Form U4 (Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration)
Form U4 is the registration form that individuals must complete to become associated with a FINRA member firm and obtain required securities licenses, including personal, employment, and disclosure history.
Exam Tip
U4 = registration to START. U5 = termination. Update U4 within 30 DAYS of changes. Disclosure questions are critical!
What is Form U4?
Form U4 (Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer) is the form used to register individuals with FINRA member firms, self-regulatory organizations (SROs), and state securities regulators. It's the gateway to working in the securities industry.
U4 Key Sections
| Section | Information Required |
|---|---|
| Personal Data | Name, address, SSN, date of birth |
| Employment History | 10-year work history |
| Disclosure Questions | Criminal, regulatory, civil, financial |
| Registrations Requested | Which licenses being sought |
| Jurisdictions | States where registering |
Disclosure Questions (DRPs)
Must disclose (with Disclosure Reporting Pages):
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Criminal | Felonies, certain misdemeanors |
| Regulatory | SEC, FINRA, state actions |
| Civil | Investment-related lawsuits |
| Customer Complaints | Written complaints, arbitrations |
| Terminations | Fired, permitted to resign, internal review |
| Financial | Bankruptcies, liens, judgments |
10-Year History Lookback
| Item | Lookback Period |
|---|---|
| Employment | 10 years |
| Residential | 5 years |
| Criminal matters | 10 years (felonies may be longer) |
| Customer complaints | Lifetime for some items |
Filing Process
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Individual completes U4 with sponsoring firm |
| 2 | Firm reviews and files via Web CRD |
| 3 | Fingerprint processing |
| 4 | SRO/state review |
| 5 | Registration approved or deficient |
Updating U4
30-Day Rule: Must update U4 within 30 days if:
- Address changes
- New disclosure event
- Employment changes
- Name changes
BrokerCheck
U4 information (except SSN) is publicly available through:
- FINRA BrokerCheck
- State securities regulators
- CRD system
Study This Term In
Related Terms
Form U5 (Uniform Termination Notice)
SecuritiesForm U5 is the form filed when a registered representative leaves a FINRA member firm, documenting the reason for termination and any disclosure events that must be reported.
FINRA
GeneralFINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) is a self-regulatory organization that oversees broker-dealers and their registered representatives, administering qualification exams and enforcing securities rules.
Broker-Dealer
GeneralA broker-dealer is a financial firm that buys and sells securities for its customers (broker) and for its own account (dealer), regulated by FINRA and the SEC.