FINRA Unscripted

Third-party risk is the most clicked-on topic in FINRA's 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report. But what is third-party risk and why are people so interested in it? What can FINRA member firms do to mitigate that risk? And how can FINRA help? On this episode of FINRA Unscripted, FINRA’s Executive Vice President of Member Supervision Greg Ruppert shares valuable insights on why firms are facing heightened challenges with third-party vendors, the emerging risks posed by fourth-party relationships, and how FINRA's intelligence sharing is helping member firms protect themselves from vendor-related cybersecurity threats. Resources mentioned in this episode: 2025 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/guidance/reports/2025-finra-annual-regulatory-oversight-report] CEO Blog: New FINRA Initiatives to Support Members, Markets, and the Investors They Serve [https://www.finra.org/media-center/blog/new-finra-initiatives-support-members-markets-and-investors-they-serve] FINRA Cybersecurity Guidance [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/guidance/by-topic?term=3686] Ep. 170: Using Data to Stay Ahead of Risk: Introducing FINRA’s StratIntel Team [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/using-data-to-stay-ahead-of-risk-introducing-finras-stratintel-team] Ep. 169: Unpacking FINRA’s 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/using-data-to-stay-ahead-of-risk-introducing-finras-stratintel-team] Find us:  X [https://twitter.com/FINRA] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@finra/podcasts] /LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1342448] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialIndustryRegulatoryAuthority/] /  E-mail [FINRAUnscripted@finra.org]

This month, we are marking the 10th anniversary of the FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors—an important milestone for a critical service that FINRA provides to protect vulnerable investors and assist harmed investors. On this FINRA Unscripted podcast episode, we will be speaking with leaders from FINRA’s Vulnerable Adults and Seniors Team—Elizabeth Yoka, the manager of VAST Intake, and Michael Paskin, the manager of the VAST Investigations, to discuss the Helpline and its 10 years of protecting investors. We will be focusing on the Helpline results and will provide a few examples of how the Helpline has become an effective conduit for investor protection, and how it has been helpful to member firms.   Resources mentioned in this episode:   FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors [https://www.finra.org/investors/need-help/helpline-seniors]   Ep. 152: Fighting Financial Exploitation: FINRA’s Vulnerable Adults and Seniors Team [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/vulnerable-adults-team]   FINRA Rule 2165 [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/rulebooks/finra-rules/2165]   FINRA Rule 4512 [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/rulebooks/finra-rules/4512]   FINRA Rule 3241 [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/rulebooks/finra-rules/3241]   2025 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/guidance/reports/2025-finra-annual-regulatory-oversight-report] Find us:  X [https://twitter.com/FINRA] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@finra/podcasts] /LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1342448] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialIndustryRegulatoryAuthority/] /  E-mail [FINRAUnscripted@finra.org]

As we observe National Consumer Protection Week amid a growing and changing financial fraud landscape, the time is ripe to talk about the ways in which investors can protect themselves from financial scams.  On this episode, we sit down with Rob Mascio, Director of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, to talk about the latest fraud trends, common red flags to watch out for and practical steps investors can take to safeguard investments.  Resources mentioned in this episode: 2025 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/guidance/reports/2025-finra-annual-regulatory-oversight-report] Investor Alert: Social Media ‘Investment Group’ Imposter Scams on the Rise Romance Scams [https://www.finra.org/investors/insights/investment-group-imposter-scams] FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors [https://www.finra.org/investors/need-help/helpline-seniors] BrokerCheck [https://brokercheck.finra.org/] Market Data Center [https://finra-markets.morningstar.com/MarketData/Default.jsp?sdkVersion=2.62.9] Fund Analyzer [https://tools.finra.org/fund_analyzer/] Fixed Income Data [https://www.finra.org/finra-data/fixed-income] FINRA Investor Education Foundation [https://www.finrafoundation.org/] Protecting Consumers from Fraud [https://www.finrafoundation.org/protecting-consumers-fraud] Ep 162: The Victim Experience: When Romance Leads to Crypto Scam [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/victim-experience-when-romance-leads-crypto-scam] Ep. 168: Investing Wisely in 2025: Avoiding Scams and Achieving Your Financial Goals [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/investing-wisely-in-2025-avoiding-scams-and-achieving-your-financial-goals] Ep. 169: Unpacking the 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/unpacking-the-2025-regulatory-oversight-report] Find us:  X [https://twitter.com/FINRA] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@finra/podcasts] /LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1342448] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialIndustryRegulatoryAuthority/] /  E-mail [FINRAUnscripted@finra.org]

As the financial industry continues to evolve, it's important to stay ahead of emerging risks and trends. On this episode of FINRA Unscripted, the leaders of FINRA's new Strategic Intelligence and Analytics (StratIntel) team discuss how they are working to identify and analyze these industry developments. On this episode, we sit down with the leaders of the StratIntel team: Senior Vice President of Data and Analytics for Member Supervision Jim Reese, and his two Vice Presidents, Brita Bayatmakou and Clint Johnson. The three share insights on how this new team is evolving FINRA's approach to intelligence gathering and risk monitoring, and the innovative ways they are using data and analytics to support FINRA's mission of investor protection and market integrity. Resources mentioned in this episode: 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/guidance/reports/2025-finra-annual-regulatory-oversight-report] 3110. Supervision [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/rulebooks/finra-rules/3110] Episode 168: Investing Wisely in 2025: Avoiding Scams and Achieving Your Financial Goals [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/investing-wisely-in-2025-avoiding-scams-and-achieving-your-financial-goals] Episode 169: Unpacking FINRA’s 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/unpacking-the-2025-regulatory-oversight-report] Find us:  X [https://twitter.com/FINRA] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@finra/podcasts] /LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1342448] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialIndustryRegulatoryAuthority/] /  E-mail [FINRAUnscripted@finra.org]

As a self-regulatory organization, information sharing is key to FINRA's pursuit of its mission of investor protection and market integrity. The 2025 FINRA Regulatory Oversight Report provides just that: Critical insights to help firms strengthen their compliance and protect investors. On this episode, hosted by Member Relations and Education Vice President Kayte Toczylowski, FINRA’s regulatory leaders— Executive Vice President and Head of Member Supervision Greg Ruppert, Executive Vice President and Head of Market Regulation and Transparency Services Stephanie Dumont, and Executive Vice President and Head of Enforcement Bill St. Louis—join us to dive into the report’s takeaways and insights for member firms. Resources mentioned in this episode: 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/guidance/reports/2025-finra-annual-regulatory-oversight-report] SEC Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/key-topics/regulation-best-interest] 5310. Best Execution and Interpositioning [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/rulebooks/finra-rules/5310] Reg Notice 20-31: FINRA Reminds Firms of Their Supervisory Responsibilities Relating to CAT [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/notices/20-31] Investor Insights: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Investment Fraud [https://www.finra.org/investors/insights/artificial-intelligence-and-investment-fraud] Episode 168: Investing Wisely in 2025: Avoiding Scams and Achieving Your Financial Goals [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/investing-wisely-in-2025-avoiding-scams-and-achieving-your-financial-goals] Find us:  X [https://twitter.com/FINRA] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@finra/podcasts] /LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1342448] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialIndustryRegulatoryAuthority/] /  E-mail [FINRAUnscripted@finra.org]