Enforcement

FINRA Enforcement Actions

Track FINRA disciplinary trends, fine amounts, and top violation categories to benchmark your compliance program against industry enforcement data.

500+
Disciplinary Actions (2024)
$89M
Total Fines (2024)
370+
Suspensions & Bars

Disciplinary Actions by Year

Five-year trend of FINRA disciplinary actions and total fines assessed.

2020
710
$57M
2021
660
$48M
2022
580
$64M
2023
540
$72M
2024
520
$89M
Actions Total Fines

Top Violation Categories

Breakdown of FINRA enforcement actions by violation type in 2024.

Anti-Money Laundering20%
Advertising18%
Supervision16%
Suitability / Reg BI14%
Books & Records12%
Outside Business Activities10%
Registration6%
Other4%

Key Enforcement Priorities

Understanding where FINRA is focusing its enforcement resources helps firms proactively address high-risk compliance areas before they become disciplinary matters.

1

Off-channel communications: Continued focus on firms failing to capture and retain business communications on unapproved platforms such as personal text messaging and encrypted apps.

2

Regulation Best Interest: Scrutiny of firms' Reg BI compliance, including care obligation documentation, conflict mitigation, and Form CRS delivery.

3

Crypto-related advertising: Enforcement of fair and balanced communications standards for digital asset products and services.

4

Anti-money laundering deficiencies: Targeting firms with inadequate suspicious activity monitoring, customer due diligence, and independent AML testing.

5

Senior investor protection: Actions against registered representatives who exploit elderly or vulnerable clients through unsuitable recommendations or unauthorized trading.

Stay ahead of FINRA enforcement trends

Compliance Approved tracks enforcement actions and alerts you to emerging regulatory risks for your firm.