Policies and Procedures Archives - Page 3 of 7

Material Changes to Form ADV

Posted on June 3, 2021 by admin

An investment adviser must promptly update its brochure if the information contained in it becomes materially inaccurate. This updated brochure is referred to as an “interim amendment”. Upon updating the brochure to reflect material changes, the investment adviser should begin delivering the interim amendment to its prospective clients before or at the time it advisory contract with such clients. For some material changes, the investment adviser will be further obligated to promptly deliver the interim amendment to its existing clients.

Electronic Delivery for Investment Advisers

Posted on May 26, 2021 by admin

For advisers to utilize electronic delivery for regulatory documents such as disclosures, prospectuses, shareholder reports, and proxy solicitation materials, there are a few requirements that must be met. The SEC’s guidance states that the electronic distribution of regulatory materials must satisfy the following three elements:

Notice
Access
Evidence of Delivery

The Release contains over fifty Q&A examples to illustrate the interplay of these three elements – twenty-two of which relate to mutual funds. See the additional resources file for a copy of the release.

Rule 13(f)

Posted on May 17, 2021 by admin

Institutional investment managers (“Managers”) must use Form 13F for reports to the Commission required by Section 13(f). Rule 13f-1(a) provides that every Manager which exercises investment discretion with respect to accounts holding Section 13(f) securities, as defined in rule 13f-1(c), having an aggregate fair market value on the last trading day of any month of any calendar year of at least $100,000,000 shall file a report on Form 13F with the Commission within 45 days after the last day of such calendar year and within 45 days after the last day of each of the first three calendar quarters of the subsequent calendar year.

Requirements for State Registered Advisers

Posted on May 10, 2021 by admin

Also, State registered advisers should review and verify compliance with state regulatory requirements governing the business of investment advisers. The regulation of investment advisers can vary significantly from one state to the other. Attempts to unify the patchwork of state requirements have fallen short, and the only sure way to determine the specific requirements of a state is to refer directly to the state’s securities laws and regulations, which many states make available online. Due to the practical difficulty of identifying and keeping current on the requirements of each state in which an investment adviser conducts business, it is often advantageous for an investment adviser to adopt a policy that requires it to comply with all state requirements.

Provided below is a non-exhaustive list of common regulatory requirements that states impose on investment advisers. Any investment adviser that does not comply with a particular requirement should thoroughly document its basis for believing that the requirement does not apply in the states in which it conducts business.

For information on investment adviser registration in each state, check out NASAA’s State Investment Adviser Registration Information.

Outside Business Activities for RIAs

Posted on April 28, 2021 by admin

Outside Business Activities (“OBAs”) of individuals can create potential conflicts of interests with the registered investment advisers that employ them. Advisors are responsible for providing written notice before they act as an employee, independent contractor, sole proprietor, officer, director or partner of another person; or receive compensation or have the expectation of compensation from any other person as a result of any business activity outside the scope of the relationship with their registered investment adviser.

Additionally, this includes situations where compensation is to be paid or if there is a reasonable expectation of compensation as a result of any business activity outside the scope of the relationship with his or her firm. Passive investments are exempted from this requirement. To ensure all individuals are compliant with OBA requirements, make sure your firm reviews the following.

Agent Registration Process

Posted on April 23, 2021April 30, 2021 by admin

The USA defines an agent as any individual who represents a broker-dealer or an issuer in effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities for their clients. Agents are individuals in a sales capacity who represent broker-dealers or issuers of securities. Any person who meets the definition of an agent must register with the states they do business in. To register with the state securities Administrators, you must: