Entitlement
1. How do I obtain access to submit Form PF?
Answer: Each investment adviser firm’s Super Account Administrator (SAA) can grant system entitlement to themselves and others at the firm, as well as to service providers that file the Form PF on the firm’s behalf. To grant access, use the existing Account Management interface in FINRA Gateway. Entitlement should include IARD View Organization and the necessary PFRD system privileges. If an SAA needs additional guidance, contact the FINRA Support Center at (240) 386-4848 for assistance.
2. What is the difference between a regular user account and a Web Services account?
Answer: A regular user account created by the firm’s SAA can be entitled to all PFRD system functions, including XML uploads. A user granted access through a Web Services account (i.e., machine-to-machine) can only make automated XML uploads, and cannot manually log in to the online FINRA Gateway system. Thus, these accounts are only recommended for firms that will file programmatically using a machine-to-machine connection. Note: the passwords for machine-to-machine accounts do not expire. Therefore, having one of these accounts in addition to your regular user accounts means resetting your account password will not affect the machine-to-machine connection.
Filing Online
3. My firm is working on a draft of the online version of Form PF in FINRA Gateway. How long can we leave our draft pending?
Answer: Draft Form PF filings can remain pending for up to 180 days after creation. Draft filings that remain pending for longer than 180 days are automatically deleted and cannot be recovered.
4. When I create an online draft of Form PF, I only see Section 1. How do I access the other sections to enter data for my funds?
Answer: To manage which sections display on a Form PF filing, users must navigate to the Private Fund List and mark the appropriate funds as “Updated in this filing” (see page 5 of the Filing Online Reference Guide). The applicable Form PF sections will then display on the left navigation panel based on the types of funds that the user selected for update.
XML Uploads
5. Where can I find the current Form PF XML schema and related documentation?
Answer: Separate zip files with XML schemas and related documentation for Form PF Sections 1-4 and Sections 5-6 are available on the PFRD User Support page. Specifications for uploading via FINRA’s fileX platform are also included along with the schema documentation.
6. Is technical guidance available for XML upload topics, such as supported actions and file size limits?
Answer: Yes. Please review the “Troubleshooting and FAQs” section of the fileX User Guide.
7. How long does it take for the PFRD system to process XML uploads and generate the corresponding feedback file containing the upload status and any error messages?
Answer: Depending on the size of the filing and current volume, the upload process can occur within a few seconds or take as long as an hour. Please note that, although uploads can be submitted 24/7, filings will only be processed during published IARD/PFRD available hours. Contact FINRA at (240) 386-4848 or [email protected] if you are experiencing longer wait times than indicated.
8. Where can a firm view all its successfully processed uploads?
Answer: Users can log into FINRA Gateway and review the Event History section at the bottom of the Firm Profile (see page 5 of the XML Upload Reference Guide).
9. Can I view XML filings online prior to submitting them?
Answer: No. XML filings can only be viewed by the filing adviser in a style sheet/form view after they are successfully submitted.
10. My firm is new to making XML loads. Is a test environment available where my firm can practice building XML files?
Answer: Yes. Users with current entitlement to upload Form PF may request corresponding testing access using this link. FINRA will confirm the requester’s current entitlement and provide testing information by email within a few business days. If your organization is not a registered firm with current Form PF access, please contact FINRA so we can assess your needs.