The Texas State Securities Board has announced extended relief from certain filing obligations for securities professionals regulated by Texas, including state registered investment advisers and investment adviser representatives. Filers that would otherwise be required to update a filing solely to report a change in the office of employment address of an employee, agent, or representative, or any newly opened temporary branch or office location between March 13, 2020 and September 30, 2020 will not be penalized or sanctioned for not updating a filing to reflect a temporary branch or work location or space-sharing arrangement. When first announced in March 2020, the waiver ended on June 30, 2020.
Category Archives: COVID-19
SEC Publishes New Website for Main Street Investors
June 22, 2020
On June 15th, 2020, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced a new website designed for Main Street Investors, intended to help retail investors navigate the new Form CRS/Form ADV Part 3. Published in a “Question and Answer” format, the website explains to retail investors the purpose of the Form CRS/Form ADV Part 3 and describes the information they can expect to find in the Form CRS/Form ADV Part 3. Click here to view the SEC’s new website for Main Street Investors. As an SEC registered investment adviser firm prepares its Form CRS/Form ADV Part 3 training for its supervised persons, RIA Compliance Consultants recommends that a review of the Main Street Investors website should be included as a component of such compliance training.
The Division of Securities within the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies recently provided guidance to state-registered investment adviser firms who received Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans. Click here to review this guidance.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently provided guidance on the disclosure obligations of an investment adviser firm when receiving a Paycheck Protection Plan (“PPP”) loan guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration in conjunction with the relief afforded from the CARES Act during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the recent decline in the markets due to COVID-19, it is likely that many investment adviser firms relying upon asset-based fees are also facing a significant decline in the investment advisory fee revenue which can have compliance implications depending upon the circumstances.
Does an Investment Adviser Representative Have to Disclose PPP Loan Forgiveness as a Compromise on Form U4?
April 17, 2020
As investment adviser firms start to receive loan proceeds through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which is a loan program that originated from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, many investment adviser firms have asked whether the forgivable nature of the PPP loan will constitute a compromise with a creditor for purposes of Item 14K of the Form U4 of an investment adviser representative who is a control person.
SEC Is Not Extending the Deadlines for RIAs to File/Deliver Form ADV Part 3 Due to COVID-19
April 03, 2020
In response to numerous inquiries and requests for an extension of the deadlines facing SEC registered investment advisers related to filing and/or delivering the Form ADV Part 3/Client Relationship Summary (“CRS”), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued a Public Statement on April 2, 2020 indicating that the SEC is not extending the filing and delivery deadline for the Form ADV Part 3/CRS.
SEC’s Response to COVID-19 – Changes Conditions for Utilizing the 45-Day Extension for Filing/Delivering Form ADV
March 27, 2020
Due to the further disruptions facing investment adviser firms related to COVID-19, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) modified its original order of March 13, 2020 (“Original Order”), which provided an investment adviser firm registered with the SEC or an exempt reporting adviser (“ERA”) a 45-day extension to file the Form ADV Annual Amendment or Form PF and deliver the Form ADV Part 2A (or summary of material changes) to existing investment advisory clients if certain conditions were met by the investment adviser firm. (Please see our previous blog entry for more details about the SEC’s initial Response to COVID-19 and the conditions for an investment adviser to obtain relief.)
Due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic, the Colorado Securities Commission issued a Temporary Order relief for investment adviser firms registered with the Colorado Division of Securities. According to the relief order, an investment adviser firm registered with the Colorado Securities Commissioner, “may perform any of the Form ADV filing, updating and customer delivery requirement set forth by the Colorado Securities Act and related regulations up to 45 days after such action is due to be performed.” In effect, with this order relief Colorado extends its ADV filing deadline.
In an effort to try to assist investment adviser firms dealing with COVID-19, RIA Compliance Consultants is hosting a free webinar, “Compliance Tips for COVID-19 and Volatile Market,” on Thursday, March 26 at 12:00 PM CT. During this free webinar RIA Compliance Consultants’ President, Bryan Hill, will discuss Compliance Issues with COVID-19 and volatile markets including privacy policies, succession planning, suitability, and business continuity planning. To register for this webinar please click the following link https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RCsmPcGKRJ6N1gl67LsTuA
