On July 31, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced it was charging Connecticut-based investment adviser, Birinyi Associates, Inc. (“BA” or the “Firm”), with violations of Sections 206(2) and 206(4) and Rule 206(4)-7 thereunder (“the Compliance Rule”) of the … Read More
Managing Director, Consultation Services Tina Mitchell’s article, “State Advisers – ImportantInformation to Prepare for a Regulatory Exam,” was published in the July 2020 edition of the National Society of Compliance Professionals’ Currents newsletter. In the article, Ms. Mitchell discusses regulations that can … Read More
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
Investment advisers are regulated entities subject to various securities laws. State registered investment advisers are subject to the regulations of each state the firm is registered with; however, those are not the only securities laws that can apply to a … Read More
On June 1, 2020, the National Futures Association (“NFA”) permanently barred Hong Kong-based commodity pool operator Bainbridge Asia Limited (“BAL” or the “Firm”) and its sole principal and associated person, Wai Man Yip, from membership and acting as a principal … Read More
CEO Michelle Jacko’s article, “Considerations for 2020 and Focus on SEC Exam Priorities,” was published in the April 2020 edition of the National Society of Compliance Professionals’ Currents newsletter. The article provides an overview of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s 2020 Examination … 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
On March 23, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) modified its announcement “OCIE Statement on Operations and Exams – Health, Safety, Investor Protection, and Continued Operations are our Priorities.” Within the announcement, the SEC determined that the Office … 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
A focus on the retail investor and cyber-related misconduct resulted in a record total of $4.3 billion in disgorgements and penalties ordered by the Securities Exchange Commission in 2019. Among the Commission’s 862 enforcement actions were a $100 million fine … Read More