Investing Wisely in 2025: Avoiding Scams and Achieving Your Financial Goals

In 2009, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation launched the first national study of financial capability of adults in the United States. Since its start, the National Financial Capability Study has provided data on multiple indicators of capability, including financial behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge.National Financial Capability Study survey data is collected every three years. The 2024 survey, which was published in July, represents the sixth wave of data. This report serves as an important barometer of Americans financial health, and it continues to be an essential resource for policymakers, researchers, financial firms, educators, and other stakeholders seeking to better understand and address the financial capability needs of Americans.On this episode of FINRA Unscripted, FINRA Foundation President Gerri Walsh, the Foundation's research director, Gary Mottola, and senior researcher Olivia Valdes discuss the study's findings and implications.Resources mentioned in this episode:National Financial Capability Study (Sixth Wave)National Financial Capability Study: 2024 State-Level InsightsFinancial Knowledge QuizNational Financial Capability Study (Fifth Wave)The machines are coming (with personal finance information). Do we trust them? Find us:  LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.

Resources mentioned in this episode:Blog Post: Fee Rebate for FINRA Member FirmsBlog Post: FINRA Forward Initiatives to Support Members, Markets and the Investors They ServeRequest for Comment: Outside Activities Rule—2025-05Rule Proposal: Gifts Rule—2025-003 Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS. Find us:  LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.

FINRA Forward—New Initiatives to Support Members, Markets, and the Investors They ServeFINRA360Request for Comment on Capital Formation Rules, Guidance and ProcessesRequest for Comment on Modern Workplace Rules, Guidance and ProcessesRequest for Comment on Associated Persons’ Outside ActivitiesStatement to Correct Misinformation About Outside Activities ProposalBroad Review to Modernize Rules Regarding Member Firms and Associated PersonsProposed Rule Change to Modify the Implementation Schedule Regarding Corporate Financing FeesProposed Rule Change on Transaction ReportingEngage With FINRA Find us:  LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.

Third-party risk is the most clicked-on topic in FINRA's 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report. But what is third-party risk and why are people so interested in it? What can FINRA member firms do to mitigate that risk? And how can FINRA help?On this episode of FINRA Unscripted, FINRA’s Executive Vice President of Member Supervision Greg Ruppert shares valuable insights on why firms are facing heightened challenges with third-party vendors, the emerging risks posed by fourth-party relationships, and how FINRA's intelligence sharing is helping member firms protect themselves from vendor-related cybersecurity threats.Resources mentioned in this episode:2025 Annual Regulatory Oversight ReportCEO Blog: New FINRA Initiatives to Support Members, Markets, and the Investors They ServeFINRA Cybersecurity GuidanceEp. 170: Using Data to Stay Ahead of Risk: Introducing FINRA’s StratIntel TeamEp. 169: Unpacking FINRA’s 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report Find us:  LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.

This month, we are marking the 10th anniversary of the FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors—an important milestone for a critical service that FINRA provides to protect vulnerable investors and assist harmed investors. On this FINRA Unscripted podcast episode, we will be speaking with leaders from FINRA’s Vulnerable Adults and Seniors Team—Elizabeth Yoka, the manager of VAST Intake, and Michael Paskin, the manager of the VAST Investigations, to discuss the Helpline and its 10 years of protecting investors. We will be focusing on the Helpline results and will provide a few examples of how the Helpline has become an effective conduit for investor protection, and how it has been helpful to member firms. Resources mentioned in this episode: FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors Ep. 152: Fighting Financial Exploitation: FINRA’s Vulnerable Adults and Seniors Team FINRA Rule 2165 FINRA Rule 4512 FINRA Rule 3241 2025 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report Find us:  LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.

As we observe National Consumer Protection Week amid a growing and changing financial fraud landscape, the time is ripe to talk about the ways in which investors can protect themselves from financial scams. On this episode, we sit down with Rob Mascio, Director of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, to talk about the latest fraud trends, common red flags to watch out for and practical steps investors can take to safeguard investments. Resources mentioned in this episode:2025 Annual Regulatory Oversight ReportInvestor Alert: Social Media ‘Investment Group’ Imposter Scams on the Rise Romance ScamsFINRA Securities Helpline for SeniorsBrokerCheckMarket Data CenterFund AnalyzerFixed Income DataFINRA Investor Education FoundationProtecting Consumers from FraudEp 162: The Victim Experience: When Romance Leads to Crypto ScamEp. 168: Investing Wisely in 2025: Avoiding Scams and Achieving Your Financial GoalsEp. 169: Unpacking the 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report Find us:  LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.

As the financial industry continues to evolve, it's important to stay ahead of emerging risks and trends. On this episode of FINRA Unscripted, the leaders of FINRA's new Strategic Intelligence and Analytics (StratIntel) team discuss how they are working to identify and analyze these industry developments.On this episode, we sit down with the leaders of the StratIntel team: Senior Vice President of Data and Analytics for Member Supervision Jim Reese, and his two Vice Presidents, Brita Bayatmakou and Clint Johnson. The three share insights on how this new team is evolving FINRA's approach to intelligence gathering and risk monitoring, and the innovative ways they are using data and analytics to support FINRA's mission of investor protection and market integrity.Resources mentioned in this episode:2025 Regulatory Oversight Report3110. SupervisionEpisode 168: Investing Wisely in 2025: Avoiding Scams and Achieving Your Financial GoalsEpisode 169: Unpacking FINRA’s 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report Find us:  LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.

As a self-regulatory organization, information sharing is key to FINRA's pursuit of its mission of investor protection and market integrity. The 2025 FINRA Regulatory Oversight Report provides just that: Critical insights to help firms strengthen their compliance and protect investors.On this episode, hosted by Member Relations and Education Vice President Kayte Toczylowski, FINRA’s regulatory leaders— Executive Vice President and Head of Member Supervision Greg Ruppert, Executive Vice President and Head of Market Regulation and Transparency Services Stephanie Dumont, and Executive Vice President and Head of Enforcement Bill St. Louis—join us to dive into the report’s takeaways and insights for member firms.Resources mentioned in this episode:2025 Regulatory Oversight ReportSEC Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI)5310. Best Execution and InterpositioningReg Notice 20-31: FINRA Reminds Firms of Their Supervisory Responsibilities Relating to CATInvestor Insights: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Investment FraudEpisode 168: Investing Wisely in 2025: Avoiding Scams and Achieving Your Financial Goals Find us:  LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.

Many of us view January as a time to make a fresh start, and as a time to bid farewell to bad habits. In thinking about your New Year's resolutions, have you considered whether you're making financially healthy decisions?On this episode, we sit down with Gerri Walsh, President of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation and Senior Vice President of Investor Education, to uncover the trends and tips investors need to get their finances in order for 2025. Resources mentioned in this episode:BrokerCheckMarket Data CenterFund AnalyzerFixed Income DataFINRA Investor Education FoundationProtecting Consumers from Fraud Find us:  LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.

Behind every market transaction lies a wealth of data. But how can we harness this information? On this episode, we sit down with two members of the Market Regulation and Transparency Services team, Senior Vice President of Strategic Regulatory Engagement Alex Ellenberg, and Senior Director of Transparency Services Equities Brendan Loonam. They join us to discuss periodic aggregate market data sets, including some new data recently added to FINRA's website, and how FINRA makes this information available to the public in support of its mission of investor protection and market integrity.Resources mentioned in this episode:FINRA DataOTC Transparency DataNMS Equity and Option Order Routing Reports (SEC Rule 606(a) Reports)About NMS Equity and Options Routing Reports (SEC 606(a) Reports)OTC (ATS & Non-ATS) TransparencyReg Notice 23-10: FINRA Requests Comment on a Proposal to Require Members to Provide Rule 605 Order Execution Quality Reports to FINRA for Centralized PublicationEpisode 149: MRTS 2.0: A Redesign for a Rapidly Evolving Market Find us:  LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.