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
On January 9, 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority published its 2024 FINRA Annual Regulatory Oversight Report. Previously titled Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program, the Report is released...more
On October 16, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Division of Examinations (the “Division”) released its annual Examination Priorities for fiscal year 2024 (the (“Report”), marking the first time the...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
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
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Examinations (Division) issued a Risk Alert (Risk Alert) on January 30, 2023 highlighting deficiencies its Staff observed during recent Regulation Best Interest...more
On Jan. 30, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Examinations (Division) released a Risk Alert, “Observations from Broker-Dealer Examinations Related to Regulation Best Interest,” in which the Division...more
In June 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed its first complaint alleging violations of both the care and compliance obligations of Regulation Best Interest, or Reg BI. In SEC v. Western International...more
Allegations of unauthorized trading claims present significant risks for investment brokers and brokerage firms. In addition to investor arbitration with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), brokers and...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 3, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff published a Q&A-Styled Bulletin focused on conflicts of interest under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act) and Regulation Best Interest (Reg...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
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff recently published a bulletin reiterating the standards of conduct applicable to broker-dealers and investment advisers when making account recommendations to retail investors....more
On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued “Staff Bulletin: Standards of Conduct for Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers Account Recommendations for Retail Investors” (SEC Retail Standards Bulletin). This guidance builds on prior...more
In recent years, the SEC has been conducting a nationwide and industry-wide “sweep” of investment advisory firms, pursuant to which it has opened investigations and brought enforcement actions against a multitude of...more
This is the first in a series of alerts discussing topics covered by FINRA in its 2022 Examination and Risk Monitoring Program Report (the “Report”). Here we take a look at Regulation Best Interest (“Reg. BI”) and Form CRS,...more
FINRA adds new topics for 2022 and new material to previously covered topics. Overview - On February 9, 2022, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) published its 2022 Report on FINRA’s...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
The Department of Labor’s “Fiduciary Rule,” PTE 2020-02: The FAQs - Key Takeaways - ◾ The DOL has issued FAQs that generally explain PTE 2020-02 and the expanded definition of fiduciary advice. ◾ In FAQ 16, the DOL...more
President-Elect Joe Biden is quickly learning that the line of people seeking regulatory reform in the wake of the Trump administration's regulatory free-for-all is getting longer all the time. At the front of the line is...more
Alabama and Rhode Island are the most recent states to issue regulations setting forth a best interest standard for annuity producers in recommending an annuity to their customers. Both regulations follow the National...more
With SEC Regulation Best Interest (“Reg-BI”) effective as of June 30, 2020, SEC examiners will now focus on whether firms have made a good faith effort to implement policies and procedures (“P&Ps”) that are necessary for...more
Regulation Best Interest: Best Interest and Suitability—How They Differ (Part 4) - Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) imposes a “best interest” standard of care on broker-dealers for their recommendations of securities and...more
Just as broker-dealers and investment advisers finalized their initial implementation plans for the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Form CRS and Regulation Best Interest (Reg. BI), the US Department of Labor (DOL)...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