Broker-Dealer Compliance for Cost-Effective CAT Reporting

From regulatory pressure to confident compliance - a leading broker-dealer faced SEC Rule 613 CAT reporting requirements. Learn how Sparq conducted a comprehensive CAT reporting build vs. buy analysis, guiding the client to a cost-effective broker-dealer compliance solution that reduced risk, saved money, and ensured timely reporting.

AIBusiness & Technology ConsultingProduct Engineering Case Study
Sparq
Insights from Sparq
january 14, 2025 — 2 minute read

Services/solutions

Business & Technology ConsultingProduct Engineering

Technology

  • AI

Challenge: Navigating CAT Reporting Under SEC Rule 613

A leading broker-dealer needed to comply with SEC Rule 613 for cash equities trading but faced uncertainty about the best approach. Should they build a custom CAT reporting solution or purchase a vendor product? With tight regulatory deadlines, cost concerns, and operational efficiency at stake, they needed an expert partner to evaluate every angle and minimize compliance risk.

Solution: Comprehensive Build vs. Buy Assessment

Sparq delivered a strategic, side-by-side analysis to empower an informed decision:

  • Evaluated Custom Build Requirements: Assessed development effort, maintenance needs, and long-term scalability.
  • Reviewed Vendor Solutions: Compared reliability, cost, and integration capabilities of third-party CAT tools.
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis: Balanced risk reduction, compliance timelines, and total cost of ownership.
  • Tailored Recommendation: Matched the optimal solution to the broker-dealer’s specific trading and operational environment.

Results: Risk Reduction, Cost Savings, Timely Compliance

The broker-dealer adopted our recommendation to purchase a proven vendor solution, achieving:

  • Reduced Risk: Leveraged a scalable product with a strong compliance track record.
  • Lower Costs: Avoided significant upfront build expenses and ongoing maintenance overhead.
  • On-Time Compliance: Met SEC deadlines without diverting resources from critical trading operations.

Services/solutions

Business & Technology ConsultingProduct Engineering
Sparq

Sparq is an AI-accelerated product engineering firm that drives business results for clients in industries including transportation & logistics and financial services.