The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has released guidance based on questions it has received from broker-dealers regarding communications with the public — specifically when using websites, email and other electronic communications.
FINRA’s communications rules — Rules 2210 through 2220 — are based on the principles of ensuring that member communications are fair and balanced, and that investors do not receive misleading information, the broker-dealer self-regulator explains in Regulatory Notice 19-31.
Broker-dealers now often market and advertise their products and services using websites, email, social media, search advertisements, mobile apps and other electronic media, FINRA explains.
Regulatory Notice 17-18 (Social Media and Digital Communications), Regulatory Notice 11-39 (Social Media Websites and the Use of Personal Devices for Business Communications), and Regulatory Notice 10-06 (Social Media Websites) have offered guidance on how to apply the communications rules to social media and electronic communications.
Reg Notice 19-31 offers guidance on the application of the communications rules to social media and electronic communications.
For instance, one question probes FINRA on whether disclosures in marketing materials, which “have become quite extensive,” are required.