In the securities industry, the majority of all employment
disputes are resolved through binding arbitration. This mandatory
arbitration system is managed through a unique industry forum under
the self-regulatory entity Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(FINRA).
When disputes arise between brokers and investors, FINRA
administers the largest forum specifically designed to resolve
securities-related disputes between and among investors, securities
firms and individual brokers.1 In total, in FINRA there
were 3,435 arbitrations filed in 2015, 3,822 in 2014, 3,714 in 2013
and 4,299 in 2012.2 Most of the arbitrations handled by
FINRA's Dispute Resolution arbitration process - roughly 60% to
70% of the cases filed - are disputes between customers and the
brokers and securities firms that handle their
investments.3