Compliance Rules

Part 3 - Compliance Procedures

RULE 3-14. PENALTIES.

[Effective date of amendments: December 8, 1987; July 30, 1990; March 15, 1994 and August 31, 2020.]

(a) Types of Penalties.

The Business Conduct Committee, BCC Panel or Hearing Panel, or the Appeals Committee on appeal or review, may at the conclusion of the disciplinary proceeding impose one or more of the following penalties:

(i) Expulsion, or suspension for a specified period, from NFA membership; a two-thirds vote of the members of the Hearing Panel or the Appeals Committee present and voting shall be required for expulsion. A suspended Member shall be liable for dues and assessments but shall have no membership rights during the suspension period nor shall a suspended Member hold itself out as an NFA Member during the suspension period;

(ii) Bar or suspension for a specified period from association with a Member;

(iii) Censure or reprimand;

(iv) A monetary fine, not to exceed $500,000 per violation;

(v) Order to cease and desist; and

(vi) Any other fitting penalty or remedial action not inconsistent with this rule.

(b) Authority of Appeals Committee to Alter Penalty.

The Appeals Committee may increase, decrease or set aside the penalties that were imposed by the Hearing Panel, or may impose other and different penalties, as it sees fit, subject to the requirements and limitations in paragraph (a) above.

(c) Payment of Fines.

All fines shall be paid to the NFA Treasurer within 30 days of the date of the decision or within the time prescribed in the decision, and may be used for general NFA purposes. A person who fails to pay a fine on time may, after seven days written notice, be summarily suspended from membership or association with a Member, by order of the President, until the fine is paid.