Recently released results from a sweep exam show that state-registered investment advisers must do more to prevent and address financial abuse of elderly investors, regulators say. “The results of this multi-state coordinated initiative show that investment advisers must make improvements in recognizing and reporting cases of suspected abuse,” said Lisa A. Hopkins, NASAA President and West Virginia Senior Deputy Commissioner of Securities, in announcing its findings of deficiencies in policies to protect seniors and vulnerable persons. “Our hope is that this data will foster greater and earlier detection and reporting of suspected financial exploitation of older Americans.” NASAA’s push for […]

The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) urges legislators to enact more laws and take more steps to increase protection for senior investors. NASAA reiterates its ongoing concerns about the potential financial exploitation of seniors and vulnerable adults while also recommending additional protections in a recently released legislative commentary on NASAA’s Senior Model Act. “Through this legislative commentary, we hope to encourage states to continue to adopt report and hold laws based on the Model Act,” said Lisa A. Hopkins, NASAA President and West Virginia Securities Commission General Counsel and Senior Deputy Commissioner of Securities, in announcing the commentary’s release. […]

RegEd CLEARXchangeSM enables real-time validation of contracting, licensure, education/training, appointment and registration for an instant “clear to sell.” RALEIGH, N.C., September 17, 2021 — Agents can place compliant business faster with the newly released RegEd CLEARXchange, the financial services industry’s most comprehensive Clear to SellSM solution for eliminating “not in good order” (NIGO) transactions and improving agent and adviser satisfaction. RegEd CLEARXchange offers a frictionless path to placing business and paying commissions compliantly by automatically validating that the producer holds the proper licenses and appointments for the business they are placing and for which they are receiving payment. The real-time […]

The grace period for firms to furnish investors with Form CRS customer relationship summaries has indeed ended now that the SEC has sanctioned firms for the first time, a little more than a year after the requirement took effect. The SEC has fined 21 investment advisers and six broker-dealers a total of $910,092. Without admitting or denying the findings, the firms agreed to be censured, cease and desist from violating the charged provisions, and pay civil penalties ranging from $10,000 to $97,523. “Registration with the SEC as an investment adviser or broker-dealer comes with mandated filing and disclosure obligations,” Gurbir […]