[ By Howard Haykin ] FINRA's BrokerCheck pages are 'new and improved' according to the regulator's announcement on Wednesday.  The changes are expected to help users more easily access B/D and IA registration information.   Several of the changes had been recommended to FINRA by the SEC, in a January 2011 study. Latest Improvements You're Likely to See. Derek Linden, FINRA EVP for Registration and Disclosure, said, "BrokerCheck is the go-to source for investors to find up-to-date accurate information about their broker or potential brokers.  FINRA is always looking for new ways to improve BrokerCheck, as with the following enhancements:

• centralized access to licensing and registration information on current and former brokers and brokerage firms, and investment adviser representatives and investment adviser firms;
• the ability to search for and locate a financial services professional based on main office and branch locations, and the ability to conduct ZIP code radius searches; and,
• access to expanded educational content available on BrokerCheck, including new help icons that clarify commonly referenced terms throughout the system and within BrokerCheck reports.

In February 2012, FINRA issued RegNote 12-10, soliciting comments on ways to facilitate and increase investor use of BrokerCheck.  Seventy-one comments were received and FINRA currently is reviewing each of them.   [FINRA News Release, 5/16/12]