Robert Cook, President and CEO of FINRA, recently published a blog featuring an update on the FINRA Forward Initiative, elaborating upon how enforcement practices are evolving.
FINRA plans to enhance its existing enforcement program to make it more efficient, effective, and aligned with the risks facing today’s capital markets. To achieve this, FINRA has engaged external partners to complement its current framework and bring fresh perspectives on how to better fulfill its mission of protecting investors and promoting market integrity (ibid.), particularly through enforcement.
Likewise, member firms should be adapting to this modernized environment by focusing on high-risk areas within their operations. Strategies such as internal testing, mock exams, and continuous monitoring of high-risk accounts can help ensure that firms are prepared for FINRA’s enhanced enforcement approach.
As compliance professionals, we all understand that there’s often more work than hours in a day, and FINRA recognizes this as well. A key goal of the FINRA Forward initiative is to reduce or eliminate unnecessary burdens on firms by providing clear, timely, and consistent standards that create a level playing field. These changes aim to give firms the resources and bandwidth to focus on FINRA’s core mission: protecting investors and safeguarding market integrity.
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Originally published in Essential Insights, November 5, 2025. Download the original PDF