Happy New Year! We hope the NIBA membership had a successful 2016.  The beginning of a new year is typically a time when firms are focused on plans for growing their book of business.  While the launch of new marketing or trading campaigns is certainly important, attention to operational and regulatory issues is just as critical for a successful firm.  Compliance matters, in particular, are often overlooked when evaluating firm activities and planning for improvements going into a new year.  The start of 2017 is the perfect time for registered firms to take an inventory of their regulatory obligations and…...

As your industry advocate, the NIBA provides many services which help your business stay in compliance with NFA regulations. “Ask the NFA,” is the way you can ask questions about those regulations and compliance requirements without having to call NFA directly.  Just email us at [email protected] and we will get the answers for you. Please keep in mind the purpose of this contact is to keep the lines of communication between the NFA and NIBA members. This month’s questions were selected from those submitted by NIBA members. The answers were supplied by NFA staff. Is a 3rd Party audit of…...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the hottest topic in service industries these days, and compliance is no exception. AI can be roughly divided into two categories: General, which we see in movies and read about in science fiction novels, and Specific, which is what will have the greatest impact in 2017. The new year is upon us, bringing promises of a variety of breakout technologies to help companies more easily comply with their regulatory requirements. Much in the way that manufacturing was forever altered by machine automation, service industries will be increasingly disrupted, resulting in significant cost savings and efficiency gains…...

When Benjamin Franklin coined the phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” he had fire safety in mind.  Cybersecurity wasn’t on anyone’s radar.  In fact, radar wasn’t on anyone radar. Nonetheless, that adage perfectly captures the importance of training staff members on cyber risks today.  Employee cyber awareness is based on common-sense principles that are generally easy to implement and can save a firm from massive headaches. While the technical challenges of cyber protection fall largely to the IT staff, a firm’s rank-and-file computer users stand as the front line of cyber defense.  A single employee…...

Please take a moment to watch the video below of CFTC Commissioner Christopher Giancarlo’s thoughts and concerns about the CFTC’s proposed Reg AT:...

As your industry advocate, the NIBA provides many services which help your business stay in compliance with NFA regulations. “Ask the NFA,” is the way you can ask questions about those regulations and compliance requirements without having to call NFA directly. Just email us at [email protected] and we will get the answers for you. Please keep in mind the purpose of this contact is to keep the lines of communication between the NFA and NIBA members. This month’s questions were selected from those submitted by NIBA members. The answers were supplied by NFA staff. “I was wondering if you could…...

In an effort to better understand and monitor the financial health of certain members of the National Futures Association (“NFA”), the NFA has submitted a proposal to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) that would require commodity pool operators (“CPOs”) and commodity trading advisors (“CTAs”) to report additional information about their financial condition on a regular basis.  The recent proposal comes two years after NFA previously sought comments on possible minimum net capital requirements for CPOs and CTAs.  Financial reporting may not, at first blush, seem as onerous as minimum net capital requirements.  However, financial reporting will nonetheless require the…...

NIBA’s September 14 Conference opened up first thing in the morning with a panel discussion on none other than “What’s on the radar at the NFA!”  By the look on the faces of the crowed audience, the topics had many eyes wide open…more than your average cup of Latte can do in the morning.  The panel, which was moderated by Robert DeMuria of Compliance Supervisors International, Inc., consisted of very reputable and qualified individuals: Joseph Mazza, CPA of Compliance Supervisors International, Inc.; Anibal Carlo, Manager of National Futures Association and Michael Coglianese, CPA of Michael Coglianese CPA, P.C. The discussion…...

Inspired by this year’s presidential debate, the NIBA hosted its first ever compliance debate at a conference for their 25th year anniversary held at the CME Group on Sept. 14. Robert DeMuria, Vice President and Co-founder of Compliance Supervisors International, and Alexandra Lively, OSMTH United Nations Delegate, moderated the debate with an outstanding group of industry professionals. The panelists included Joseph Mazza, President and Co-founder of Compliance Supervisors International, James Bibbings, Founder and President of Turnkey Trading Partners, Patricia Cushing, Director of Compliance at National Futures Association, Scott Williamson, Deputy Regional Counsel at the CFTC, Erin Middleton, Senior Rules and…...