FINRA compliance for broker-dealers and financial firms
Venatus helps broker-dealers and financial firms meet FINRA, SEC, and FinCEN obligations, so a single compliance gap never turns into three separate regulators knocking at once.
One Gap, Three Regulators
Combined penalty three regulators brought against one broker-dealer for AML failures, the largest BSA enforcement action ever in this industry.
$1.8M
What one firm paid across FINRA and SEC for off-channel communications failures.
3,300
Broker-dealer firms under FINRA oversight.
What one compliance gap actually triggers
A single supervisory failure doesn’t just draw a FINRA finding. The SEC and FinCEN often act on the same underlying gap, sometimes simultaneously, turning one exam finding into three separate enforcement actions.
Off-Channel Communications
Texting or messaging clients on WhatsApp, WeChat, or personal devices outside your archived systems is one of the most actively pursued findings in current exams.
Coordinated Multi-Regulator Action
FINRA, the SEC, and FinCEN increasingly investigate and settle the same underlying failure together, multiplying your exposure rather than limiting it to one agency.
Supervisory Gaps Under Rule 3110
Most exam findings trace back to inadequate supervision, not a single bad actor, but a system that failed to catch the problem in the first place.
The Rules Exams Actually Test
Rule 3110
Supervision: a system reasonably designed to detect violations by associated persons.
Rule 4370
Regulation S-P
Regulation S-ID
Rule 4511
Not sure which rules apply to your firm? We’ll map your specific obligations before an examiner does.
Before, During, and After an Exam
Before the Exam
Documentation, supervisory procedures, and communications policies are in place and actually followed, not just written down.
During the Exam
Your team can produce what examiners ask for quickly, without scrambling to reconstruct records in real time.
After the Exam
Findings get resolved with a clear remediation plan, so the same issue doesn’t resurface in your next cycle.
Don't Wait for a Finding to Find Your Gaps
We assess your supervisory program before an examiner does.
Compliance your examiners don't have to dig for
We don’t build a supervisory manual and leave you to follow it on your own. We work with your team to make Rule 3110 supervision, communications archiving, and business continuity part of daily practice, so when an examiner asks for records, they’re already organized, not scattered across someone’s personal phone or a folder no one’s touched since the last cycle.
As your firm grows, adds new communication channels, or expands into new products, we help you extend your supervisory program before a gap becomes a finding. One exam cycle shouldn’t feel harder than the last, it should feel like confirmation that what you’ve built actually holds up.
The Markers of a Clean Examination
NOCF ▲
No Off-Channel Surprises
SUPV ▲
Supervision That Holds Up
RCRD ▲
Records Ready on Request
FIND ▲
Findings That Don’t Repeat
Every client communication is archived and accounted for.
Your Rule 3110 program actually catches issues before they become findings.
What examiners ask for gets produced quickly, not reconstructed under pressure.
Past issues get resolved with real remediation, not a temporary fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear, precise answers on FINRA obligations, multi-regulator exposure, and how Venatus keeps your firm ready before the next exam cycle.
Does FINRA regulate my firm directly, or does the SEC?
Often both. FINRA oversees broker-dealers as a self-regulatory organization under SEC supervision, meaning a single issue can draw scrutiny from both, and in cases involving money laundering or suspicious activity, FinCEN as well.
What counts as an off-channel communication violation?
Any business communication with a client conducted outside your firm’s archived, supervised systems, texting, WhatsApp, WeChat, or personal email, counts if it isn’t captured under your recordkeeping obligations. Enforcement in this area has intensified significantly in recent exam cycles.
What does Rule 3110 actually require?
Rule 3110 requires a supervisory system reasonably designed to achieve compliance with securities laws and FINRA rules. Most exam findings ultimately trace back to a supervisory gap here, not a single rule violation in isolation.
How often are broker-dealers examined?
Exam cycles vary by firm size, risk profile, and business line, but firms should expect recurring, often annual, risk-based examinations rather than a one-time review.
Can a finding from one regulator affect a case with another?
Yes. FINRA, the SEC, and FinCEN increasingly coordinate on related findings, and a violation identified by one can trigger scrutiny or a coordinated action from the others, as seen in recent record-setting joint settlements.
What's the difference between a finding and a formal enforcement action?
A finding identifies a deficiency during an exam, often resolved through remediation. An enforcement action is a formal proceeding that can result in fines, suspension, or other sanctions, usually reserved for unresolved, repeated, or serious violations.
How does Venatus help with FINRA compliance?
We review your supervisory program against Rule 3110, close gaps in communications archiving and business continuity planning, and help you prepare documentation so your next exam confirms what’s working, rather than uncovering what isn’t.
Built to withstand the next examination
Venatus helps broker-dealers and financial firms strengthen supervision, close communications gaps, and prepare documentation that holds up under FINRA, SEC, and FinCEN scrutiny.
THE VENATUS METHOD
- Step 1: Review —We assess your current supervisory program against Rule 3110.
- Step 2: Close Gaps — We fix communications archiving and business continutiy gaps before an examiner finds them.
- Step 3: Prepare — We get your documentation exam-ready, not reconstructed under pressure.
Get your FINRA readiness review started
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