On October 16th, SEC’s Division of Examinations published its 2024 examination priorities, the publication that details the Division’s risk-based approach, including the areas it believes may present possible risks to the integrity of the US capital markets and investors. When compiling the examination priorities, the Division is guided by its objectives to promote and improve compliance, prevent fraud, monitor risks, and inform policy. Continue reading "SEC’s Division of Examinations Publishes Fiscal..." »

On October 13th, the SEC announced that it voted to adopt Rule 10c-1a under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to increase transparency requirements and improve the efficacy of the securities lending market. The rule requires certain persons to report information about securities loans to a registered national securities association (RNSA). Currently, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the only RNSA. Continue reading "SEC Approves Rule to Enhance Disclosures in the..." »

On September 29th, the SEC announced that it is proposing rule and form amendments that would update the offering process and create customized disclosure requirements for registered index-linked annuities (RILAs). A RILA is one of a number of types of annuity contracts that provides investors a return based on the performance of a market index over a set period of time. These annuities also have a “bounded return” structure that usually limits an investor’s losses when the index goes down, but may also limit that investor’s gains when the index goes up. Continue reading "SEC Proposes Tailored Registration Form for..." »

The SEC has announced that World Investor Week (WIW) 2023 will focus on the significance of investors taking time to do due diligence, and how doing so may help them avoid fraud and to make better informed investment decisions. The event, which also emphasizes investor education and protection, takes place online and in person October 2 through October 8, 2023. {expires: 2023-10-09} Continue reading "SEC Hosts World Investor Week 2023 Centered on..." »

On September 20th, the SEC adopted amendments to Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Names Rule of 2001 (Names Rule) to address certain broad categories of investment company names that may mislead investors about an investment company's investments and risks. For a business development company (BDC) or a registered investment company, the name of its firm is a key marketing tool for the fund, and it provides investors with decision-useful information about the fund. The amendments to the Names Rule, which were proposed in May 2022, are expected to help to ensure that the rule continues to meet its main objective of investor protection.

Continue reading "SEC Adopts Rule Improvements to Inhibit the Use..." »

On September 15th, the SEC announced that it has revised its list of unregistered entities that use inaccurate data to solicit mainly non-US investors. This update includes 29 soliciting entities, three impersonators of real firms, and one bogus regulator. Continue reading "SEC Revises PAUSE List of Firms Using..." »

The SEC’s Division of Investment Management will hold an open meeting via webcast on sec.gov that will take place on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The meeting is free, open for the public to attend, and will address issues relating to misleading investment disclosures, among other topics. {expires: 2023-09-21} Continue reading "SEC’s Division of Investment Management to Hold..." »

The SEC has recently voted to reopen the comment period for its February 2023 proposal, Safeguarding Advisory Client Assets, which proposed a new rule under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 that would redesignate and update the current custody rule to improve protections of customer assets managed by registered investment advisers. In compliance with the audit provision of the current custody rule, the adoption of the private fund adviser audit rule generally requires a registered investment adviser to obtain an annual financial statement audit of each private fund it advises. Reopening the comment period provides interested parties with additional time to review the proposed amendments to the current custody rule’s audit provision under the private fund adviser audit rule. The rule initially was proposed by the SEC on February 15, 2023 with a comment period that ended on May 8, 2023. Continue reading "SEC Reopens Comment Period for Proposed..." »

On July 31st, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) released a proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU) that would require public companies to provide disclosures in financial statements about that company’s expenses that would help investors make informed decisions concerning investments. Investors benefit greatly by understanding a company’s performance, assessing a company’s prospects for future cash flows, and having the ability both to observe a company’s performance over time and to compare with that of other companies. Continue reading "FASB Issues Proposed ASU to Enhance Income..." »

The SEC is proposing new rule amendments under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to eliminate, or neutralize the effect of, certain conflicts of interest when broker-dealers or investment advisers (collectively known as “firms”) interact with investors using covered technology. Covered technology refers to a firm’s use of analytical, technological, or computational functions, algorithms, models, correlation matrices, or similar methods or processes that optimize for, predict, guide, forecast, or direct investment-related behaviors or outcomes of an investor. Continue reading "SEC Proposes Reforms to Mitigate Risks to..." »

On July 26th, the SEC announced that it is proposing amendments to the rule that allows certain investment advisers that provide investment advisory services through the internet to register with the SEC. In 2002, the SEC granted a narrow exception which allowed internet-based advisers to register with the SEC instead of with the states. Investment advisers typically are prohibited from registering with the SEC unless they reach a certain “assets under management” threshold, advise a registered investment company, or qualify for an exemption under SEC rules or statutes. Under rule 203A-2(e) and pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, internet investment advisers are exempt from this prohibition if they meet certain conditions, including those concerning the adviser’s use of an interactive website to advise clients. Continue reading "SEC Proposes Internet Adviser Registration Reforms" »

The SEC has announced that a virtual Investor Advisory Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. ET. The public may attend this free event, which will be presented live via webcast at sec.gov. {expires: 2023-06-23} Continue reading "SEC Staff to Hold Investor Advisory Committee..." »

The SEC’s Atlanta Regional Office and the Division of Examinations will be hosting a compliance outreach event to discuss compliance for registered investment advisers. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET. {expires: 2023-06-15} Continue reading "SEC Staff to Hold Webinar: Compliance Matters" »

The SEC's Boston Regional Office, in conjunction with the FBI and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, will hold a meeting to discuss current scams and how older Americans may be better protected from fraud. This virtual event is free for the public to join and takes place on Monday, June 5th at 2:00 p.m. Attendees may submit questions for event speakers in advance via email to Boston@sec.gov. {expires: 2023-06-05} Continue reading "SEC Staff to Host Webinar: Protecting Older..." »

The Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) has announced an enhancement that will facilitate stakeholders’ ability to raise potential concerns about compliance with the due process procedures of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). This is part of FAF’s continuing endeavor to improve its oversight activities and to further increase disclosure requirements for stakeholders. The enhancement gives stakeholders the ability to flag and report to the FAF’s Oversight Committee (Committee) supposed failures by either the FASB or the GASB to follow their due process procedures as defined in the FAF By-Laws. Continue reading "FAF Trustees Improve Stakeholder Feedback..." »