Capital Market Solutions

  Navigating the complexities of FINRA’s  Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT)  has become one of the most difficult, resource-intensive compliance challenges for broker-dealers. Daily submissions, clock synchronization rules, error repair cycles, lifecycle reporting, CAIS validations — the requirements are expanding, the timelines are shrinking, and exam scrutiny is increasing. For years, many firms relied on basic reporting pipelines or legacy systems that simply “submit and store” data. But in today’s regulatory environment, this approach is no longer enough. CAT compliance is no longer just about sending data — it’s about  governance, oversight, reconciliation, exception management, and proving control . This is exactly the gap RSMS Vault fills. It moves firms beyond a submission-only mindset and into a modern CAT compliance framework where accuracy, automation, transparency, and reduced exposure are built directly into the system. The Limitations of Legacy CAT Reporti...

  SEC Rule 17a-4   remains a cornerstone of regulatory compliance for broker-dealers, governing how critical business records must be retained, accessed, and produced during audits and examinations. As regulatory expectations evolve with technology, understanding and applying 17a-4 correctly is no longer just about storage — it’s about strategic risk management and future-ready operations. This guide covers what every broker-dealer should know in 2025 to stay compliant and ahead of regulatory scrutiny. 1. SEC 17a-3 vs. 17a-4: Building a Robust Compliance Foundation While SEC Rule 17a-3 defines what records broker-dealers must create, 17a-4 governs how long those records must be kept and the conditions under which they must be securely stored, retrievable, and protected against alteration or deletion. Compliance teams must integrate these rules to ensure their full record lifecycle is covered — from creation to secure retention and audit production. 2. Modernizing Recordkeeping...

  When it comes to regulatory operations, broker-dealers operate under some of the most demanding recordkeeping standards in the financial industry. Among these,   SEC Rule 17a-4   is one of the most critical — shaping how firms preserve electronic records, manage audit readiness, and maintain operational transparency. But in today’s interconnected regulatory landscape, Rule 17a-4 no longer exists in isolation. Broker-dealers must also meet the requirements of   FINRA CAT   and broader   Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) Compliance , which depend on accurate, tamper-proof books and records. If your retention systems aren’t aligned with 17a-4, they won’t support CAT accuracy either — creating a serious compliance risk. Why SEC Rule 17a-4 Still Defines Broker-Dealer Preparedness Rule 17a-4 sets the standards for   preserving   critical records — everything from order tickets and customer account records to electronic communications and operational docu...

  We’re all operating in a market where regulations evolve quickly, trading activity is increasingly complex, and compliance teams are stretched thinner than ever. It’s not just the rules — it’s the data, the reconciliations, the follow-ups, and the constant pressure to demonstrate control effectiveness. Compliance leaders tell us the same thing: too many disconnected tools, too many manual checks, and not enough time to actually manage risk. That’s exactly why Capital Market Solutions built  RSMS , a unified, cloud-based Regulatory Surveillance and Management System designed to simplify oversight across reporting regimes — especially  Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) compliance  and  FINRA CAT  validation.  RSMS  brings surveillance, data validation, and regulatory reporting workflows together so firms can reduce operational friction and strengthen confidence with regulators and stakeholders. The RSMS Advantage: Unified, Cloud-Based, and Built for ...