FINRA proposes changes to suitability and "know your customer" rules
As part of FINRA’s ongoing effort to consolidate and reconcile the former NASD and NYSE manuals, changes are in the works. FINRA recently filed a proposed rule change that is going to make changes to FINRA suitability rules, as we have known them, noticeably different.
FINRA’s proposed rules governing Suitability and Know Your Customer Obligations will expand the obligations of registered representatives when recommending securities or investment strategies to customers. This is interesting because it looks like FINRA is moving towards codifying a fiduciary standard, or at least a modified fiduciary standard.
In the past, a fiduciary duty in a non-discretionary account related to only the execution of trades and custody of assets. Now, if an investment strategy encompasses assets away from the firm, that strategy falls within the proposed rule. For instance, the recommendation to retain stocks in an account at another brokerage firm may be considered recommending an investment strategy as may the recommendation to hold, and not sell, a particular stock.
This represents a significant change in the relationship a broker has with his/her client and will broaden the areas of responsibility when making suitability determinations.
