FINRA Unscripted

Navigating the 2026 Regulatory Oversight Report: Key Insights from FINRA Leadership

The Annual Regulatory Oversight Report is one of FINRA’s most valued resources for member firms—and this year, we're publishing it earlier than ever in response to member feedback. The 2026 Report features insights on cyber-enabled fraud, senior investor protection, generative AI, and much more. It also reflects our FINRA Forward commitment to empowering member firm compliance by sharing intelligence from across our Regulatory Operations. This episode features four FINRA leaders: Ornella Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Risk Monitoring, and Acting Head of Member Supervision; Bill St. Louis, Executive Vice President and Head of Enforcement; Feral Talib, Executive Vice President and Head of Market Oversight; and Bryan Smith, Senior Vice President and Acting Head of Strategic Intelligence. They discuss takeaways from the report, and how firms can leverage its effective practices and research to strengthen their compliance programs. Resources mentioned in this episode: 2026 Regulatory Oversight Report [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/guidance/reports/2026-finra-annual-regulatory-oversight-report?utm_source=shared&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=ror26] FINRA Forward [https://www.finra.org/about/finra-forward?utm_source=fun&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=ff] FINRA Crypto and Blockchain Education Program [https://www.finra.org/events-training/FINRA-crypto-and-blockchain-education-program] Blog Post: FINRA Forward’s Rule Modernization—An Update [https://www.finra.org/media-center/blog/finra-forward-rule-modernization-update] Blog Post: Vendors, Intelligence Sharing and FINRA’s Mission [https://www.finra.org/media-center/blog/vendors-intelligence-sharing-and-finras-mission] Blog Post: FINRA Forward 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] 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] 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. 173: Vendor Vigilance: Navigating Third-Party Risk [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/vendor-vigilance-third-party-risk] Ep. 177: Previewing FINRA’s Crypto and Blockchain Education Program [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/previewing-finras-crypto-and-blockchain-education-program] Ep. 180: Building Cybersecurity Resilience Through FINRA Forward [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/building-cybersecurity-resilience-through-finra-forward] Find us:  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1342448] / X [https://twitter.com/FINRA] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@finra/podcasts] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialIndustryRegulatoryAuthority/] / Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/finraofficial/] / E-mail [FINRAUnscripted@finra.org] Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasts/id153162007?mt=2], Google Play [https://play.google.com/music/m/I3uurvrey2imm4lxpwh6hlojdjm?t=FINRA_Unscripted] and by RSS [http://feeds.finra.org/FINRACompliancePodcast?format=xml].

Making Your Voice Heard Through FINRA Member Engagement

As a self-regulatory organization, engagement with member firms is vital to FINRA’s success. On this episode, we highlight engagement opportunities, provide insight into how FINRA is listening and taking action on what we're hearing, and encourage even more listeners to get actively involved in FINRA's outreach. FINRA Senior Vice President Kayte Toczylowski is joined by two current FINRA regional committee members: Serving on FINRA's Midwest regional committee, Margaret Dubil, Director of Surveillance for Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, and Stifel Independent Advisors; and serving on the New York regional committee, Peter Garcia, Head of Business Development and Controls at Rabobank and Officer of Rabo Securities USA, Rabobank's U.S. broker- dealer. The two provide firsthand experience on engaging with FINRA. Resources mentioned in this episode: FINRA Forward [https://www.finra.org/about/finra-forward] FINRA Crypto and Blockchain Education Program [https://www.finra.org/events-training/FINRA-crypto-and-blockchain-education-program] Blog Post: FINRA Forward’s Rule Modernization—An Update [https://www.finra.org/media-center/blog/finra-forward-rule-modernization-update] Blog Post: FINRA Forward 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 Conferences and Events [https://www.finra.org/events-training/upcoming-events] 2025 Involvement and Election Process Overview [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/notices/special-notice-051525] FINRA Engagement Portal [https://www.finra.org/about/committees/indication-interest-finra-service-form] FINRA Advisory Committees [http://finra.org/about/governance/advisory-committees] Find us:  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1342448] / X [https://twitter.com/FINRA] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@finra/podcasts] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialIndustryRegulatoryAuthority/] / Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/finraofficial/] / E-mail [FINRAUnscripted@finra.org] Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasts/id153162007?mt=2], Google Play [https://play.google.com/music/m/I3uurvrey2imm4lxpwh6hlojdjm?t=FINRA_Unscripted] and by RSS [http://feeds.finra.org/FINRACompliancePodcast?format=xml].

Building Cybersecurity Resilience Through FINRA Forward

Today's cybersecurity threats aren't isolated incidents—they are sophisticated operations orchestrated by organized criminals and even nation states. This new reality demands we respond not as individual organizations, but as a unified industry with shared intelligence and coordinated defenses. Through FINRA Forward, we are applying this perspective to create practical tools that firms can use to protect themselves and their clients from emerging threats.  On this episode, we explore the topic with Bryan Smith, FINRA’s Senior Vice President of Complex Investigations and Intelligence; Brita Bayatmakou, Vice President of Strategic and Threat Intelligence; and Jason Beachy, Vice President of the Cyber and Analytics Unit. Our guests discuss how FINRA is working to provide firms with the intelligence, preparation, and collaborative tools they need to better protect themselves and their customers in an increasingly complex threat landscape. These efforts include workshops and tabletop exercises, the Cyber and Operational Resilience program, and our forthcoming Financial Intelligence Fusion Center. Resources mentioned in this episode: FINRA Forward [https://www.finra.org/about/finra-forward] FINRA Crypto and Blockchain Education Program [https://www.finra.org/events-training/FINRA-crypto-and-blockchain-education-program] Blog Post: FINRA Forward’s Rule Modernization—An Update [https://www.finra.org/media-center/blog/finra-forward-rule-modernization-update] Blog Post: Vendors, Intelligence Sharing and FINRA’s Mission [https://www.finra.org/media-center/blog/vendors-intelligence-sharing-and-finras-mission] Blog Post: FINRA Forward 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] Ep. 177: Previewing FINRA’s Crypto and Blockchain Education Program [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/previewing-finras-crypto-and-blockchain-education-program] FIFC Email: fifc@finra.org [fifc@finra.org] Find us:  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1342448] / X [https://twitter.com/FINRA] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@finra/podcasts] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialIndustryRegulatoryAuthority/] / Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/finraofficial/] / E-mail [FINRAUnscripted@finra.org] Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasts/id153162007?mt=2], Google Play [https://play.google.com/music/m/I3uurvrey2imm4lxpwh6hlojdjm?t=FINRA_Unscripted] and by RSS [http://feeds.finra.org/FINRACompliancePodcast?format=xml].

A Conversation with FINRA CEO Robert Cook and Small Firm Advisory Committee Chair Preston Haxo

Small firms face unique challenges. The regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly. And the conversation between regulators and the regulated is more important than ever. How does FINRA ensure that small firm voices are heard? How do small firms navigate an increasingly complex environment while serving their clients effectively?  On this episode, we bring you a conversation between FINRA President and CEO Robert Cook and Small Firm Advisory Committee (SFAC) Chair Preston Haxo from FINRA's Small Firm Conference in Dallas on Oct. 9. The two explored the vital role of the SFAC, the ongoing progress of our FINRA Forward initiatives, the practical ways small firms can engage with FINRA, and more. Resources mentioned in this episode: FINRA Forward [https://www.finra.org/about/finra-forward] Small Firm Advisory Committee (SFAC) [https://www.finra.org/about/finra-small-firm-advisory-committee] FINRA Small Firm Helpline [https://www.finra.org/compliance-tools/small-firm-helpline] The Small Firm Briefing [https://www.finra.org/events-training/small-firm-briefing] FINRA Crypto and Blockchain Education Program [https://www.finra.org/events-training/FINRA-crypto-and-blockchain-education-program] Reg Notice 25-13: Form U4 Recordkeeping Requirements [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/notices/25-13] Reg Notice 25-07: The Modern Workplace [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/notices/25-07] Reg Notice 25-06: Capital Formation [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/notices/25-06] Reg Notice 25-04: Rule Modernization [https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/notices/25-04] Blog Post: FINRA Forward’s Rule Modernization—An Update [https://www.finra.org/media-center/blog/finra-forward-rule-modernization-update] Blog Post: Vendors, Intelligence Sharing and FINRA’s Mission [https://www.finra.org/media-center/blog/vendors-intelligence-sharing-and-finras-mission] Blog Post: FINRA Forward 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] Ep. 177: Previewing FINRA’s Crypto and Blockchain Education Program [https://www.finra.org/media-center/finra-unscripted/previewing-finras-crypto-and-blockchain-education-program] Find us:  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1342448] / X [https://twitter.com/FINRA] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@finra/podcasts] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialIndustryRegulatoryAuthority/] / Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/finraofficial/] / E-mail [FINRAUnscripted@finra.org] Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasts/id153162007?mt=2], Google Play [https://play.google.com/music/m/I3uurvrey2imm4lxpwh6hlojdjm?t=FINRA_Unscripted] and by RSS [http://feeds.finra.org/FINRACompliancePodcast?format=xml].

Encore | Investing Wisely in 2025: Avoiding Scams and Achieving Your Financial Goals

This episode originally aired in January 2025. Many of us view January as a time to make a fresh start, and as a time to bid farewell to bad habits. In thinking about your New Year's resolutions, have you considered whether you're making financially healthy decisions? On this episode, we sit down with Gerri Walsh, President of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation and Senior Vice President of Investor Education, to uncover the trends and tips investors need to get their finances in order for 2025.  Resources mentioned in this episode: 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] Find us:  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/1342448] / X [https://twitter.com/FINRA] / YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@finra/podcasts] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialIndustryRegulatoryAuthority/] / Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/finraofficial/] / E-mail [FINRAUnscripted@finra.org] Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasts/id153162007?mt=2], Google Play [https://play.google.com/music/m/I3uurvrey2imm4lxpwh6hlojdjm?t=FINRA_Unscripted] and by RSS [http://feeds.finra.org/FINRACompliancePodcast?format=xml].