As the first filing deadline for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) new Form CRS is approaching on June 30, 2020, the SEC Division of Investment Management and Division of Trading and Markets have published a frequently asked questions document … Read More
On October 16, 2019, The Securities and Exchange Commission filed an emergency action and obtained an asset freeze against 18 traders in a multiyear scheme to manipulate more than 3,900 U.S.-listed securities that resulted in more than $31 million in … Read More
Compliance officers at investment advisory firms which serve retail clients will soon be impacted by the newly required relationship summary in Form ADV Part 3 (Form CRS).
On October 11, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced it had filed an emergency action against two offshore entities for conducting an alleged unregistered and ongoing digital token offering in the U.S. and overseas that has raised more than … Read More
Proper Portfolio Management and Trading are Regulatory Priorities: In its 2019 Examinations Priorities Letter, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, listed Portfolio Management and Trading as SEC Examinations priorities.[1] Many Firms are unaware of … Read More
Over the past several years, The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has brought hundreds of enforcement actions over violations of federal securities involving over-the-counter (OTC) securities, resulting in tens of millions in harm to retail investors. In an effort to … Read More
Strategic Planning Group (“SPG”) agreed to settle charges with The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for failing to disclose a conflict of interest by consenting to a cease-and-desist order, censure, and civil penalties of $200,000. Its principals, David A. Rourke and … Read More
Registered investment adviser and broker-dealer Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. agreed to settle charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for undisclosed compensation it received from its unaffiliated clearing broker. The firm will pay disgorgement of $254,060, prejudgment interest of $45,905 as … Read More
The most recent Risk Alert distributed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) focused on many compliance issues that have been identified relating to principal trading and cross agency transactions. The SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) provided … Read More
With another year winding down, compliance personnel needs to begin evaluating the status of compliance projects and schedule any remaining tasks to ensure completion. Consideration of any regulatory changes, guidance, and risk alerts issued during the year, emerging best practices … Read More