Bettina Eckerle – B.E. Compliance, LLC

Lawmakers, led by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., are calling on SEC Chairmen Mary Jo White, to ban what they call “unfair” arbitration agreements. They have specifically asked the SEC to use its authority under Section 921 of the…more

The SEC extended the compliance deadline for certain large trader recordkeeping, reporting and monitoring requirements to November 1 of 2013. The second phase of the implementation was originally scheduled to take effect on May…more

Lawmakers, led by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., are calling on SEC Chairmen Mary Jo White, to ban what they call “unfair” arbitration agreements. They have specifically asked the SEC to use its authority under Section 921 of the…more

Complex products remain one of FINRA’s top compliance concerns, according to CEO Richard Ketchum. Other areas of interest cited by Ketchum included conflicts of interest and exams. …more

Crowd funding is ubiquitous these days. Success stories abound. No wonder, according to the Crowdsourcing.org report for 2012, crowd funding levels reached $2.6 billion in 2012 and are expected to almost double in 2013. I…more

The SEC had social media buzzing again.  In March, the agency issued updated social media guidelines for investment companies use of sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.  They specifically address the obligation to seek…more

The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) recently announced it legislative priorities for the upcoming year. Not surprisingly, advisers are front and center. NASAA’s membership consists of the…more

Complaints about brokers, including allegations of minor misconduct, could soon be widely available to the public. The SEC recently published a proposed FINRA rule that would change how disciplinary and other information is…more

When registering with state securities regulators, advisers are generally asked to disclose certain criminal convictions in their past. However, this information is generally subject to the “honor system.” …more

Complaints about brokers, including allegations of minor misconduct, could soon be widely available to the public. The SEC recently published a proposed FINRA rule that would change how disciplinary and other information is…more

When registering with state securities regulators, advisers are generally asked to disclose certain criminal convictions in their past. However, this information is generally subject to the “honor system.” In Massachusetts,…more

The SEC is warning advisers that it is increasingly finding violations of the custody rule, which is designed to protect advisory clients from the misuse or misappropriation of their funds and securities. In fact, a review of…more

Less than one month after announcing its enforcement priorities, the SEC is planning its first round of “sweeps.” Speaking at an Investment Adviser Association conference on March 8, the Deputy Director of the SEC’s Office of…more

Less than one month after announcing its enforcement priorities, the SEC is planning its first round of “sweeps.”  Speaking at an Investment Adviser Association conference on March 8, the Deputy Director of the SEC’s Office of…more

Mary Jo White’s roots as a federal prosecutor were evident in her prepared remarks in March before the Senate Banking Committee. If confirmed, she promised to create a “bold and unrelenting” enforcement program at the…more