Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – The annuity regulatory landscape
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – Complying with new SEC rules for broker-dealers
Videocast: Asset management regulation in 2020 videocast series – DOL: What’s ahead
States Sue SEC in Ongoing Fight Over Reg BI
The stay of the effective dates of the amended fiduciary regulation and amended exemptions means that the “old” DOL fiduciary regulation (the 5-part test) and the existing exemptions continue in effect indefinitely. As a...more
On July 31, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it agreed to settle allegations that a California-based broker-dealer sold in excess of $13 million in “L bonds,” a speculative, unrated debt...more
Private Fund Rules Cancelled, Survey Says Marketing Rule is a Lot of Work and the Intersection of Regulation BI and Investment Adviser’s Fiduciary Duty - Welcome to our June Regulatory Roundup, where we provide you with a...more
A September report of the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) on broker-dealer compliance with the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) finds...more
On October 16, 2023, the SEC’s Division of Examinations (EXAMS) published its exam priorities for 2024. The timing is notable, with the release coming several months ahead of the typical timeline and only eight months after...more
The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) recently released a report prepared by its Broker-Dealer Section Committee (Committee) presenting the findings of Phase II (B) of its National Examination...more
A decision from a Massachusetts court in a case involving Robinhood, the online trading platform, could mark a turning point in how states regulate broker/dealers around the country. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court...more
In a Legal Alert issued before the SEC open meeting, we posed five questions that our Investment Services team would be looking out for as part of this meeting. We now have answers to some of these questions....more
Under Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), the SEC imposes a best interest standard on account recommendations by broker-dealers. This is because recommending an account type is viewed by the SEC as recommending an investment...more
Hermione Granger (yes, from Harry Potter) is famously attributed with the following quote: “I’m going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed. Or worse, expelled.” Unfortunately,...more
Regulatory Developments - Overdraft Protection Programs: Risk Management Practices - On April 26, the OCC issued guidance in OCC Bulletin 2013-12, “Overdraft Protection Programs: Risk Management Practices,” to...more
Since Regulation Best Interest’s (Reg BI) June 30, 2020 compliance date, the Division of Examinations of the Securities and Exchange Commissions (the Division) has been busy implementing examinations of broker-dealers to...more
The 2023 priorities letter represents only a sliver of the topics firms can expect exam teams to cover this year. In developing the priorities, SEC staff noted their outreach directly to state securities regulators and...more
Regulatory Developments - FinCEN Finalizes Rule Implementing Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements Under the Corporate Transparency Act - On September 29, FinCEN issued a final rule under the CTA requiring each...more
FINRA recently hosted a conference call with its smaller members covering Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS compliance. FINRA’s resounding message was that there is “no one-size-fits all” approach to Reg. BI...more
We have made it a point previously in this blog to track developments of the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), even speculating more aggressive enforcement actions could be coming due to certain Reg BI deficiency...more
SEC staff recently served up a juicy staff bulletin covering the standards of conduct for broker-dealer and investment adviser conflicts of interest. The staff bulletin includes 13 Q&As categorized into five different...more
On June 15, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filed a complaint against California-based broker-dealer Western International Securities, Inc. (“Western”) alleging violations of Regulation Best Interest...more
The SEC Division of Examinations recently published its list of priorities for 2022. While it was a bit late compared to a typical year, the priorities letter provides a roadmap for firms to better understand where the...more
In This Issue. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) requested comments to draft principles for climate-related financial risk management; the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published its 2022 exam...more
The SEC recently solicited comments regarding broker-dealer and investment adviser “digital engagement practices” (DEPs), features commonly referred to as the “gamification” of trading. The request follows the GameStop...more
This series focuses on the DOL’s new fiduciary “rule”, which was effective on February 16. This, and the next several, articles look at the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) issued by the DOL to explain the fiduciary...more
My job frequently requires that I explain to someone – whether my client, an ALJ, an arbitration panel, even a regulator – the fundamental difference between a broker-dealer and an investment advisor. An IA operates pursuant...more
The DOL “Fiduciary Rule,” FAQ 15: Factors to Evaluate for a Rollover Recommendation (Part 2) - This series focuses on the DOL’s new fiduciary “rule”, which was effective on February 16. This, and the next several, articles...more
The DOL “Fiduciary Rule,” FAQ 13: Written Acknowledgement of Fiduciary Status - This series focuses on the DOL’s new fiduciary “rule”, which was effective on February 16. This, and the next several, articles look at the...more