Navigate the complexities of financial advising with AdvisorLaw's Industry Insights. Our experts provide actionable analysis on critical areas impacting your practice, including the latest FINRA and SEC/state regulations for brokers, RIAs, and IARs, the nuances of dual registration, strategic insights into Mergers & Acquisitions, evolving enforcement trends, practical regulatory compliance strategies, and effective succession planning. Stay informed, compliant, and positioned for growth with AdvisorLaw's perspectives.
Los Angeles Advisor Clears Records Of All Customer Conflicts
A Los Angeles-based advisor approaching 25 years in the financial services industry had a clean public BrokerCheck record, with the exception of two customer disputes that she had acquired around...
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Connecticut Advisor Successfully Expunges a Long-Standing Criminal Disclosure
An advisor in Connecticut approaching 20 years in the industry had a criminal disclosure on his records from an incident that had taken place in 2004 — three years before...
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Maximize Your RIA’s Savings With An Outsourced Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
Running a registered investment advisor (RIA) firm comes with a multitude of responsibilities, including keeping up with compliance and various regulations, as well as maintaining robust internal controls. Managing compliance...
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The End Of An Era — How FINRA Finally Succeeded In Destroying The Presumption Of Innocence
In the realm of customer dispute expungements, the winds of change are blowing. FINRA, the venerable regulator that has long overseen the industry's disputes, has finally unleashed its most audacious...
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Florida Advisor Removes Five Decades-Old FINRA Customer Disputes
Five customer disputes, dating back as far as 1994, were muddying the records of a Florida-based advisor who has been in the industry since 1983. Knowing that customer dispute expungement...
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Washington Advisor Wins U5 Termination Disclosure Expungement
More than 25 years into his career in the industry, an advisor from Washington state decided that he wanted to take his chance at clearing his record of the single...
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Dual-Registrants Mergers & Acquisitions SEC & State | RIAs & IARs Selling RIA Succession Planning Valuations
How do I sell my RIA?
Considering selling your RIA or wealth management firm? Learn key steps for a successful M&A transaction, including assessing your objectives, exploring buyer options, evaluating fit, and understanding valuation methods. Get...
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Tennessee Advisor Wins Customer Dispute Expungement, Restoring Perfect Records
An investment advisor in Tennessee who has been in the industry since 2005 had a sole disclosure on his public BrokerCheck and CRD records. The mark reflected a customer dispute...
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Navigating FINRA E-Signature Violations
In recent months, a significant number of individuals have found themselves with Form U5 terminations or under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Rule 8210 inquiries or investigations for alleged violations...
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SEC Issues Risk Alert For Compliance With Adviser Marketing & Advertising Rule
As part of its stated ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and aid compliance, the SEC recently issued a risk alert highlighting additional areas of focus during examinations related to its...
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California Advisor Clears His Records Of All Disclosures With FINRA Expungement
An advisor in California had three disclosures on his records — customer disputes that were lodged between 2000 and 2011. In hopes of achieving expungement of the disclosures, he hired...
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Florida Advisor Restores Perfect BrokerCheck Profile With Customer Dispute Expungement
A Florida-based financial advisor who has been in the industry for more than two decades had one settled customer dispute disclosure on her CRD and public BrokerCheck record. In an...
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Navigating Form U5: What You Need To Know As A Departing Advisor
As a financial advisor, leaving your job requires that the firm file a Form U5, also known as the Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration. The form U5 is...
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SEC’s Renewed Focus On Exams: How RIAs Can Prepare With Mock Audits
As regulatory compliance continues to be a major focus for advisory firms, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently announced plans to resume onsite exams. This renewed focus on...
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40-Year Industry Veteran Restores Flawless FINRA Profile
A current investment advisor and former registered rep who has been in the financial services industry for 40 years had one customer dispute disclosure on his records from more than...
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Tennessee Advisor Wipes All Disclosures With One FINRA Arbitration
An investment adviser in Tennessee had four customer dispute disclosures on his record that were all over ten years old. Hoping to clean up his record under the current FINRA...
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FINRA Rule 3110: A Comprehensive Guide to Broker-Dealer Supervision
Understand FINRA Rule 3110 and its critical role in broker-dealer supervision and compliance. Learn about written supervisory procedures (WSPs), internal inspections, and the proposed remote inspection rule changes affecting financial...
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California Advisor Regains Perfect Record With FINRA Expungement
An advisor out of Laguna Niguel, California had a perfect BrokerCheck record — aside from two customer disputes from nearly two decades prior. In hopes of achieving expungement through FINRA...
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How much does it cost to set up an RIA firm?
Have you ever wondered how much it would cost to start your own registered investment advisor (RIA) business? Launching an advisory firm comes with its own set of unique startup...
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Understanding Recent Changes to the DOL’s Fiduciary Rule
The landscape of the Department of Labor (DOL) fiduciary rule has seen significant changes in recent years, with ongoing debates and legal challenges shaping its implementation. In May 2023, the...
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