The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been moving quickly to change course on its approach to regulating digital assets. Even before President Trump issued executive order 14178, titled “Strengthening American...more
3/5/2025
/ Blockchain ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Action Task Force ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
FinTech ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Trump Administration
The Mysterious Boundary Beyond Which “Personal” Relationships Jeopardize a Director’s Independence -
In a recent enforcement action, the SEC concluded that the relationship between James Craigie and an officer of Church &...more
2/11/2025
/ Blockchain ,
Board of Directors ,
BSA/AML ,
Consumer Insurance Products ,
Corporate Governance ,
EFTs ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Investment ,
Investment Contract ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Retirement ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Variable Insurance
The recent rule and form amendments adopted by the SEC to facilitate the registration of registered index-linked annuities (RILAs) and market-value adjustment annuities (MVAs) on Form N-4 have been broadly welcomed by the...more
1/31/2025
/ Annuities ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employee Benefits ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Insurance Industry ,
Investment Products ,
Registration Requirement ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Retirement Plan ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation
Gone With the Wind?
Closed-End Funds Risk Extinction -
Shares of SEC-registered closed-end funds (CEFs) have long held significant potential advantages for some investors. For example, unlike shares of mutual funds...more
10/16/2024
/ Cybersecurity ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Insurance Regulations ,
Investment ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Management ,
Life Insurance ,
NAIC ,
Retirement Plan ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Social Media
On June 25, 2024, a final judgment was entered by a federal district court against investment adviser Lufkin Advisors LLC and its principal, Chauncey Lufkin, for losing access to a crypto wallet used to manage a client’s...more
10/11/2024
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Broker-Dealer ,
Cryptoassets ,
Custody Rule ,
Digital Wallets ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ,
New Rules ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
On July 1, 2024, pursuant to congressional mandate, the SEC adopted a new registration framework for registered index-linked annuities (RILAs). In addition, the SEC has extended the ambit of this framework to include...more
On July 1, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted a new registration framework for registered index-linked annuity (RILA) contracts. RILA contracts allow investors to allocate purchase payments to one or more...more
On July 1, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced new rules for registered index-linked annuities (RILAs) and registered market-value adjustment annuities (MVAs). The new rules will significantly impact...more
Last Lap in SEC RILA Rulemaking Critical Unresolved Issues -
Congress directed the SEC to adopt a new registration statement for registered indexed annuities (RILAs) by the end of June. Several months ago, the SEC...more
5/29/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Broker-Dealer ,
CFTC ,
Climate Change ,
Cybersecurity ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Management ,
Life Insurance ,
NAIC ,
NLRB ,
Private Equity ,
Private Funds ,
Private Placements ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Retirement Plan ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Whistleblower Protection Policies ,
Whistleblowers
Congress directed the SEC to adopt a new registration statement for registered indexed annuities (RILAs) by the end of June. Several months ago, the SEC published its proposed registration statement and related rules. As we...more
Funds Not Caged by SEC Names Rule Amendments: Roaming Room Remains -
The SEC recently adopted amendments to its investment company “names” rule that apply to most SEC-registered funds, including underlying funds in which...more
1/11/2024
/ Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Insurance Industry ,
Investment Funds ,
Life Insurance ,
Proposed Rules ,
Putative Class Actions ,
Retirement Plan ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Traders ,
Whistleblowers