The National Association of Securities Delears has launched a new series of free, on-demand video webcasts for compliance professionals.

The first installment of the new “What to Expect” series focuses on what firms can expect before, during and after an NASD examination and offers practical tips for making the process go smoothly. The regulator says this webcast will be of particular interest to firms on a four-year examination cycle whose examinations are coming up, given significant changes in the regulatory environment in recent years.

Over the next year, the NASD plans to expand the series with installments focusing on enforcement investigations, disclosures, written supervisory procedures, advertising reviews, the handling of customer complaints and corporate finance filings.

Earlier this year, the NASD introduced free podcasts that highlight industry news, regulatory updates and hot compliance topics. Users can listen online or download to a portable digital media player or computer. Users can also sign up for a free subscription to receive new podcasts automatically.

“NASD, other regulators and Congress have responded to the scandals and excess of the post-bubble period with new rulemaking and broader efforts to protect investors and ensure market integrity,” said NASD vice chairman Mary Schapiro. “For securities firms, that has meant more rigorous – and broader – examinations and regulatory inquiries.

“At NASD, we have increased our focus on supporting firms’ compliance efforts through a number of programs, including this webcast series,” Schapiro said. “We want to inform firms, in plain English, about what NASD expects from them, and what they can expect from us. To achieve the goals of investor protection and market integrity, it’s crucial that firms be knowledgeable about their obligations and compliant with NASD and SEC rules – and we are committed to helping them do that.”