For FINRA member firms, and employees of FINRA firms (even those who are not registered) FINRA Rule 8210 (Provision of Information and Testimony and Inspection and Copying of Books) gives FINRA the authority to request documents and testimony from firms, registered persons and, in FINRA’s view, other persons and entities related to a registered person or entity.
The response to the request is important. First, if there is no response, FINRA will seek a permanent bar of the individual, and a suspension of the firm if the request is to the firm.
But simply responding is not the answer – the response needs to be well thought out, and carefully addressed.
Read our analysis here