In light of the new investment adviser representative (“IAR”) licensing requirement of the State of New York, RIA Compliance Consultants has updated its sample compliance manual section for investment adviser representative licensing in New York.
New York IAR – Special CRD Exam Waiver Window Opens 02/27/2021
February 16, 2021
The State of New York recently announced a special exam waiver window on the Central Registration Depository (“CRD”) system, which will affect existing investment adviser representatives (“IARs”) seeking registration in New York via an exam waiver (in lieu of taking and passing the Series 65 or Series 66 & 7 examinations). IAR applicants requesting an exam waiver should apply between February 27, 2021 and August 31, 2021 in order to avoid opening an unnecessary exam window on the CRD system and being charged an examination fee. Between Feb. 27, 2021 and August 31, 2021, FINRA will temporarily modify the CRD system for NY only RA registration requests to allow the applicants who qualify for an exam waiver to avoid opening a window.
Investment Advisers Are Required to Maintain and Enforce P&P to Prevent Trading on Inside Information
February 15, 2021
Challenges Facing a CCO Supervising Against Insider Trading
SEC Brings Enforcement Action Against RIA for Allegedly Failing to Disclose Adverse Info About Promissory Notes Issuer
February 07, 2021
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently instituted a cease-and-desist proceeding against an SEC registered investment adviser firm and its principal for failure to disclose material information to a client regarding promissory notes issued by a third-party, which eventually was charged in June 2018 by the SEC with an offering fraud and placed under receivership in December 2018. Click here to view the SEC order in this matter; the following is a summary of the SEC’s allegations in this matter, RIA Compliance Consultants, Inc. has not verified the accuracy of such allegations.
The State of New York’s new investment adviser representative (“IAR”) registration requirements are now effective. Prior February 1, 2021, New York remained the final state that did not require investment adviser representatives to be licensed with the state securities regulator by filing the Form U4. Adopted in December 2020, the rule changes now require the registration of investment adviser representatives – including principals, supervisors and solicitors for registered investment adviser firms – by filing the Form U4 via the WebCRD/IARD system. Registration is required for investment adviser representatives of New York state registered investment adviser firms, as well as for investment adviser representatives of SEC-registered investment adviser firms, if the investment adviser representative conducts advisory activities from a place of business in New York.
SEC’s Investor Advocate Identifies Leveraged and Inverse ETFs as Risk to Retail Investors
January 26, 2021
Under Section 4(g)(6)B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended, the Investor Advocate of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) is required to prepare a summary of the most serious problems encountered by investors with financial products. Accordingly, in its Report on Activities, Fiscal Year 2020 to the U.S. Congress, the SEC’s Investor Advocate reviewed the risks associated with leveraged and inverse exchange traded funds while discussing the Commission’s recent approval of the final version of the SEC’s Derivatives Rule which removed provisions that would have required investment advisers to exercise due diligence before approving retail investor accounts to invest in leveraged and inverse exchange traded funds (“ETFs”).
NASAA Investment Adviser Representatives Continuing Education Model Rule Moves Closer to Implementation
January 26, 2021
The North American Securities Administrators Association (“NASAA”) recently announced an updated timeline for the implementation of its Model Rule on Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education (“Model Rule”). Adopted on November 24, 2020, the Model Rule provides a framework for requiring investment adviser representatives registered with a state securities regulator to complete twelve hours of continuing education each calendar year. To read the Model Rule on Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education, click here.
There is good news for investment adviser firms located in the United Kingdom (“UK”) desiring to register as an investment adviser firm with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
On December 22, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced it has adopted amendments (also known as the “marketing rule”) to its rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”) that govern advertising and cash solicitation activities by investment advisers registered with the SEC. Unlike the proposed amendments, the SEC’s finalized marketing rule addresses both advertising and soliciting under a single rule. Click here to read the SEC’s final rule release for this new marketing rule for investment advisers.
NASAA Reminds RIAs to Contact Regulators Regarding Recent RIA Cybersecurity Incident
January 08, 2021
On January 7, 2021, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) reminded state-registered investment advisers to report to their primary securities regulator any known issues or concerns related to a recent RIA cybersecurity incident.
