SEC Risk Alert Gives Guidance on How RIAs Can Comply with Regulation S-ID

On December 5, 2022, the Division of Examinations (Division) published a Risk Alert that reported observations from recent examinations of SEC-registered investment advisers (RIAs) and broker-dealers related to their compliance with Regulation S-ID. The goal of the...

NASAA Statistics Show RIAs They Need to Improve their Compliance Programs

Recently the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) released its annual Enforcement Report. The publication highlighted the investigations and enforcement actions taken by state securities regulators to protect investors and maintain the...

SEC’s Division of Examinations Announces Its 2022 Priorities

The long wait for the SEC’s 2022 examination priorities is finally over. On March 30, 2022, the SEC’s Division of Examinations (Division) announced its priorities for the 2022 fiscal year. By reviewing these priorities, Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) will be...

SEC Releases Findings from its Wrap Fee Initiative Examinations

Wrap fee programs have been on the SEC’s radar for quite a while. When the SEC published its annual examination priorities in 2017, 2018, and 2019, wrap fee programs were mentioned as putting investors at risk. On July 21, 2021, the SEC’s Division of Examinations...

SEC Examination Priorities

The SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) publishes a yearly list of examination priorities. Although Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) can expect examiners to focus on these priorities during an examination, OCIE uses a risk-based...

SEC Takes Action Against Adviser for Defrauding Retirees and Investors Nearing Retirement

On December 19, 2019, the SEC filed a complaint in federal court against a Sacramento, California-based investment advisory firm and its owner. The complaint alleged that the Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) and its owner defrauded hundreds of retail clients, most...