The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has announced the appointment of Stephen Luparello as a public governor on its Board of Governors, a move that has reignited debates about the organization’s governance and its perceived ties to major financial institutions.
Luparello, who served as Managing Director and General Counsel of Citadel Securities from 2017 until his retirement in 2022, may bring a wealth of experience from both regulatory and industry roles.
However, his appointment has drawn sharp criticism from retail investors, who argue it underscores deep-seated conflicts of interest within FINRA’s structure, further eroding trust in the regulator.
Will retail investors continue to get screwed by our very own regulating bodies?
Here’s what’s happening.
Luparello’s Extensive Regulatory and Industry Background
Stephen Luparello’s appointment, announced on May 21, 2025, marks his return to FINRA, where he previously spent 16 years in senior regulatory positions, including Vice Chairman overseeing examination, enforcement, market regulation, international, and disclosure programs.
Before joining Citadel Securities, Luparello served as Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Trading & Markets from 2014 to 2017, where he shaped policies related to secondary markets and intermediaries.
FINRA Board Chair Scott Curtis praised Luparello’s “deep understanding of securities regulation and markets,” emphasizing that his experience across public and private sectors will be “invaluable” in advancing FINRA’s mission of protecting investors and ensuring market integrity.
FINRA CEO Robert Cook echoed this sentiment, noting the Board of Governors’ critical role in enhancing the organization’s effectiveness.
Luparello’s resume also includes serving as Chief of Staff to then-Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro from 1994 to 1996, and he currently holds positions as a Public Director and Chairman of the Options Clearing Corporation’s Board of Directors, as well as an independent director on the Bloomberg Swap Execution Facility.
These roles highlight his extensive influence within financial regulation, but they also fuel concerns about the revolving door between regulatory bodies and Wall Street giants.
Retail Investors Cry Foul Over Conflicts of Interest
The appointment has sparked significant backlash among retail investors, particularly those active on social media platforms like X, who view Luparello’s ties to Citadel Securities—a firm repeatedly fined by FINRA for trading violations—as a glaring conflict of interest.
Citadel Securities, a major market maker, was fined $700,000 in 2020 for allegedly shirking rules against trading ahead of customer orders and failing to comply with other requirements.
In 2023, Citadel was fined $7 million by the SEC for incorrectly marking short sales as long, and vice versa.
More recently, in October 2024, FINRA imposed a ‘slap on the wrist’ $1 million fine on Citadel Securities for failing to accurately or timely report tens of billions of equity and option orders to the consolidated audit trail.
Posts on X reflect the growing distrust among retail investors.
One user, @anna_trades, commented, “FINRA IS THE PLAYER, THE REFEREE, AND THE STADIUM. They hide trades, regulate themselves, and answer to NO ONE,” suggesting that FINRA’s dual role as a regulator and operator of market utilities creates an environment ripe for conflicts.
Another post described FINRA’s governance as “the fox eating all the hens,” highlighting conflicts of interest within FINRA’s board.
These sentiments underscore a broader perception that FINRA prioritizes the interests of powerful financial institutions over those of retail investors.
Will FINRA ever gain the trust from retail investors?
FINRA’s Trust Deficit with Retail Investors
FINRA is tasked with regulating brokerage firms, enforcing compliance with securities laws, and protecting investors.
However, its self-regulatory model, which allows the industry to police itself under SEC oversight, has long been a point of contention.
Retail investors argue that FINRA’s board, which includes representatives from the very firms it regulates, inherently favors industry interests.
The controversy surrounding Luparello’s appointment is not an isolated incident.
In 2024, the D.C. Circuit debated FINRA’s constitutional authority, with some judges questioning whether the organization operates too much like a government agency without sufficient oversight.
A partially divided panel blocked FINRA from expelling Alpine Securities Corp. from its membership while the firm challenged FINRA’s constitutionality, highlighting ongoing legal scrutiny of the regulator’s powers.
Retail investors have also pointed to FINRA’s history of leniency toward major players like Citadel Securities.
Despite multiple fines, critics argue that the penalties are insufficient to deter misconduct, given the firms’ vast profits.
This perception is compounded by FINRA’s operation of market utilities like the OTC Bulletin Board and other trade-reporting systems, which some investors believe enables the organization to obscure market activities.
Luparello’s appointment comes at a time when FINRA is under pressure to demonstrate its commitment to investor protection.
The organization has launched initiatives like FINRA Forward to improve its effectiveness and efficiency, and it recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Securities Helpline for Seniors, which has recovered over $9.3 million for investors.
Yet, these efforts have done little to quell skepticism among retail investors, who view appointments like Luparello’s as evidence of a system rigged in favor of Wall Street.
The composition of FINRA’s 22-member Board of Governors, with 12 public seats, 10 industry seats, and one reserved for the CEO, is intended to balance perspectives.
However, critics argue that the line between “public” and “industry” governors is blurred when individuals like Luparello, with deep ties to both sectors, are appointed.
This revolving door raises questions about impartiality, particularly when former industry executives transition to roles overseeing the same firms they once represented.
So, what’s next?
Calls for Reform and Transparency
Retail investors and advocacy groups are calling for reforms to address FINRA’s perceived conflicts of interest.
Suggestions include increasing transparency in board appointments, imposing stricter rules on the revolving door between industry and regulatory roles, and even enhancing SEC oversight to ensure FINRA prioritizes retail investors.
Some have even proposed restructuring FINRA’s self-regulatory model to reduce industry influence.
For now, Luparello’s appointment is set to proceed, with his term beginning immediately.
As FINRA navigates this latest controversy, the organization faces an uphill battle to restore trust among retail investors who feel marginalized by a system they believe is stacked against them.
Whether Luparello can leverage his experience to bridge this divide remains to be seen, but for many, his appointment is a stark reminder of the challenges inherent in self-regulation.
Back to Retail Investor News.
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