On July 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced it was charging Houston-based financial services firm, Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. (“VFA” or the “Firm”), a dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser, in two separate actions for violations of … Read More
Under Rule 206(4)-7 (“Compliance Rule”) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”), Investment Advisers (“RIAs”) that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) must perform an annual review of the RIA’s policies and procedures (“P&Ps) to … Read More
On May 26, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that Los Angeles-based private equity firm and registered investment adviser, Ares Management LLC (“Ares” or the “Firm”) agreed to a cease-and-desist order, censure, and to pay a $1 million … Read More
On April 27, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Investment Management (the “SEC”) issued updated guidance concerning the following topics in response to COVID-19: Disclosure requirements for investment advisers applying for loans through the U.S Small Business Administration’s … Read More
On June 5, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted Form CRS under both the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, with a compliance deadline of June 30, 2020. As that deadline … Read More
Ask chief compliance officers what keeps them up at night and you’ll find the approval of marketing materials, social media communications, and other forms of advertising rank high on the list. Two factors have combined to cloud best practices for … Read More
On March 2, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission took two important steps to alleviate red tape for investment advisers who provide capital to and work with Rural Business Investment Companies (RBICs). Licenses for RBICs are provided by the Rural … Read More
Every now and then, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) encounters a case that serves as a textbook example of everything that can go awry when a firm deems fraud more important than fiduciary responsibility. On December 19, 2019, … Read More
Senior retail investors and cybersecurity. The only thing they have in common is their presence on the list of examination priorities this year for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE). The priorities are published … Read More
Lead Sr. Compliance Consultant Tina Mitchell joins us to discuss the SEC’s examination priority areas for advisers and broker-dealers in 2020 on Episode 65 of the CCO Buzz.