On June 23, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) entered an administrative order1 (the “Order”) that, among other things, fined a broker-dealer (“BD”) $208,912 for alleged violations of Rule...more
UPDATE: As of December 30, 2020, Arizona, Arkansas, Michigan, and Rhode Island have joined Iowa in adopting the NAIC model rule for best interest standard in annuity sales. Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada and Ohio...more
The amended accredited investor definition will become effective December 8, 2020.
We previously posted a blog regarding the SEC's recent expansion of the accredited investor definition....more
On October 7, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) released a Notice of Proposed Exemptive Order (“Notice”) that would create a conditional exemption from the broker registration requirements for...more
On August 26, 2020, the SEC adopted amendments to its definition of “accredited investor” that adds new categories of qualifying persons and entities (the “Amendment”). The accredited investor definition is one of the main...more
In April and May 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) entered a series of settled Orders assessing fines, instituting a bar, and ordering remedial action against registered investment advisers...more
Many registered investment advisers (“RIAs”) have obtained loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). Applicants for PPP loans were required to make certain...more
Section 17(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “40 Act”) prohibits certain transactions between an investment company and their affiliated persons, including transactions where an affiliated person...more
On February 21, 2020, the Massachusetts Securities Division (the “Securities Division”) announced the finalization of its Fiduciary Rule.
This Part I summarizes the evolution of the Massachusetts Fiduciary Rule and the...more
Last Friday, the staff of the SEC Division of Investment Management (the “Staff”) released an FAQ on disclosures of conflicts related to investment adviser compensation (the “FAQ”). The FAQ specifically focused on...more
On Monday, April 15, the New Jersey Bureau of Securities (“NJBS”) released its long-awaited proposed fiduciary rule (the “Proposed Rule”) for broker-dealers (“BDs”) and investment advisers (“IAs”).1 Key points from the Rule...more
As just about everyone who operates in the mutual fund, closed-end fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) industries knows, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), requires certain key registered...more
The SEC published guidance with respect to cryptocurrencies, digital tokens, and similar investments (each a “digital asset”) that is designed to help issuers and others determine whether the applicable digital asset is a...more
On September 20th, the SEC released a proposed rule amending Rule 17a-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). Under Rule 17a-5(d)(1)(i)(C) of the Exchange Act, broker-dealers registered with the...more
On September 20th, the SEC released a proposed rule amending Rule 17a-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”).[1] Under Rule 17a-5(d)(1)(i)(C) of the Exchange Act, broker-dealers registered with...more
On March 14, 2018, the SEC proposed an amendment to the Liquidity Rule. As adopted, the Liquidity Rule requires open-end investment companies to establish a written liquidity risk management program. As part of this program...more