NOTE: Offers of Settlement (OS) and Letters of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC) are entered into by Respondents without admitting or denying the allegations, but consent is given to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings.

FINANCIAL INDUSTRY REGULATORY AUTHORITY
FINRA
Conduct Rules 2210, 2211, and 3010

 Electronic Communications

(a) Definitions For purposes of this Rule and any interpretation thereof, "communications with the public" consist of: 

(1) "Advertisement." Any material, other than an independently prepared reprint and institutional sales material, that is published, or used in any electronic or other public media, including any Web site, newspaper, magazine or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or telephone directories (other than routine listings). 

(2) "Sales Literature." Any written or electronic communication, other than an advertisement, independently prepared reprint, institutional sales material and correspondence, that is generally distributed or made generally available to customers or the public, including circulars, research reports, performance reports or summaries, form letters, telemarketing scripts, seminar texts, reprints (that are not independently prepared reprints) or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature or published article, and press releases concerning a member's products or services. (3) "Correspondence" as defined in Rule 2211(a)(1).

. . .

(2) Record-keeping (A) Members must maintain all advertisements, sales literature, and independently prepared reprints in a separate file for a period beginning on the date of first use and ending three years from the date of last use. The file must include: 

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FINRA/NASD Conduct Rule 2211. Institutional Sales Material and Correspondence 

(a) Definitions For purposes of Rule 2210, this Rule, and any interpretation thereof: 

(1) "Correspondence" consists of any written letter or electronic mail message and any market letter distributed by a member to: (A) one or more of its existing retail customers; and (B) fewer than 25 prospective retail customers within any 30 calendar-day period.

. . .

(b) Approval and Recordkeeping 

(1) Registered Principal Approval (A) Correspondence. Correspondence need not be approved by a registered principal prior to use, unless such correspondence is distributed to 25 or more existing retail customers within any 30 calendar-day period and makes any financial or investment recommendation or otherwise promotes a product or service of the member. All correspondence is subject to the supervision and review requirements of Rule 3010(d).

. . .

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FINRA/NASD Conduct Rule 3010. Supervision

(d) Review of Transactions and Correspondence

. . .

(2) Review of Correspondence Each member shall develop written procedures that are appropriate to its business, size, structure, and customers for the review of incoming and outgoing written (i.e., non-electronic) and electronic correspondence with the public relating to its investment banking or securities business, including procedures to review incoming, written correspondence directed to registered representatives and related to the member's investment banking or securities business to properly identify and handle customer complaints and to ensure that customer funds and securities are handled in accordance with firm procedures. Where such procedures for the review of correspondence do not require review of all correspondence prior to use or distribution, they must include provision for the education and training of associated persons as to the firm's procedures governing correspondence; documentation of such education and training; and surveillance and follow-up to ensure that such procedures are implemented and adhered to. 

(3) Retention of Correspondence Each member shall retain correspondence of registered representatives relating to its investment banking or securities business in accordance with Rule 3110. The names of the persons who prepared outgoing correspondence and who reviewed the correspondence shall be ascertainable from the retained records and the retained records shall be readily available to the Association, upon request.