Perhaps the situation is not that draconian, by since Spring Has Sprung, it's time for the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education ("SIR Council") to release its Spring 2012 Firm Element Advisory (FEA). SIR Council produces the FEA to identify regulatory and sales practice topics that firms should consider in their Firm Element training plans.  Topics updated or added since the prior FEA are indicated in the document, which can be accessed by clicking on:  the Updated Spring 2012 FEA The FEA topics are not exhaustive and are intended as a guide to firms when they determine what to include in their training plans. And while it's unfortunate that certain recommended topics did not make the final cut  -  take for example, these programs (rumor has it these were submitted  by Compliance-Insights):

1. Don't be the next MF Global - Enhance Disclosures to Your Clients.
2. Public Relations Made Easy and Effective - Take Aways from Goldman Sachs.
3. Strategies for Stressfree Bank Stress Tests - With Special Introduction by Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit.
4. Avoiding Common Anti-Money Laundering Errors - Expand Your Firm's Customer Identification Program into a 24/7 Job.

As always, firms should consider the specific nature of their business, clients, products and services when creating their training plans.  Previous editions of the FEA, as well as a matrix indicating the topics covered in those editions, are available by clicking on: Sir Council. Get Assistance:  Direct your questions to:  cecounciladmin@finra.org; or Roni Meikle, Director, Continuing Education, FINRA - (212) 858-4084. For further details, go to:  [FINRA RegNote 12-20, April 2012] and [FINRA InfoNote - C.E.Planning, 4/13/12].