FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority)
The self-regulatory organization that oversees U.S. broker-dealers and their representatives.
FINRA is not a government agency; it is a non-profit authorized by Congress and supervised by the SEC. It licenses brokers (Series 7, Series 63, etc.), enforces rules against broker-dealers like Fidelity, Schwab, and Robinhood, and runs arbitration for disputes. Its BrokerCheck tool at brokercheck.finra.org lets anyone look up a financial adviser’s license, employment history, and any past complaints or violations. Check BrokerCheck before signing with any broker or adviser.
Inside Finlo
A 60-second lesson that puts this term in context, alongside the others, lives inside the Finlo app.