The first half of 2025 brought many new challenges for firms. Regulators raised their expectations, and firms were under greater pressure to get things right the first time. Many companies—especially broker-dealers—felt the weight of stricter rules and more frequent updates. They had to move quickly to keep their reporting accurate and their processes up to date.
During this period, the importance of strong regulatory compliance became even more evident. It was not just about avoiding trouble—it was about earning client trust and staying fully compliant. At Capital Market Solutions, we believe the year has been challenging yet promising so far. Let’s look back at the first half of the year, highlight key changes and challenges, and explain how solutions like RSMS helped firms stay on track. As we reflect on the past few months, it’s a good time for companies to assess what worked, identify areas for improvement, and prepare for the rest of the year.
The Regulatory Landscape So Far in 2025
Since January, regulators, especially FINRA, have raised the bar for CAT and CAIS reporting. It’s no longer enough to simply submit reports; now, successful compliance is judged by how quickly and accurately firms deliver complete data. Submissions that once passed FINRA muster without issue are now carefully reviewed for even small reporting errors or gaps. Regulators want more than just accuracy—they are digging deeper and expect firms to demonstrate the ability to cross-check CAT reports against Trading transactions, think proactive risk detection, audit-ready systems, and instant insight into compliance health.
Legacy systems and spreadsheet workarounds are simply not up to these challenges anymore. In today’s environment, there is too much at risk and too little room for mistakes. Firms need to move beyond patchwork solutions and consider advanced reporting and compliance tools like RSMS to keep pace, prevent errors, and protect their reputation in this demanding regulatory climate.
RSMS’s Role in Navigating Compliance
Imagine a platform where compliance isn’t an afterthought; it’s the core of your firm’s compliance posture. That’s what RSMS delivers. Our cloud-based, regtech solution consolidates your CAT and CAIS reporting, links with trading transactions, tracks every detail, and immediately flags gaps or errors, often before your compliance team even spots them.
RSMS isn’t just about checking the boxes. It’s about giving you total visibility into your compliance landscape, comprehensive dashboards for every reporting milestone, and audit trails. Instead of spending nights tracking down late filings or hunting for missing info, your compliance team can focus on moving the business forward. Its proactive insights help firms respond to regulatory inquiries confidently while also equipping teams with data to make informed, risk-aware decisions. By making compliance processes error-free, audit-ready, and seamlessly reportable, RSMS delivers both peace of mind and a strategic edge.
But here’s the real payoff: RSMS keeps evolving. As FINRA and other regulators roll out new rules (and you know they will!), RSMS updates, so you’re never caught flat-footed.
Preparing for the Second Half of 2025 & Beyond
Looking ahead, firms should prepare for even more granular FINRA CAT and FINRA CAIS requirements. Regulators are expected to assess not only data accuracy and completeness but also the timeliness and effectiveness of internal controls. RSMS recommends doubling down on key principles: sustainability, transparency, and agility.
Modern compliance isn’t just about responding to changes, it’s about building resilient systems that can evolve with them. Investing in scalable regtech today ensures that the regulatory demands of the second half of 2025 and beyond can be met without disruption. Platforms like RSMS position firms not just for anticipated changes but also for unknowns, including unexpected rule updates or industry-wide events impacting data integrity.
Final Thoughts
Regulatory change will only accelerate. The stakes are only set to rise in the second half of 2025, with more granular requirements and tighter oversight. Firms relying on manual processes or legacy systems risk falling behind and increasing their exposure to regulatory and reputational risks.
RSMS by Capital Market Solutions is more than a regtech solution—it’s a strategic enabler. It offers visibility, control, and readiness, allowing firms to transform compliance from a burden into a competitive advantage. Now is the time to reassess your regulatory compliance approach, refine your strategy, and invest in a regtech solution designed not only for today’s needs but for tomorrow’s growth. Don’t wait for year-end, partner with RSMS and lead with confidence in an increasingly complex regulatory world.