The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has issued guidance to financial advisers and their firms, stating what it perceives to be “recurring challenges” and announcing its “Areas of Focus for 2015.” Let’s examine the key points. As a preliminary matter, FINRA comments that, over the past decade, it has witnessed “tremendous changes to firms, markets and regulation.” While many changes have been “positive,” there continue to be challenges. FINRA …