Finra turns a profit, helped by investments, fee increases

The Financial Industry regulatory Authority Inc. eked out a profit of $10.5 million last year, reversing an $84 million loss from 2011 with the help of fee increases, cost cutting and improved investment returns from its $1.6 billion portfolio. “Financially, 2012 was a solid year,” said chief executive Richard Ketchum in Finra's annual report, released late today. "Our improved results reflect the fee increases we implemented during the year as well as our efforts to control costs.” Still, on an operating basis, the organization lost $89.2 million last year, a slight improvement from the $89.8 million operating loss posted in 2011. A year ago, as a result of the ongoing losses from lower regulatory fees and higher costs from its NYSE integration, Finra announced a series of fee increases for member firms. Those fee hikes are now “expected to yield nearly $60 million in annual incremental revenues and better position FINRA financially for the next few years,” Mr. Ketchum wrote. Finra cut costs by $25 million last year, and expects to achieve another $12 million to $15 million in cost savings this year. Mr. Ketchum's own pay fell 2% last year, to a total of $2,629,705, compared with 2011. His salary held steady at $1 million and his bonus rose to $1.25 million from $1.2 million in 2011. His deferred compensation declined last year to $340,201 from $451,174 in 2011. Todd Diganci, chief financial officer and the second-highest paid Finra executive, took home a total of $1,246,523 last year, up 2% from 2011. Robert Colby, who joined Finra a year ago in June as chief legal officer, was paid $259,615 in salary last year, and received a bonus of $300,000 for 2012 that was paid early this year. Mr. Colby's annual base salary is $500,000, the same as Mr. Diganci's. Finra's net revenues in 2012, at $878.6 million, were flat from the prior year. Decreases in dispute-resolution fees and lower fine revenue offset the gains from higher member-firm fees. But gains of $59.1 million on its investment portfolio put the organization into the black. Finra dramatically reduced risk in its portfolio following huge losses after the financial crisis in 2008. As of year-end, 63% of its investment assets were allocated to high-quality bonds and cash, 20% in equities, and 13% in alternatives. On the enforcement end, Finra brought 1,541 disciplinary actions against registered representatives and firms last year, levying fines of more than $69 million and restitution of $34 million, the report said. The regulator also expelled 30 firms, barred 294 individuals and suspended 549 brokers.