Which of the following entities is the securities industry organization that protects customer brokerage accounts against loss in the case of the financial failure of a member firm?

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) primarily insures deposits in U.S. banks and savings institutions. It protects depositors against the loss of their insured deposits, but it does not provide coverage for securities held in brokerage accounts, which is the specific context of this question.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is a self-regulatory organization that oversees brokerage firms and exchange markets. While it plays a vital role in regulating the securities industry and ensuring market integrity, it does not provide insurance or protection for customer brokerage accounts.

The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) is an organization of state securities regulators that focuses on investor protection and education. Although it works to enforce securities laws and regulations, it does not offer the financial protection against loss in brokerage accounts that SIPC provides.