Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – Fiduciary investment advice: The patchwork emerges
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – SEC enforcement
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – Complying with new SEC rules for broker-dealers
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – DOL: What’s ahead
Regulation Best Interest Videocast Series – Account Recommendations Under Regulation BI
Regulation Best Interest Videocast Series: Special Challenges For Dual Registrants
Regulation Best Interest Videocast Series: Account Monitoring Post-Regulation BI
Regulation Best Interest Videocast Series: Regulation BI Recordkeeping Requirements
Regulation Best Interest Videocast Series: Establishing An Investment Platform Post-Regulation BI
Last week, on October 21, 2024, the SEC’s Division of Examinations released its Examination Priorities report for fiscal year 2025 (found here). As we have seen with past annual reports, the Division intends to cover a broad...more
KEY TAKEAWAYS - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the first spot Bitcoin ETFs, also known as an exchange-traded product (ETP.) With the SEC now permitting spot Bitcoin ETFs, brokers must become...more
The SEC’s Division of Examinations got a head start this fiscal year, announcing its 2024 Examination Priorities (2024 Priorities) at the beginning of the fiscal year for the first time. This novel approach likely signifies...more
Closed-End Fund Activism Update - Activist investors continue to take large positions in closed-end funds and engage in disruptive activity that may be harmful to long-term shareholders of retail closed-end funds. This...more
On June 22, 2023, the Investor Advisory Committee (“IAC”) of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) held a panel discussion regarding current challenges and potential improvements to the use of...more
On April 20, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a Staff Bulletin (Bulletin) on the care obligations for broker-dealers and investment advisors, pursuant to Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) and the...more
On February 7, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Examinations (EXAMs) announced its 2023 Examination Priorities (the “Priorities”), which highlight areas it expects to target in 2023...more
The risk alert highlights deficiencies the staff identified during examinations and provides examples of weak practices observed at firms. EXAMS staff intends for the alert to assist broker-dealers in reviewing and enhancing...more
FINRA recently hosted a conference call with its smaller members covering Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS compliance. FINRA’s resounding message was that there is “no one-size-fits all” approach to Reg. BI...more
On August 24, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a draft of its strategic plan for 2022 – 2026, outlining its key initiatives for the next four years. The SEC’s mission is to protect investors, maintain...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently charged a broker-dealer and five of its registered representatives with violating Regulation Best Interest (“Reg. BI”) related to recommendations and sales of an unrated,...more
Noting Deficiencies, FINRA Suggests Best Practices for Reg BI Compliance - During its first-ever review of compliance with Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) found...more
The SEC Division of Examinations recently released its 2022 Division of Examinations “Priorities.” The 2022 Priorities provide critical insight into what the Division of Examinations (the “Division”) considers the most...more
This series focuses on the DOL’s new fiduciary “rule”, which was effective on February 16. This, and the next several, articles look at the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) issued by the DOL to explain the fiduciary...more
SEC Chair Gary Gensler has not publicly stated much regarding Reg BI since Spring of this year. Generally, though, the messaging from SEC leadership regarding the Division of Examinations and the Division of Enforcement...more
In case you were wondering if you can still push off finalizing your Form CRS filing, posting it on your website and delivering it to clients, the SEC has read your mind and answered loudly: no more! On Monday, the SEC...more
The DOL “Fiduciary Rule,” FAQ 10: The PTE Conditions - This series focuses on the DOL’s new fiduciary “rule”, which was effective on February 16. This, and the next several, articles look at the Frequently Asked Questions...more
The Department of Labor (DOL) confirmed on February 12 that the Trump-era Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2020-02 (PTE) would go into effect as scheduled on February 16, 2021. The PTE will likely affect the business of...more
The Situation: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") Division of Examinations (the "Division") issued its 2021 examination priorities ("2021 Exam Priorities"). The Result: The 2021 Exam Priorities set...more
On March 3, 2021, the SEC’s Division of Examinations[1] announced its examination priorities for 2021. Noting the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Division of Examinations reported that during the agency’s 2020...more
Today, the SEC put out its 2021 Exam Priorities, available here. It is about 40 pages long and covers a lot of topics. While I encourage everyone to read through the document, here are the primary focus items for 2021: ...more
The world has changed a lot in the last 12 months, but those in the securities industry can always rely on their trusty regulator, FINRA, to put out its annual priorities list to provide some semblance of consistency in the...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hosted a virtual roundtable in late October to discuss the Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) and Form CRS. With a few months of observations from examinations since the June...more
Why It Matters - Broker-dealers and investment advisers should take heed of OCIE’s guidance and assess their compliance policies and procedures accordingly. Compliance should consider, in consultation with their counsel,...more
As we reported in a previous alert, Regulation Best Interest (“Regulation BI”) was recently challenged in the Second Circuit by seven states and the District of Columbia, as well as two groups of investment advisors. On...more