Regulatory oversight should support execution, not slow it down. Finalis combines experienced broker-dealer regulatory oversight with an integrated compliance and deal management platform purpose-built for M&A and capital raises.
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HOW IT WORKS
Trusted Compliance Expertise
Rely on broker-dealer compliance expertise built for elite M&A bankers and placement agents.
One Connected Technology Environment
We bring core compliance and transaction workflows into one platform. So you can track deal workflow from engagement letter to that final payment.
Join Peers and Partners
Expand your network, find new deal opportunities, and access institutional-grade tools.
What is broker-dealer affiliation?
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Broker-dealer affiliation is an arrangement where an independent investment banking professional registers as a representative under an existing FINRA-registered broker-dealer, rather than forming and operating their own. The affiliated broker-dealer provides the regulatory infrastructure (FINRA registration, supervision, compliance review) while the advisor runs their client practice independently.
Why do independent M&A advisors need a broker-dealer?
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FINRA requires that most investment banking activities involving securities transactions, including any capital raising and most M&A advisory work, must be conducted through a FINRA-registered broker-dealer. Independent M&A advisors and placement agents affiliate with a broker-dealer to maintain FINRA registration, access securities transaction capabilities, and operate in compliance with federal securities law.
How does broker-dealer affiliation with Finalis work?
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Affiliation with Finalis means registering as a representative under Finalis Securities, a FINRA-registered broker-dealer. You receive access to Finalis' compliance infrastructure, deal submission tools, AI-assisted engagement letter review, and an integrated data room. Your clients, deals, and business relationships remain yours. Finalis provides the regulatory framework your practice operates within.
What does Finalis provide to affiliated M&A advisors?
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Finalis provides FINRA-registered broker-dealer backing, a structured deal compliance workflow, AI-assisted engagement letter review, a data room designed for M&A and capital raise transactions, and access to a network of affiliated deal professionals. These capabilities are built into a single platform designed around the deal lifecycle.
How does deal compliance work at Finalis?
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When a deal is submitted through the Finalis platform, it goes through a structured compliance review process designed to support FINRA requirements for investment banking transactions. AI-assisted tools review engagement letters and flag items that need attention before they create delays. The review creates the documentation trail required for FINRA books and records compliance, so the compliance work and the deal record are built simultaneously rather than separately.
What is the difference between owning a broker-dealer and affiliating with one?
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Operating your own broker-dealer requires forming a FINRA-registered entity, hiring a chief compliance officer, maintaining net capital requirements, and managing ongoing regulatory filings. This translates into significant operational overhead for a deal-focused practice. Affiliating with an established broker-dealer like Finalis means accessing those regulatory capabilities without building and maintaining them yourself.
Are there constraints to broker-dealer affiliation I should know about?
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Affiliation means operating as a registered representative under Finalis Securities, which carries FINRA supervision requirements. Certain transaction types require compliance review and pre-approval before proceeding, and activity records are subject to regulatory review. Transaction-based compensation, including success fees, must also flow through the affiliated broker-dealer rather than be received independently. These requirements apply at every FINRA-registered broker-dealer. Finalis' compliance workflow is designed to support these requirements with minimal disruption to an active deal practice.
Can international investment firms access US markets through Finalis?
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Foreign investment firms and advisors can access US markets through a Rule 15a-6 chaperoning arrangement with a US broker-dealer, a FINRA-compliant structure that does not require the foreign firm to obtain its own US registration. Finalis provides 15a-6 chaperoning services for foreign firms seeking compliant entry into US capital markets.
What makes Finalis different from other broker-dealer affiliates?
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With 440+ affiliated firms*, 900+ members, and 700+ deals closed on the platform, Finalis is one of the largest and most active broker-dealer affiliates for M&A and capital raising in the US. What sets it apart is the combination of live deal operational expertise, dedicated customer success and compliance support, and an integrated compliance and dealflow platform built specifically for independent investment banking practices, not adapted from retail brokerage infrastructure.
*As of June 18, 2026. Closed deals are all deals closed on our platform within the defined period. Members include all registered representatives (RRs), non-registered persons (NRPs), non-registered fingerprints (NRFs), and Foreign Associated Persons (FAPs)