tools including BrokerCheck, which allows investors to research their brokers and make informed decisions. The organization is undertaking FINRA Forward, an initiative to modernize its oversight approach and adapt to evolving market conditions and new challenges facing the capital markets.