U4 Disclosure Updates: Cautionary Tales
Failure to timely update information on individual Form U4 disclosure may lead to potential fines and suspensions for a Registered Person. This is especially the case if the act was done intentionally.
Category: Registrations
Annual Compliance Requirements: Year-End Priorities
It’s that time of the year again! As the fourth quarter ticks by, we have compiled a helpful end of year to-do list to aid small broker-dealers in addressing and closing out important annual compliance requirements.
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2019 FINRA Renewal Program for BDs and RIAs
The 2019 FINRA Renewal Program for Broker-Dealers, Investment Adviser Firms, Investment Adviser Agents, Investment Adviser Representatives, and Branches is scheduled to begin on November 12, 2018.
Firms should note the following key dates in the renewal process:
- November 12, 2018 – Preliminary statements are available via the E-Bill section of WebCRD. Preliminary statements are not mailed to firms.
- December 17, 2018 – Full payment of Preliminary Statements is due.
- January 2, 2019 – Final Statements are available via the E-Bill section of WebCRD.
- January 21, 2019 – Full Payment of Final Statements is due.
FINRA Enhances Disclosure Review Process
As I’m sure you already know from reading our previous blogs on the subject, FINRA Rule 3110(e) (Responsibility of Member to Investigate Applicants for Registration) requires that member firms must “ascertain by investigation the good character, business reputation, qualifications, and experience of an applicant” prior to submitting a Form U4 and requesting to associate and register such an applicant with the firm. However, as recently announced, FINRA has made enhancements to its disclosure review process that will make this verification easier than ever. Such enhancements will allow member firms to rely upon FINRA’s verification process for purposes of compliance with the requirement to conduct a search of public records relating to bankruptcies, judgments and liens.
Crowdfunding: Funding Portal Registration – Part II
[Continued from Crowdfunding: Funding Portal Registration – Part I]
Funding Portal Registration Process
Firms seeking to register as funding portals must do so via completion of an application process with FINRA. The registration process for a funding portal is similar to, but much less comprehensive and exhaustive, the New Member Registration process completed by applicants wishing to become broker-dealers.
Crowdfunding: Funding Portal Registration – Part I
Title III of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, enacted in 2012, provides guidance and regulation relating to securities offered or sold through crowdfunding activities. In 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) added onto this initial act by creating a new ruleset that implemented a regulatory framework for intermediaries that facilitate such crowdfunding transactions. This includes regulations for a relatively new intermediary: the funding portal. Securities Act Section 4(a)(6) (otherwise known as “Regulation CF”) requires that intermediaries in crowdfunding transactions be registered with the SEC as either a broker-dealer or a funding portal.