RegEd Regulatory Affairs Team, Author at RegEd.com

Market Conduct Exams: Best Practices to Ensure a Smooth Process and Stay Under the Radar for Future Examinations

By David Sheehan and Rebecca Vasquez, Esq. For an insurance company, the key objective of a market conduct examination (MCE) is to avoid it. As regulators pay more attention to problem areas, behaving well in the marketplace in the first place mitigates the chances of being examined. The No. 1 defense against an unscheduled market conduct examination is a documented and well managed compliance program, and companies that follow a few best practices find they can stay under the regulatory radar, and when they are selected for examination, they can be fully prepared to make it go smoothly. 1. Know […]

Highlights From the SEC Municipal Advisor Risk Alert

The SEC has provided a Risk Alert to remind municipal advisors of their obligations and to raise awareness among Municipal Advisors (“MAs”) of the most often cited deficiencies and weaknesses observed in recent MA examinations. Many of the same areas were covered in its 2017 Risk Alert, indicating that the SEC continues to note similar deficiencies as it did 5 years ago. Inaccurate or Incomplete Registrations and Filings The SEC found significant overlap in registration and filing deficiencies when compared to those identified in its 2017 Risk Alert. Among the inaccurate or incomplete information filed on SEC Forms MA and […]

Securities Enforcement Trends Reflect Regulators’ Concerns for Investors

Securities regulators have stepped up enforcement to protect investors from emerging threats and evolving risks. From Reg BI to crypto to senior fraud, regulators have increased scrutiny and sanctions to punish violators and prevent future infractions. “Restoring trust in our financial markets and institutions requires the use of robust remedies,” Gurbir S. Grewal, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said recently, in congressional testimony regarding the regulator’s enforcement priorities and budget request. “In addition to punishing wrongdoers for violations of the securities laws, our remedies must deter those violations from happening in the first place. They must be viewed […]

Complying with Pay-to-Play Rules in an Election Year

This year’s mid-term elections pose a compliance challenge for registered investment advisory (RIA) firms. When it comes to politics, investment advisers and their covered associates can be as passionate as any voters. But “pay-to-play” rules prohibit advisers from making political donations that many other voters could. SEC Rule 206(4)-5 considers it to be unlawful for investment advisers to provide investment advisory services for compensation to a government entity within two years after a contribution to an ‘official’ of the government entity is made by the investment adviser or any of its covered associates, including a person who becomes a covered […]

5 SEC Examination Priorities for 2022

The SEC’s Division of Examinations’ exam priorities for fiscal year 2022 include standards of conduct as well as issues related to technology and investment products. “The Division will prioritize examinations of several significant focus areas that pose unique or emerging risks to investors or the markets, as well as examinations of core and perennial risk areas. Their importance to investors and the markets, coupled with the seriousness and frequency of observations in prior years’ examinations, demonstrate the need for the Division to remain vigilant in these areas,” according to the 2022 Examination Priorities report released by the SEC on March […]

SEC: Investment Advisers Can ‘Tailor’ Cybersecurity Policies and Procedures to Fit Their Business

Though the SEC has proposed requiring cybersecurity policies and procedures for investment advisers for the first time, it has also provided firms flexibility in addressing the general elements to be covered. “We recognize that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing cybersecurity risks. As a result, the proposed cybersecurity risk management rules would allow firms to tailor their cybersecurity policies and procedures to fit the nature and scope of their business and address their individual cybersecurity risks,” the SEC wrote in recently proposed cybersecurity risk management rules. Advisers and funds would also have to report any significant cybersecurity incidents […]

RegEd Experts to Bring Licensing Insights and Regulatory Updates to SILA Heartland Chapter Meeting

RegEd will share best practices in licensing and registration and relevant regulatory updates with Securities & Insurance Licensing Association members. At Wednesday’s SILA Heartland Chapter meeting, Michael Pouliot, head of sales for RegEd’s Enterprise Xchange Contracting, Licensing, and Registration solution, will offer SILA members ways to drive licensing and registration efficiencies that create a competitive advantage. Also, Brandi Brown, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for RegEd, will give a regulatory overview to attendees. SILA’s members include licensing experts whose occupations encompass all aspects of insurance licensing and securities registration. “Licensing and registration regulations can be complex and are increasingly dynamic,” Brown said. […]

FINRA Publishes 2022 Report on Exam and Risk Monitoring Program

The newly released 2022 Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program reflects an evolving securities industry. “Today’s securities industry landscape is highly dynamic in terms of business models, technologies, products, and compliance practices. This report looks at these significant changes through the lens of FINRA’s commitment to investor protection and market integrity so that firms’ compliance programs can benefit from our findings about emerging and ongoing issues,” stated Greg Ruppert, executive vice president, member supervision, in a press release announcing the release of FINRA’s 2022 exam report. Exam findings in key areas Focus areas highlighted in the report include: FINRA’s initial findings from its […]

SEC Cybersecurity Policy: New Rules for Investment Advisers Possible

The next evolution in SEC cybersecurity policy could come Wednesday when commissioners consider whether to propose new rules for registered investment advisers and investment companies. Commissioners will consider staff recommendations for addressing cybersecurity risk management for investment advisers and investment companies as one of the agenda items for their Feb. 9 meeting. The commission will also consider related amendments to certain rules regarding adviser and fund disclosures under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 under the same agenda item, according to the SEC’s meeting agenda. SEC Chair Gary Gensler has asked staff to […]

RegEd Subject-Matter Experts to Share Regulatory Updates and Industry Insights at SILA Chapter Event

RegEd Representatives will Present at a Meeting of the Buckeye Chapter of the Securities & Insurance Licensing Association Raleigh, N.C., Jan. 25, 2022 — RegEd will provide Securities & Insurance Licensing Association members with insights into the latest regulatory changes and trends, as well as opportunities, challenges and best practices impacting licensing and registration professionals in the financial services industry. At Wednesday’s SILA Buckeye Chapter meeting, Brandi Brown, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for RegEd, will give a regulatory overview to attendees. Also, Michael Pouliot, head of sales for RegEd’s Enterprise Xchange Contracting, Licensing, and Registration solution, will offer SILA […]

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