SEC Proposes Changes to Advertising and Solicitation Rules WHAT HAPPENED? On Nov. 4, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission released proposed amendments intended to modernize the advertising and solicitation rules under the Investment Advisers Act. After several decades of unchanged rulemakings, the Commission is in the process of amending [...]
Pair of Advisers Fined for Failing to Disclose Interest in Publicly Traded Company WHAT HAPPENED? On Sept. 24, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission released information that a registered investment adviser, Strategic Planning Group, and its principals, David Rourke and Jarrod Sherman, were charged for failing to disclose conflicts [...]
Company Charged with Violating Regulation ATS After Releasing Confidential Information WHAT HAPPENED? On Sept. 24, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission released information that TMC Bonds LLC, operator of an alternative trading system (ATS), will pay $2.1 million after being charged for failing to protect confidential information in violation [...]
Alaska Investment Adviser Ordered to Pay Over $400K in SEC Settlement WHAT HAPPENED? On July 24, 2019, the US Securities and Exchange Commission released a settlement with an Alaska investment adviser, which was penalized for its failure to properly disclose compensation conflicts to clients. Foundations Assets Management (FAM) and [...]
OCIE Releases Findings After Examining Firms Employing Persons with Disciplinary Histories WHAT HAPPENED? On July 23, 2019, the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) released a Risk Alert which outlines the findings of examinations of over 50 advisers in 2017. All the examined advisers were selected based on [...]
Regulation Best Interest: What You Should Know WHAT HAPPENED? On June 5, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted Regulation Best Interest (BI) which is intended to raise the standard of conduct for broker-dealers working with retail customers. The regulation had been under consideration since April 2018 and was [...]
SEC Adopts Rules and Interpretations Including Form CRS and Regulation Best Interest WHAT HAPPENED? On June 5, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced the adoption of a package of rules and interpretations intended to increase transparency for retail investors in their relationships with investment advisers and broker-dealers. The [...]
SEC Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations Announces 2018 Examination Priorities WHAT HAPPENED? On February 7, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) announced the 2018 examination priorities. The exam priorities are published to improve compliance, prevent fraud, monitor risk and implement policy. [...]
SEC Charges Purported Hedge Fund Manager with Fraud WHAT HAPPENED? On February 2nd, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission pressed charges against a hedge fund manager for fraud, ending an ongoing scheme. The SEC claims that since 2014 or earlier, the adviser collectively raised more than $5.3 million from [...]
Important Message from the SEC Regarding Annual Amendment Filing Deadline WHAT HAPPENED? Saturday, March 31st is the 90-day annual amendment deadline for Advisers with a Fiscal Year ending on December 31st, 2017. Please be advised that the Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD) system will be open on Saturday, March [...]