SEC Sanctions RIA for Charging Excessive Advisory Fees

On August 25, 2023, the SEC accused a dually registered investment adviser/broker-dealer with overcharging thousands of clients. The firm overcharged approximately 10,945 investment advisory accounts by more than $26.8 million in advisory fees. The firm agreed to pay...

RIA’s Hypothetical Performance Ads Cause Real Life Compliance Problems

On August 21, 2023, the SEC charged a New York-based FinTech investment adviser with using misleading hypothetical performance metrics in the firm’s advertisements. This enforcement action is particularly noteworthy, because it is the first case brought involving...

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...

SEC Adopted Amendments to Form N-PX Reporting Requirements

On November 2, 2022, the SEC adopted amendments to Form N-PX in order to fulfill one of the remaining mandates established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Among other changes triggered by the amendments, institutional investment...