ProEquities CEO Chris Flint Proclaims Run for FINRA Board Seat

Chris Flint, the President and CEO of the Birmingham, Ala.-based RIA and dealer/seller agency ProEquities is campaigning for a Massive Companies seat on the FINRA Board of Governors. He’s been endorsed by the Monetary Providers Institute (FSI) and the Financial institution Insurance coverage & Securities Affiliation (BISA), two distinguished advocacy organizations for monetary advisors; it's the first time the latter has endorsed a candidate for the FINRA Board.

Flint first thought of a run one yr in the past and determined to commit after consulting with friends and commerce teams. He advised WealthManagement.com he believed the board wanted extra illustration from corporations devoted to delivering monetary recommendation to buyers.

“Once you look throughout the general public governors and also you look throughout the trade governors, there must be a stronger weighting in direction of board members with an array of experiences that may extra broadly signify the range of corporations that make up the big agency members,” he mentioned.

Flint joined ProEquities, a subsidiary of Protecting Life Company, in 2015 (he was one in all WealthManagement.com’s “Ten to Watch” in 2016). Previous to becoming a member of ProEquities, Flint was President of Lincoln Monetary Securities and a Senior Vice President at Securities America. He might be working for the seat presently occupied by Andrew Duff, who served as Chairman at Piper Jaffray & Co. till retiring in Could of this yr.

In January, Flint joined FSI’s Board of Administrators after having beforehand served on the group’s Advertising Development and Growth Council. FSI President Dale Brown mentioned Flint would deliver each a “new stage of vitality and recent views,” coupled with greater than 20 years of trade expertise.

“We're assured that Chris will deliver the imaginative and prescient FINRA wants, together with a powerful dedication to strengthening range throughout our trade,” he mentioned.

Flint mentioned he would work to finish rulemaking by enforcement, arguing it was troublesome for corporations to function after they had been penalized for actions that had been dedicated previous to the dates when corporations had been knowledgeable the foundations had been altering. He additionally mentioned the Board of Governors would play an vital function as Regulation Greatest Curiosity’s passage reverberates all through trade within the years to come back. Flint mentioned he was a “huge proponent” of the brand new rule and believed the Board would assist decide how FINRA member corporations ought to act, with interpretive steerage possible as Reg BI comes into impact. Since he has a long time remaining in his personal profession, Flint argued he was notably vested within the selections the board would make.

“I believe it’s equally vital the board has, on this explicit spot, somebody who's actively engaged within the enterprise and might be a part of the results of how the board influences FINRA as a complete,” Flint mentioned.

Flint’s candidacy marks the third write-in poll marketing campaign supported by FSI up to now 4 years. In 2015, FSI supported the marketing campaign of Kovack Securities Co-Founder and President Brian Kovack, and in 2018 FSI endorsed Jim Nagengast, President of Securities America. In accordance with FSI Director of Communications Chris Paulitz, the candidates signify a brand new perspective for the regulatory company and mentioned the regulatory company had moved in direction of extra transparency and communication with teams like FSI lately.

Ballots began going out to FINRA members July 19. Members can have till Aug. 19 to mail their accomplished ballots again to the company.