Will the Biden Administration’s SEC Enact More Regulations and Enforcement?
Gary Gensler, the elected chairman for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Biden administration, is notorious for his strict regulatory policies compared to the relatively lenient approach of Jay Clayton, former SEC chairman. Some financial experts predicted that under Gensler, the SEC’s new priorities would be investor protection and reduction of conflicts of […]
What is the SEC focusing on in 2021?
You may be wondering if you are on the list for an exam this year. Is it due time for your firm or are there any flags that are putting you on their radar? We’ve compiled a list of the priorities and focus that the SEC will have for 2021: Retail Investors, Including Seniors […]
Spring cleaning has begun – and the SEC is full steam ahead!
The SEC is moving beyond an adviser’s good faith effort to comply in the latest round of SEC Regulation Best Interest exams. While they can admit that there is still some learning and education to be done around this complex requirement, they still plan to ramp up on exams. This doesn’t necessarily mean enforcement letters […]
Thought 2020 (and all its glory) slowed the SEC Down? Think again.
On November 2nd, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Division of Enforcement (the “Division”) released their 2020 Annual Report. Contrary to popular belief, amidst all of the curveballs that 2020 threw our way (including the pandemic), the Division had a busy, record-breaking year of “vigorously enforc[ing] the federal securities laws to protect investors and […]
A holiday present from the SEC: The Marketing Rule
After 40 years since the adoption of the Investment Advisers Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced some long overdue changes to the rules regulating advertising (Rule 206(4)-1) and cash solicitation (Rule 206(4)-3). This holiday surprise from the SEC merges the two antiquated rules into a single “Marketing Rule” (the “Rule”), expands the definition of “advertisement” to permit testimonials and endorsements, addresses third-party ratings and performance advertising, […]
They’re setting their scope for the next kill
The SEC hasn’t slowed down their hunt for harmed investors. Oh, no. As of late, more than $3 million has been returned to said investors after the SEC settled actions against three investment advisory firms and two dually-registered broker-dealer and advisory firms for violations that related to unsuitable sales of complex exchange-traded products to retail […]
Social Dilemma: SEC Edition
With recent increase in the usage of electronic communication, we thought it necessary to touch on what the SEC is focusing their attention on. RIAs use various forms of electronic communication and its important to remember to comply with the Investment Advisers Act. There are certain obligations when personnel engage in electronic messaging. Here are […]
Now your advisors are working from home. So, have you reviewed their remote/branch office?
As more aggregation takes place in the industry, more firms are supervising advisors located throughout the country. With the pandemic, this trend has only expanded leaving the operations of the business to be conducted nationwide. The SEC has been reviewing this trend with great interest and growing concern. It has put in place initiatives to look at RIAs that are […]
