[WEBINAR] Annual Labor & Employment Update
FINRA held its bi-annual Cybersecurity Conference in January and recently published five take-away real-world experiences from the conference...more
ethikos 34, no. 2 (February 2020) - In January, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced its 2020 examination priorities, published annually “to enhance the transparency of its examination program and to...more
The 2020 Examination Priorities of the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission were announced on January 7, 2020, and cover eight broad topics: - Protection...more
The Situation: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations ("OCIE") issued its 2020 examination priorities ("Exam Priorities"). The Result: The Exam Priorities...more
The Exam Priorities of the SEC’s Office of Inspections and Compliance or OCIE, announced on January 7, 2020 (the “Exam Priorities”), should be a key area of focus for every investment advisor and investment company. The Exam...more
Financial institutions and their employees may be subject to the following federal pay-to-play rules: SEC Rule 206(4)-5 for investment advisers; CFTC Rule 23.451 for commodities-backed swap dealers; FINRA Rule 2030 for...more
Recently, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) noted in its quarterly compliance newsletter dated June 8, 2018 that it has “compliance concerns” regarding issuer-solicited charitable donations. The MSRB’s...more
On February 7, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) released its 2018 examination priorities. This year’s priorities comprise five principal areas: (1)...more
This year’s examination priorities of the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) were announced on February 6, 2018, and cover five broad, albeit...more
On January 8 and February 7, 2018, respectively, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)...more
On February 7, 2018, the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) published its 2018 examination priorities. OCIE’s examination priorities are...more
On September 19, 2016, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board ("MSRB") advised Congress that it had "just concluded development of a core regulatory framework for municipal advisors." This by no means signals a significant...more
The SEC announced August 25 that it approved FINRA’s pay-to-play rules governing placement-agent or solicitor broker-dealers and was “prepared” to approve the extension of MSRB Rule G-37 to municipal advisors as well....more
As the elections approach nationwide, advisers to private investment funds with current or prospective state or local government entity investors should be mindful of political activities by their personnel which could raise...more
Direct lending by banks has proliferated in the $3.7 trillion municipal bond market as states, local governments and non-profits find that they can borrow, in the form of direct loans, at interest rates comparable to those on...more
On November 6, 2015, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved amendments by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) to MSRB Rule G-20 regarding gifts, gratuities and non-cash compensation. The...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently published for comments rules proposed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”) to regulate...more
Regulatory Developments - SEC Grants Exemption from Registration as a Clearing Agency to Two Matching Service Providers - On Nov. 24 the SEC approved applications by Bloomberg STP LLC and SS&C Technologies, Inc....more
Regulatory Developments - MSRB Publishes Compliance Advisory for Municipal Advisors: On Nov. 12 the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) published its first municipal advisor compliance advisory, developed...more
SEC Municipal Advisor Examination Initiative - The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) recently updated the National Association of Municipal Advisors on...more
Below is a summary of recent investment management developments that affect registered investment companies, private equity funds, hedge funds, investment advisers, and others in the investment management industry. Schwab...more
Proposed Amendments to MSRB Rule G-20 - On September 2, 2015, the MSRB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed amendments to Rule G-20, with conforming changes to related recordkeeping Rules G-8...more
Regulatory Developments: DOL Releases Transcripts of Fiduciary Standard Hearings - The Department of Labor (DOL) has released the transcripts of the hearings held by the agency in August on its proposed fiduciary...more
On June 25, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) set a compliance date of July 31, 2015 for the ban on payments to third parties for the solicitation of advisory business from any government entity under Rule...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Rule 206(4)-5 (Pay-to-Play Rule) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, prohibits, among other restrictions, an investment adviser subject to the rule, and its covered...more