If you cannot answer this question, you may have an issue when you have your next FINRA exam. After all, firm culture is a FINRA exam priority. Does your firm have a culture of compliance?

This question only leads to another; what is a culture of compliance. For one, this is something that has to resonate from the top down. If senior management ascribes to uphold firm compliance, that should promote the "culture of compliance."

For example, does senior leadership enforce the firm's written supervisory processes and procedures? In doing so, does senior management hold everyone accountable the same way, or are exceptions made for the "big producers". If exceptions are made, you are not promoting a culture of compliance.

Does senior management ensure that there is adequate training of all personnel? There should be a robust and mandatory training program to account for changes to the rules and to make your personnel aware of risks and how to avoid them; one of the biggest being data security.

These are only two of many considerations for assessing whether there is a culture of compliance. The key in it all is leadership from the top. After all, people cannot follow a leader who does not lead. Be a leader.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.