The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), is the leading independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. Created in July 2007 through the consolidation of NASD and the member regulation, enforcement and arbitration functions of the New York Stock Exchange, FINRA oversees more than 4,900 brokerage firms employing over 660,000 registered representatives.

Empowered by the federal government, we're here to protect American investors from fraud and bad practices. We do that by writing and enforcing rules governing the activities of every firm and broker that sells securities in the U.S.; by examining firms for compliance with those rules; by fostering market transparency; and by educating investors. FINRA has approximately 2,800 employees and operates from Washington, DC, and New York, NY, with 15 District Offices around the country.

FINRA believes investor protection begins with education. Using the internet, the media and public forums, we help investors build their financial knowledge and provide them with essential tools to better understand the markets and basic principles of saving and investing. In addition, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation is the largest foundation in the United States dedicated to investor education. As of June 2007, the Foundation had approved $10.4 million in grants and an additional $10.2 million in direct investor education programming.