The FINRA 2025 Annual Conference provided a comprehensive look into the evolving landscape of financial regulation and the ongoing efforts to enhance market integrity, investor protection, and operational efficiency. Several RegEd subject matter experts, including members of our regulatory affairs team, were in attendance, and they made note of these key takeaways from the event. As the financial services industry faces new challenges and opportunities, key discussions from this year’s conference focused on modernizing regulatory practices, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and leveraging innovative technologies like AI. Here are the major insights and takeaways from the event: 1. Modernizing Regulation: Adapting to […]
Continue readingMore TagCategory: Regulatory Updates
Regulatory Updates
It’s the Final Countdown…Get Your IAR CE Renewals Straight; Don’t be Late!
Happy Renewal Season!!! As year-end 2024 approaches, it’s a great time to review the Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education (IAR CE) status for your associates required to satisfy this annual requirement. IARs who fail to satisfy their IAR CE requirement for two consecutive years risk being administratively terminated in jurisdictions that have implemented an IAR CE requirement unless they satisfy ‘at a minimum’ the full 2023 requirement before year-end 2024. Although not rocket science, there are some complexities around the unique nature of the IAR CE program that still creates some confusion for the industry. For example, it’s important to […]
Continue readingMore TagComplying with Pay-to-Play Rules in an Election Year
Complying with Pay-to-Play Rules in an Election Year This year’s government 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 some 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 […]
Continue readingMore TagIs your regulatory branch inspection program prepared to support the new FINRA Remote Inspections Pilot Program and Requirements for Residential Supervisory Locations?
In January of this year, FINRA published Regulatory Notice 24-02 announcing the effective dates for the Remote Inspection Pilot Program (Pilot) and the Residential Supervisory Locations (RSLs). Those dates are now rapidly approaching and firms must make decisions on whether to participate in the Pilot Program this year and how to apply the RSL rule. A primary driver in the Pilot decision is whether the technology the firm uses will allow the firm to meet the tracking, findings, and reporting intricacies under the Rules. RegEd’s Branch Audit Management solution enables Pilot-participating firms to meet the new requirements. It also allows […]
Continue readingMore TagFINRA’s Targeted Exam Reveals Violations in Crypto Communications: What You Need to Know
FINRA recently released the results of its November 2022 targeted exam to review the practices of its member firms that actively communicate with retail customers concerning crypto assets and crypto asset-related services. As part of this targeted exam, FINRA reviewed over 500 such communications and identified potential substantive violations of FINRA Rule 2210 in approximately 70 percent of the communications. FINRA Rule 2210 requires that communications be fair and balanced and provide a sound basis for evaluating the facts regarding any product or service discussed. The Rule also prohibits claims that are false, exaggerated, promissory, unwarranted, or misleading, and prohibits […]
Continue readingMore TagYear-End Considerations for Investment Adviser Representatives: Navigating Complex CE Requirements and Potential Non-Compliance Risks
As the year draws to a close, it’s crucial for Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs) and Investment Advisers (IAs) to be acutely aware of the Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education (IAR CE) requirements and the consequences of non-compliance. This blog post aims to highlight key points on what needs to be considered as we approach year-end, focusing on CE compliance, potential administrative terminations, and strategies for addressing these challenges. Understanding the Risks of Non-Compliance with IAR CE Requirements Potential Administrative Termination for IARs Two-Year Backlog Risk: IARs who are behind on their IAR CE for two years face the risk of […]
Continue readingMore TagNavigating Regulatory Disparities: Broker-Dealer Branch Office Inspections
Introduction The financial services industry is constantly evolving, and regulatory bodies play a pivotal role in protecting investors as well as maintaining the integrity and stability of the markets. Recent enforcement events are at the center of a regulatory conundrum. Maine has sanctioned at least 28 broker-dealers so far this summer for failing to conduct annual onsite branch office inspections, drawing attention to the compliance challenges broker-dealers faced due to the lack of uniformity within the regulatory landscape. Maine isn’t the only state with an annual onsite branch office inspection requirement. The Regulatory Dilemma The heart of the issue lies […]
Continue readingMore TagRegulators Crackdown on Off-Channel Communications Violations
SEC and CFTC issue penalties for non-compliance with approved communication channel requirements Recent developments involving compliance breaches and off-channel communications have brought the topic into the spotlight. Two significant cases, one by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and another by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), underscore the importance of adhering to regulatory standards in this area. In this blog post, we dive into the details and implications of these recent enforcement cases and how firms can leverage training and technology to reduce non-compliance risk. CFTC’s Message: Unapproved Communication Methods Lead to Penalties The CFTC has taken a firm […]
Continue readingMore TagFAQs for IAR CE: What to Know About NASAA’s Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education Model Rule
Several states have adopted and implemented investment adviser representative continuing education (IAR CE) requirements, while many other states continue to join them in implementing these new requirements. Once implemented, Investment adviser representatives have until the compliance date to meet IAR CE requirements if they conduct advisory business in a state that has adopted the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)’s Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education Model Rule. As an approved IAR CE provider, RegEd answers some of the most common questions that IARs and firms have about these first-time requirements. To see a map of adopted states, visit here. Implementing […]
Continue readingMore TagNew States Adopt NASAA IAR CE Model Rule, California Expected To Join
Investment adviser representatives (IARs) are required to meet Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education (IAR CE) requirements annually if registered in a state that has adopted the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)’s Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education Model Rule. There are currently eleven (11) states that have adopted and implemented the IAR CE requirement. An additional four (4) states have adopted the IAR CE model rule with an implementation date of Jan. 1, 2024, among them is the state of Florida. More states, including California, are expected to adopt IAR CE requirements this year. With the possible addition of California, […]
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