[ by Howard Haykin ]

The 2013 Renewal Program begins 11/12/12 when FINRA makes the online Preliminary Renewal Statements available to all firms on Web CRD/IARD.  In Regulatory Notice 12-46, released Thursday, FINRA points out all key dates - particularly 12/13/12, which is the Payment Deadline.  Other key dates are:

• November 1, 2012.   Firms may begin submitting post-dated Form U5, BR Closing/Withdrawal, BDW and ADV-W filings via Web CRD/IARD.

Please Note: Post-dated filings submitted by 11 p.m., ET, 11/9/12, do not appear on the firm’s Preliminary Renewal Statement.  The only allowed date for post-dated termination filings is 12/31/12. 

• November 12, 2012.   Preliminary Renewal Statements are available on Web CRD/IARD.

• December 13, 2012.   Full payment of Preliminary Renewal Statements is due.

• January 2, 2013.   Final Renewal Statements are available on Web CRD/IARD.

• February 1, 2013.   Full payment of Final Renewal Statements is due.

Further Warning on Payments.   FINRA-registered firms are fore-warned that failure to remit full payment of their Preliminary Renewal Statements to FINRA by 12/13/12, may cause the firm to become ineligible to do business in the jurisdictions where it is registered, effective 1/1/13.  FINRA-registered firms will also be subject to a late fee if payment is not received by this deadline.

Renewal Instructions.   In addition to this Notice, firms should review the renewal instructions, especially the Renewal Program Bulletin, the IARD Renewal Program Bulletin (if applicable) on the Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD) website, and any information mailed to ensure continued eligibility to do business as of January 1, 2013.

What You'll Find on Preliminary Renewal Statements.   Beginning 11/12/12, the available Preliminary Renewal Statements on Web CRD/IARD include the following fees:

• Web CRD system processing fees;
• FINRA branch office fees;
• FINRA branch renewal processing fees;
• (AMEX), BATS Y-Exchange, BATS Z-Exchange, BOX, Bostonr (BX), C2 Options
  Exchange, CBOE, CHX, EDGA, EDGX, ISE, NASDAQ, NSX, NYSE, Arca, Phlx maintenance fees;
• state agent renewal fees;
• state BD renewal fees;
• state BD branch fees;
• investment adviser firm and representative renewal fees, if applicable; and
• broker-dealer and/or investment adviser branch renewal fees.

Among other information, FINRA details the following information in this Notice:

• fee and assessment changes.
• Any investment adviser (IA) fees assessed by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) for state-registered investment adviser firms and investment adviser representatives (RA) who renew through IARD will also be included on the Preliminary Renewal Statement.
• FINRA does not assess the personnel assessment fees through the annual Renewal Program. FINRA will mail all FINRA-registered firms a separate invoice for these fees. Firms can obtain a listing of agents for whom the firms will be assessed the personnel assessment fee by requesting the Renewals—Firm Renewal Roster.
• Some participating jurisdictions may require steps beyond the payment to FINRA of renewal fees to complete the BD or IA renewal process. Firms should contact each jurisdiction directly for further information on state renewal requirements. A Regulator Directory is located on the NASAA website.

Please direct questions concerning this Notice to the FINRA Gateway Call Center at (301) 869-6699. 

For further details, go to:  [FINRA Regulatory Notice 12-46].