July carried forward the defining securities regulatory themes of 2026: modernization of supervision, a steady move away from prescriptive rules toward risk-based frameworks, and the rapid migration of artificial intelligence from a technology concern into a core compliance obligation. FINRA advanced proposals that would reshape how firms supervise communications and administer qualification exams, the SEC’s clock continued to run on a pending rule that would consolidate outside activity requirements, and a newly effective category of retirement account began surfacing questions that reach into both broker-dealer and investment adviser programs. For broker-dealers and investment advisers alike, the throughline is consistent: regulators […]
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Insurance Regulatory Roundup | July-August 2026
July sustained the high-volume, multi-dimensional pace that has defined insurance regulation throughout 2026. Artificial intelligence continued its move into insurance oversight as additional jurisdictions issued governance guidance; states advanced continuing education changes in both directions, adding new pathways and eliminating longstanding requirements; and the wave of health-coverage mandates, catastrophe-driven property measures, and consumer-protection and market-conduct activity showed no sign of slowing. For carriers, agencies, and compliance teams, the picture remains one of continuous, cross-functional change spanning claims, underwriting, licensing, coverage design, and market conduct simultaneously. Meanwhile, the annuity best interest training requirement — now in place across 49 states — […]
Continue readingMore TagInsurance Regulatory Roundup | June-July 2026
June continued the high-volume, multi-dimensional pace that has defined insurance regulation all year, and early-July activity confirms the workload is not slowing heading into the second half of 2026. At the state level, a growing number of jurisdictions moved on licensing fees, adjuster requirements, and line-of-business mandates, while a discernible trend toward higher licensing and continuing education provider fees began to take shape. On the federal side, CMS remained the dominant driver of operational compliance activity, but Treasury, OFAC, PBGC, and FinCEN each surfaced developments with direct implications for insurers’ reporting, tax, and anti-money laundering functions. And the annuity best […]
Continue readingMore TagSecurities Regulatory Roundup | June-July 2026
June reinforced the securities regulatory themes that have defined 2026: modernization, deregulation, and an increasingly assertive posture toward emerging market structures and investor protection. The SEC advanced its deregulatory agenda while sharpening its focus on investment adviser conduct; FINRA’s Board of Governors pressed forward on supervision modernization and continuing education reforms; and the NFA proposed meaningful revisions to its branch office supervision rules. Early-July activity carried these threads forward and added new ones — including reduced FINRA qualification exam retake waiting periods, expanded trade reporting hours moving the industry toward near-continuous operations, a new SEC enforcement focus on retail fraud, […]
Continue readingMore TagRegEd Named to Selling Power Magazine’s 60 Best Companies to Sell For 2026 List
Recognition highlights RegEd’s investment in its sales organization, culture of continuous improvement, and commitment to delivering value for clients across the financial services and insurance industries RegEd, the market-leading provider of RegTech enterprise solutions for the financial services and insurance industries, today announced it has been included on Selling Power’s 60 Best Companies to Sell For 2026 list. The annual ranking recognizes organizations that have built exceptional environments for sales professionals to grow, thrive, and deliver measurable impact for their customers. Inclusion on the 60 Best Companies to Sell For list reflects RegEd’s sustained investment in its people, processes, and […]
Continue readingMore TagRegEd Expands AI-Powered Advertising Review to Support SEC Compliance for Investment Advisers
Powered by RegEd’s Eddie AI Compliance Assistant, expanded coverage adds the SEC Marketing Rule and related investment adviser requirements to existing FINRA support — delivering the industry’s most comprehensive scope of securities advertising compliance. RegEd, the leading provider of compliance solutions for financial services firms, today announced the expansion of its AI Compliance Assistant, powered by Eddie, to support investment adviser advertising compliance within its Advertising Review solution. The expansion extends Eddie’s existing AI-driven coverage across broker-dealer and FINRA frameworks to evaluate investment adviser materials against SEC Rule 206(4)-1, the SEC’s modernized Marketing Rule — giving firms, particularly dual registrants, […]
Continue readingMore TagSEC Approves FINRA Rule 3220 Amendments: What Firms Need to Do Now
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially approved proposed amendments to FINRA Rule 3220 (Influencing or Rewarding Employees of Others), modernizing the long-standing Gifts Rule and introducing greater clarity, flexibility, and consistency across the industry. The amendments increase the annual gift limit, codify long-standing interpretive guidance, and formalize FINRA’s authority to grant exemptive relief. FINRA will announce the effective date in a Regulatory Notice. Why This Matters for Compliance Technology As the annual gift limit increases and supervisory expectations expand, firms will need stronger systems for tracking, aggregating, and documenting gift activity. Manual processes become more prone to risk under the new $300 […]
Continue readingMore TagSEC Issues New Risk Alert on Adviser Marketing Rule Compliance: What Firms Need to Know
On December 16, 2025, the SEC’s Division of Examinations released a new Risk Alert, “Additional Observations Regarding Advisers’ Compliance with the Advisers Act Marketing Rule,” offering fresh insight into how investment advisers are struggling to meet the rule’s requirements – particularly when using testimonials, endorsements, and third-party ratings. The Risk Alert builds on prior guidance and reflects deficiencies identified during recent examinations. The SEC’s message is consistent and direct: Marketing Rule compliance remains an examination priority, and advisers should reassess not only their disclosures, but also the policies, procedures, and oversight frameworks that support their marketing activities. Key Observations: Testimonials and Endorsements While the Marketing Rule […]
Continue readingMore TagSEC Issues New Guidance on IA Marketing Rule: Key Takeaways for Compliance and Marketing Teams
On March 20, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued additional guidance on its Investment Adviser Marketing Rule, clarifying longstanding gray areas that have challenged compliance teams and marketing departments alike. While the new FAQs provide helpful interpretations, they may also necessitate revisions to existing advertising materials, especially for firms promoting performance metrics. Key Highlights of the New SEC Guidance The Marketing Rule, originally adopted in 2020, has transformed the landscape for investment adviser advertising, consolidating decades-old advertising regulations into a modernized framework. Yet, some provisions remained open to interpretation. The SEC’s latest guidance specifically addresses how advisers […]
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 […]
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