
Who regulates the stock market?
Starting in 2000, the agency combined with the SEC, the overall supervisory agency of stock exchange trading, to help regulate single stock futures. 3 The SEC was established in 1934 by the Securities Exchange Act and is among the most powerful and comprehensive financial regulatory agencies.
Who is in charge of the stock market?
The SEC, FINRA, and the Exchanges The SEC also oversees all of the stock exchanges and any organization connected with the selling of securities. It also has a robust anti-fraud unit that monitors advertising and marketing to ensure companies comply with strict securities sales rules. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
Who regulates broker-dealers in the OTC market?
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) regulates broker-dealers that operate in the over-the-counter (OTC) market.
What does the Securities and Exchange Commission regulate?
The SEC holds primary responsibility for enforcing the federal securities laws, proposing securities rules, and regulating the securities industry, the nation's stock and options exchanges, and other activities and organizations, including the electronic securities markets in the United States.

What is the NASDAQ regulatory oversight?
The individual exchanges also have sophisticated regulatory oversight functions within their operations. For example, the NASDAQ has an Investigations and Enforcement Team who investigates misconduct and enforces the exchange's rules. NASDAQ has also contracted FINRA to undertake specific functions and activities for the exchange while leaving the responsibility and control with NASDAQ.
What is the National Association of Securities Dealers?
They are a self-regulatory body that is responsible for policing the securities industry. It was created in 2007 when the National Association of Securities Dealers merged with the New York Stock Exchange's regulatory functions. 2 .
What is the final step in securities protection?
The final step of securities protection lies with brokerage firms and professionals. Every licensed broker or dealer involved in securities must keep individual records and perform checks and audits of their operations to ensure they conduct business within acceptable legal and ethical guidelines.
What is the SEC?
The SEC is the top regulatory agency responsible for overseeing the securities industry.
Why is reporting suspicious securities important?
Reporting suspicious, illicit or unethical securities behavior is essential to ensuring the bad seeds are caught. Regulatory agencies cannot do all the work themselves. Investors can also use the regulatory agencies' tools and published knowledge to inform themselves and keep their capital safe and working for them.
What is the role of FINRA?
FINRA sets standards and approves or revokes licenses for stockbrokers and other professionals. Individual states and brokerages are also tasked with handling complaints, registering securities, keeping records, and/or performing checks and audits to ensure no illegal activity occurs.
What is the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority?
Working independently from a government agency, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is an independent organization that creates and enforces rules that apply to brokers, broker-dealer firms and funding portals. They are a self-regulatory body that is responsible for policing ...
The Federal Reserve Board
Probably the most well-known of all the regulatory agencies is the FRB. The Fed is responsible for influencing liquidity and overall credit conditions. Its primary monetary policy tool is open market operations that control the buying and selling of U.S. Treasury and federal agency securities.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The FDIC is a U.S. government corporation created by the Emergency Banking Act of 1933 in the wake of the Great Depression. This agency provides deposit insurance that guarantees depositor accounts up to $250,000 at any of its member banks. As of 2018, the FDIC insured deposits at over 5,600 institutions.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is among the oldest of all the federal regulatory agencies, established in 1863 by the National Currency Act. The OCC primarily functions to regulate, supervise, and offer charters to banks that operate in the U.S. These functions help to ensure the overall stability and safety of the U.S.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission
In 1974, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) was created as an independent regulator of commodity futures and options markets. This agency provides efficient and competitive futures markets and protects traders from market manipulation and other fraudulent trading practices.
The Securities and Exchange Commission
The SEC was established in 1934 by the Securities Exchange Act and is among the most powerful and comprehensive financial regulatory agencies. The SEC enforces federal securities laws and regulates a large portion of the securities industry, including the U.S. stock exchanges and options markets.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a regulatory agency that oversees all finance-related products and services provided to consumers. This agency is divided into a number of different units, including the Office of Fair Lending, consumer complaints, research, community affairs, and the Office of Financial Opportunity.
Who regulates national banks?
Most national banks must be members of the Federal Reserve System; however, they are regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The Federal Reserve supervises and regulates many large banking institutions because it is the federal regulator for bank holding companies (BHCs).
What is the role of FINRA?
FINRA oversees all firms that are in the securities business with the public. It is also responsible for training financial services professionals, licensing and testing agents, and overseeing the mediation and arbitration processes for disputes between customers and brokers.
What is the purpose of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency?
1 Its main purpose is to supervise, regulate, and provide charters to banks operating in the U.S. to ensure the soundness of the overall banking system. This supervision enables banks to compete and provide efficient banking and financial services .
What is the purpose of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission?
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) was created in 1974 as an independent authority to regulate commodity futures and options and other related derivatives markets and to provide for competitive and efficient market trading. 7 It also seeks to protect participants from market manipulation, investigates abusive trading practices and fraud, and maintains fluid processes for clearing.
When was FINRA created?
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) was created in 2007 from its predecessor, the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). 9 FINRA is considered a self-regulatory organization (SRO) and was originally created as an outcome of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 .
What are the duties of state regulators?
Their duties include protecting consumers, conducting criminal investigations and enforcing legal actions. They also provide licensing and authority certificates, which require applicants to submit details of their operations. (For a directory of specific state agencies visit www.insuranceusa.com .)
What is the purpose of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation?
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was created by the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 to provide insurance on deposits to guarantee the safety of funds kept by depositors at banks. 3 Its mandate is to protect up to $250,000 per depositor.

How Is The Stock Market Highly Regulated?
The Sec, FINRA, and The Exchanges
- The SEC also oversees all of the stock exchanges and any organization connected with the selling of securities. It also has a robust anti-fraud unit that monitors advertising and marketing to ensure that companies comply with strict securities sales rules.
Individual States and Brokerages
- Individual state governments also have securities divisions, although they are usually not as sophisticated as FINRA. Often, they respond to complaints and register securities that will be sold within the boundaries of the state. The final step of securities protection lies with brokerage firms and professionals. Every licensed broker or dealer involved in securities must keep individual rec…
What Can Investors do?
- Reporting suspicious, illicit or unethical securities behavior is essential to ensuring that bad actors are caught. Regulatory agencies cannot do all of the work themselves. Investors can also use the regulatory agencies' tools and published knowledge to inform themselves and keep their capital safe and working for them. When choosing brokers or dealers, do a background check, and ask f…