Blog
UTMA and UGMA Custodial Accounts
Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) and Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) custodial accounts provide a way to transfer property to a minor beneficiary without the need for a trust. The custodian then must transfer the ownership of this account to the minor at the age of majority. [...]
Lessons from FINRA’s Cybersecurity Conference
As the end of the year approaches, it is a good time to revisit cybersecurity focus points and remind firms and their representatives of potential weaknesses. Cybersecurity is no longer a big firm program. Cyber-attacks occur from one-man shops to multibillion-dollar financial institutions. […]
Order Routing and The Price of Non-Disclosure
In May of this year, the SEC fined Bloomberg Tradebook LLC for $5 million, censured the firm, and issued a cease and desist order for misleading customers about how their orders were routed. Specifically, the SEC found that the Firm made material misrepresentations in regard to order routing. They omitted [...]
FINRA Rule 3210: Accounts At Other Financial Institutions
On April 3, 2017, FINRA Rule 3210 for Accounts At Other Broker-Dealers and Financial Institutions officially replaced NASD Rule 3050, Transactions for or by Associated Persons. In summary, FINRA Rule 3210 requires prior notification by an associated person to their member firm before they establish an account at another financial [...]
Tools to Conquer Compliance Program Challenges
Compliance responsibilities grow with every passing year. New regulatory mandates, examination priorities, trends in regulatory enforcements, changes in business, personnel changes, adding new business lines. These are only a few of the many considerations of which compliance professionals must be aware in order to run an effective compliance program amidst [...]
Investment Advisers Act: Know the Rules or Pay the Price
Knowing firm requirements as set forth in the Investment Advisers Act is essential, and learning from the mistakes of others in this area can be a valuable and motivating tool for striving for compliance in the financial services industry. In an atmosphere where Chief Compliance Officers (CCO) are being added [...]