SEC 2024 Enforcement Results Demonstrate the Importance of Compliance

On November 22, 2024, the SEC announced its enforcement results for fiscal year 2024. The results show that the SEC’s Division of Enforcement (Division) vigorously enforced the federal securities laws by recommending high-impact enforcement actions to address...

Endorsements, Hypothetical Performance Lead to RIA’s Marketing Rule Violations

On November 1, 2024, the SEC settled charges against a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) in New York City. The RIA distributed advertisements using its public website, social media and email that contained endorsements from several professional athletes. Those...

SEC Risk Alert Provides Long-Awaited Guidance on Marketing Rule Compliance

On April 17, 2024, the SEC provided Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) with its observations regarding firms’ compliance with the Marketing Rule. It is imperative for RIAs to take note of those observations and to be observant as they implement their compliance...

SEC Enforcement Stats Serve as Warning to RIAs and Other Firms

On November 14, 2023, the SEC announced that it had filed 784 total enforcement actions during fiscal year 2023, a three percent increase over fiscal year 2022. Enforcement actions are intended to protect investors and enhance public trust in the securities markets....

Off-Channel Communications Will Lead to Record-keeping Violations

On August 8, 2023, the SEC charged eleven financial services firms, including a dually registered broker-dealer (BD) and Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), with widespread record-keeping violations. The firms acknowledged their wrongdoing and agreed to pay combined...