I have often used this forum to complain about FINRA’s lack of backbone when it comes to dealing with PIABA, the group of lawyers who represent customers of broker-dealers, principally in arbitrations. Over the years, FINRA has amended its rules time and again in response to loud claims by PIABA that the arbitration process is
PIABA
First Shot Fired In PIABA’s War On The Securities Industry
By Alan Wolper on
A week or so ago, I highlighted in a post the acceptance speech of PIABA’s incoming president, Andrew Stoltmann, in which he announced his intent to wage “war” on the securities industry. Bluster aside, Andrew has been true to his word. His opening volley is an attack on the public governors who sit on FINRA’s…
PIABA’s New President Is A Nice Guy, Sure, But He’s Hardly Your Friend
By Alan Wolper on
I have stated more than once in these posts that among claimants’ counsel, I have perhaps the greatest respect for Andrew Stoltmann, a fellow Chicagoan. I am not saying that I ever agree with anything he has to say, because I don’t, but he is a gentleman, he acts ethically, he is fun to listen…
Body-Slammed By FINRA, Twice In A Week
By Alan Wolper on
Posted in Arbitration, Disciplinary Process, Enforcement, FINRA, PIABA, Rule 9555, Statutory Disqualification
I sometimes (well, perhaps frequently) use this blog as a vehicle to complain about certain things that FINRA does, or about certain of its rules, that I feel are just unfair, plain and simple. To show you that I am not simply making this up, I experienced two such events this past week, which I…
FINRA’s Board Continues To Bend In the Wind Of Criticisim
By Alan Wolper on
Posted in Arbitration, Board of Governors, Enforcement, FINRA, PIABA, Registered Representative, Rogue rep, Rule 2010, Sanctions
On Wednesday, the FINRA Board met and discussed two topics that I recently blogged about: recidivist brokers and unpaid arbitration awards. In predictable fashion, FINRA withered in the face of criticism that its existing rules and policies are somehow not tough enough on its member firms, and embarked on a proposed series of steps…
A Miscellany Of FINRA Issues A Little Too Big To Call Nitpicking
By Alan Wolper on
For some reason, a bunch of noteworthy events all happened around the same time this week, so please bear with me as I vent a little about them. Individually, they are irritating; in the aggregate, they are borderline alarming.
First, the FINRA Wells process. I have blogged about this before, and how, in a…
PIABA Cries Wolf, Again, To Ensure That Its Lawyers Get Paid
By Alan Wolper on
Once again, I found myself gritting my teeth in frustration after reading yet another PIABA report complaining about some perceived inequity in the FINRA arbitration process that cuts against customers. This week, PIABA released its study demonstrating that sometimes when claimants prevail in arbitrations against broker-dealers, the BD that lost is unable to pay the…