what is arbitration 
arbitration is a mechanism for resolving disputes between investors and brokers or between brokers it is overseen by the financial industry regulatory authority finra and the decisions are final and binding arbitration is distinct from mediation in which parties negotiate to reach a voluntary settlement and decisions are not binding unless all parties agree to them arbitration is not the same as filing an investor complaint in which an investor alleges wrongdoing on the part of a broker but has no specific dispute with that broker for which the investor seeks damages 