FINRA's Acceptance, Waiver, And Consent Settlement (AWC) by Bill Singer

Maybe they got you -- maybe you just can't afford to fight it -- whatever the reason, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") is proposing that you resolve the allegations of violations pursuant to an Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent settlement ("AWC"). While the AWC appears to be the most common outcome for FINRA regulatory investigations, the mechanics and consequences of such a settlement are rarely understood by many registered representatives acting as their own counsel, and often not properly explained by lawyers to their industry clients.  Join veteran Wall Street regulatory lawyer Bill Singer as he guides you through the nuts-and-bolts of FINRA Rule 9216.

FINRA Rule 9216: Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent; Plan Pursuant to SEA Rule 19d-1(c)(2)

(a) Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent Procedures

(1) Notwithstanding Rule 9211, if the Department of Enforcement or the Department of Market Regulation has reason to believe a violation has occurred and the member or associated person does not dispute the violation,

Bill Singer's Comment: The launch-pad for entering into the world of the AWC is that FINRA's Departments of Enforcement or Market Regulation have formed a belief that you violated a rule, at which point, you are given a choice:

Door #1: If you are prepared to throw in the towel and settle the allegations, you can opt to do so before a formal Complaint is issued and pursue resolution via an AWC, but you will have to agree not to dispute FINRA's allegation of the violation(s).

Door #2: If you are incensed, outraged, and prepared to take the fight all the way down to the mat, then you are likely headed for a contested hearing.  If you have a change of heart after you passed on the AWC, you may still settle after the issuance of a Complaint via an Offer of Settlement.

Keep in mind, that there's is often something of a so-called "settlement premium" built into the AWC and if you opt to settle after the issuance of the Complaint via an Offer of Settlement, then you may find an increased fine and/or suspension from the earlier AWC discussions.

Why might you want to pass on the AWC?  

For one thing, there is often a chasm between Enforcement/Market Reg believingthat you committed a violation and proving that conjecture by a preponderance of the evidence. As such, if you think that FINRA's bluffing or that you can refute the regulator's allegations, then you might want to pass on the AWC.  Keep in mind that for you to enter into an AWC, you're going to have to abandon any dispute about the alleged violation(s); and, no, you can't cross your fingers behind your back, or, after the fact, tell everyone that you only settled for business reasons but you still dispute the charges.

Sometimes even FINRA is not above playing games and trying to bluff you into settlement. What the regulator may raise as a likely charge(s) during settlement negotiations may look different (or may not even appear) in a formal Complaint.The danger here is that you may well find yourself having to go "all in" at the risk of your career and reputation in order to see what the other guy's hand looks like. Sometimes both FINRA and a potential Respondent are certain that they have a can't-lose hand.  Just remember, Pocket Aces are not always enough.

the Department of Enforcement or the Department of Market Regulation may prepare and request that the member or associated person execute a letter accepting a finding of violation, consenting to the imposition of sanctions, and agreeing to waive such member's or associated person's right to a hearing before a Hearing Panel or, if applicable, an Extended Hearing Panel, andany right of appeal to the National Adjudicatory Council, the SEC, and the courts, or to otherwise challenge the validity of the letter, if the letter is accepted.

Bill Singer's Comment: At the start of the AWC process, you will execute a letter -- and that act  may become a bone of contention long after your AWC is approved because many respondents will claim that FINRA drafted the settlement, twisted their arms, and gave them no choice. Personally, I believe that the AWC Rule is hypocritical because it engages in the legal fiction of pretending that the Respondent executed the letter proposing the AWC, when, in fact, it's all typically drafted by FINRA Staff as a pretty much take-it-or-leave-it proposition but for the negotiations about the sanctions.

When you review the AWC Letter prepared by FINRA Staff for your execution, you will find boilerplate admonitions whereby you agree to:

• ACCEPT FINRA's finding of violation;
• CONSENT to the sanctions imposed upon you; and
• WAIVE your right to a hearing.

Why didn't they call it a Acceptance, Consent, and Waiver (an ACW)? I dunno and they didn't ask my opinion.

After the ink of your signature is dry, you may still harbor some disagreement with FINRA about the underlying facts; nonetheless, once you submit the AWC Letter for processing, you are agreeing that whatever the self-regulator found as a violation of its rules is an accepted fact. You don't get a mulligan after you have consented to the fine, suspension, bar, or other sanctions imposed upon you. You waive the right to a hearing and your right to appeal to FINRA's NAC, to the Securities Exchange Commission, and to the courts.  Game. Set. Match.

The letter shall describe the act or practice engaged in or omitted, the rule, regulation, or statutory provision violated, and the sanction or sanctions to be imposed. Unless the letter states otherwise, the effective date of any sanction(s) imposed will be a date to be determined by FINRA staff.

Bill Singer's Comment: In negotiating an AWC, there are no fixed and fast rules as to when a specific fine must be paid or a suspension served.  You may have some limited ability when negotiating the AWC to ask the FINRA staff to agree to an earlier or later date for particular sanctions.  There is even a mechanism for scheduling a payment plan for fines. Some folks prefer to get things moving immediately; others need time to get their affairs in order -- and some just want to serve the 30-day suspension in August or during a holiday season.

(2)(A) If a member or person associated with a member submits an executed letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, by the submission such member or person associated with a member also waives:

(i) any right of such member or person associated with a memberto claim bias or prejudgment of the General Counsel, the National Adjudicatory Council, or any member of the National Adjudicatory Council, in connection with such person's or body's participationin discussions regarding the terms and conditions of the letterof acceptance, waiver, and consent, or other consideration of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, including acceptance or rejection of such letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent; and

(ii) any right of such member or person associated with a member to claim that a person violated the ex parte prohibitions of Rule 9143 or the separation of functions prohibitions of Rule 9144, in connection with such person's or body's participation in discussions regarding the terms and conditions of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, or other consideration of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, including acceptance or rejection of such letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent.

Bill Singer's Comment: If your AWC is accepted, you waive your right to claim bias or prejudgment by FINRA's General Counsel, the NAC, and any NAC member concerning the discussions involving the terms and conditions of your AWC. You know how you really, really believe that during the negotiations about the AWC's terms and conditions, the Staff had some improper private chat about you with someone on the NAC or that the separation you were promised between the Staff and the NAC was winked at? Well, kiss that claim goodbye if the AWC is accepted because you will have waived your right to claim those improper acts.

 

(B) If a letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent is rejected, the member or associated person shall be bound by the waivers made under paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2)(A) for conduct by persons or bodies occurring during the period beginning on the date the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent was executed and submitted and ending upon the rejection of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent.

Bill Singer's Comment: In essence, FINRA has taken out an insurance policy during the period that you executed the AWC and until it was rejected. During that period, you are bound by all the waivers you made in the rejected AWC. Something of a heads I win and tails you lose proposition. On the other hand, this is how it goes with virtually all such settlements (even those involving court cases) -- it's the grease that allows the process to spin its wheels.

(3) If the member or associated person executes the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, it shall be submitted to the National Adjudicatory Council. The Review Subcommittee or the Office of Disciplinary Affairs may accept such letter or refer it to the National Adjudicatory Council for acceptance or rejection by the National Adjudicatory Council. The Review Subcommittee may reject such letter or refer it to the National Adjudicatory Council for acceptance or rejection by the National Adjudicatory Council.

(4) If the letter is accepted by the National Adjudicatory Council, the Review Subcommittee, or the Office of Disciplinary Affairs, it shall be deemed final and shall constitute the complaint, answer, and decision in the matter. If the letter is rejected by the Review Subcommittee or the National Adjudicatory Council, FINRA may take any other appropriate disciplinary action with respect to the alleged violation or violations. If the letter is rejected, the member or associated person shall not be prejudiced by the execution of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent under paragraph (a)(1) and the letter may not be introduced into evidence in connection with the determination of the issues set forth in any complaint or in any other proceeding. . .

Bill Singer's Comment: Ya gotta love the bureaucracy that is now FINRA.  They got a Review Subcommittee, the NAC, and the Office of Disciplinary Affairs all involved in possibly accepting a given AWC.  What follows next is something of an unintentional homage to some of the most laughable passages of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland:

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: According to the rule, the first step on your journey of settlement is to submit the AWC to the NAC.  

The Power To Accept: Next, the AWC apparently winds up before a Review Subcommittee or the Office of Disciplinary Affairs ("ODA"). The Review Subcommittee or the ODA can accept an AWC.

The Power to Reject: The Review Subcommittee can reject an AWC but the ODA lacks such power.

Unrejected But Not Accepted: Both the Review Subcommittee and the ODA may "refer" an unrejected AWC that they don't accept to the NAC for further consideration but only the Review Subcommittee may "reject" an AWC.  An unrejected AWC that they don't accept -- you really can't make up such gobbledygook like that without being a wordsmith with great talent.

The Plenary Power of the NAC: The NAC can accept or reject whatever the hell it wants.

Three For The Price Of One: If the Review Subcommittee, the ODA, or the NAC accepts your AWC, that document magically is transformed into a trinity of a FINRA Complaint, your Answer, and FINRA's Decision.

Tabula Rasa: If the Review Subcommittee or the NAC rejects your AWC, the good news is that the slate is wiped clean by FINRA and the self regulator promises not to use your proposed AWC as evidence in connection with a determination concerning the issues set forth in any Complaint or in a proceeding.  Ummm . . . one word of caution from an old hand at dealing with FINRA.  Be careful about what you disclose during the AWC negotiations. Yeah, all well and fine that FINRA promises not to introduce any of your damaging admissions into evidence or to incorporate them into the Complaint. By the way, have you ever tried to un-ring a bell?

So, at long last you have decided, for whatever reason, to go along with the whole AWC thing and FINRA gets back to you with the semi-good news that it's now a done deal. Trust me, the pain ain't done yet.  If you look at a typical AWC, you will likely find this language:

C. If accepted:

1. this AWC will become part of their permanent disciplinary records and may be considered in any future actions brought by FINRA or any other regulator against them;

Bill Singer's Comment: You know all those water cooler lawyers in your branch office who told you to go with the AWC because it's no big deal and it's simply a settlement and no settlement can ever be used against you? Well, next time you see that idiot dispensing his nonsense, maybe you should dump the water jug on his head. The AWC goes into your Central Registration Depository record and in the future, should you slip up, rest assured that your past AWC "history" will be cited to show that you lack remorse, are a recidivist, should be slammed with the most extreme fines, and are the kind of registered person who should be barred.

2. this AWC will be made available through FINRA's public disclosure program in response to public inquiries about their disciplinary records;

3. FINRA may make a public announcement concerning this agreement and the subject matter thereof in accordance with FINRA Rule 8313; and

Bill Singer's Comment: I beg you -- I plead with you -- read and re-read paragraphs #2 and #3 immediately above.  Your AWC will find its way onto FINRA's database, including BrokerCheck. Your AWC may well find its way into a press release, which could then be picked up by the media -- including blogs such asBrokeAndBroker.  An AWC is NOT a confidential, private affair between you and FINRA. Once the AWC is approved, there is a fairly good chance that you have lost the ability to contain the matter and it may well find its way into the public domain.  

4. Respondents may not take any action or make or permit to be made any public statement, including in regulatory filings or otherwise, denying, directly or indirectly, any finding in this AWC or create the impression that the AWC is without factual basis. Respondents may not take any position in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of FINRA, or to which FINRA is a party, that is inconsistent with any part of this AWC. Nothing in this provision affects their: (i) testimonial obligations; or (ii) right to take legal or factual positions in litigation or other legal proceedings in which FINRA is not a party.

Bill Singer's Comment: Which brings us to those idiots who post on social media and explain that they only settled with FINRA because the regulatory forced them, that FINRA had no basis whatsoever to charge them, that the whole AWC settlement was a sham, and that they simply agreed to settle in order to avoid paying a lawyer.  After you have read #4 above, you tell me -- is that a smart thing to do?

D. Respondents may attach a Corrective Action Statement to this AWC that is a statement of demonstrable corrective steps taken to prevent future misconduct. Respondents understand thatthey may not deny the charges or make any statement that is inconsistent with the AWC in this Statement. This Statement does not constitute factual or legal findings by FINRA, nor does it reflect the views of FINRA or its staff.

Bill Singer's Comment: Every so often I see a Corrective Action Statement. Generally, I don't like them, don't see the point in authoring them, and would typically counsel against such recourse. Some clients find it cathartic. Some think it may give them an edge in the future -- that they sort of get to put a bit of a spin on the story. FINRA is not going to let you append some statement that denies the charges or offers a cutesy explanation of an alleged fact.  In the end, I would suggest that if you have any unresolved issues with FINRA that you go to the gym, hit the heavy bag, and maybe spend an hour on the treadmill.

• FINRA
• Rule 9216
• AWC
• Bill Singer
• BrokeAndBroker