Industry Insights

Industry Insights

Industry Insights

Industry Insights


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.

Understanding The Impact Of New AIMR Analytics Site — AdvisorCheck.com
FINRA Expungement & Arbitration

Understanding The Impact Of New AIMR Analytics Site — AdvisorCheck.com

Last week, AIMR Analytics launched a new website, AdvisorCheck.com, which pulls together data from both BrokerCheck and the Form ADV so that prospective investors and hiring firms can easily weed...
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Completing Your Annual Compliance Review: Dos And Don’ts For RIAs
RIA Compliance

Completing Your Annual Compliance Review: Dos And Don’ts For RIAs

As March quickly approaches, RIAs are reminded that it’s time to review their annual compliance. Every year, it’s vital for firms to hold an annual meeting with employees to thoroughly...
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Missouri Advisor Wipes 4 Customer Disputes From His Records
Case Results & Wins

Missouri Advisor Wipes 4 Customer Disputes From His Records

The first dispute arose in 2001, from customers who had only become clients of our advisor the year prior. The customers sought life insurance and tax deferral, and they purchased...
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2022 FINRA Enforcement Year-In-Review
FINRA, SEC, State & CFP Board Enforcement

2022 FINRA Enforcement Year-In-Review

Each month, FINRA releases a Disciplinary Action report documenting any enforcement actions brought against its roughly 612,000 registered representatives throughout the year. Compared to FY 2021: Enforcement cases decreased by...
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Another Advisor’s Perfect Record Restored With Expungement
Case Results & Wins

Another Advisor’s Perfect Record Restored With Expungement

In 2009, a Wisconsin-based advisor with a perfect record was hit with a customer dispute disclosure alleging misrepresentation and seeking damages of about $50K. The firm denied the claim, yet...
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AdvisorLaw Celebrates Transition Of $700,000 Producer To National Firm
Financial Advisor Transition Successful Transitions

AdvisorLaw Celebrates Transition Of $700,000 Producer To National Firm

{{dc:post:title}}\n\n{{dc:post:publish_date format='M. d, Y'}}\n\nRead More...\n\n{{dc:author:display_name}}\n\n{{dc:author:bio}}\n\nAdvisorLaw is proud to announce the transition of a financial advisor from Colorado, who has over 30 years of experience in the wirehouse industry. This individual...
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Finding a Custodian That’s Right For Your RIA
RIA Setup & Registration Starting your own RIA

Finding a Custodian That’s Right For Your RIA

There are many important considerations when it comes to choosing a custodian for your RIA. An RIA custodian is an independent, third-party broker-dealer that provides services, such as executing transactions,...
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D.C. Financial Advisor Removes Sole Termination Disclosure
Case Results & Wins

D.C. Financial Advisor Removes Sole Termination Disclosure

Over a decade into his career, a D.C.-based investment advisor rep had a five-year-old termination disclosure for allegedly failing to comply with firm policies regarding outside business activities (OBAs). Seeking...
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Can I be terminated due to an investor complaint?
FINRA Disputes & U5 Terminations FINRA Expungement & Arbitration

Can I be terminated due to an investor complaint?

In this week’s Ask An AdvisorLaw Expert, we’re asking the OG of FINRA industry disputes, Dochtor Kennedy, MBA, J.D., what happens when investors make formal complaints against advisors and how...
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Florida Advisor Scores Epic Win With Removal Of 9 Disclosures
Case Results & Wins

Florida Advisor Scores Epic Win With Removal Of 9 Disclosures

Between 1999 and 2021, this 30-plus-year industry veteran accumulated nine customer disputes on his public records, four of which reflected settlements that ranged from $15,000 to nearly $200,000. With FINRA’s...
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SEC Penalties Prompt RIAs To Employ Greater Compliance Oversight
FINRA, SEC, State & CFP Board Enforcement RIA Compliance

SEC Penalties Prompt RIAs To Employ Greater Compliance Oversight

Over the last year, the SEC rolled out new rules and regulations regarding Form 13F, Form ADV, private funds, marketing and advertising, and environmental, social, and governance disclosures. Now, regulators...
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Ask an AdvisorLaw Expert: Can I form an RIA prior to leaving my current firm?
RIA Compliance RIA Setup & Registration Starting your own RIA

Ask an AdvisorLaw Expert: Can I form an RIA prior to leaving my current firm?

There are a number of important factors that an advisor needs to consider when deciding to leave a firm to form their own RIA. On this week’s Ask An AdvisorLaw...
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Financial Advisors: The Time to Plan For Retirement is Now
Mergers & Acquisitions Succession Planning

Financial Advisors: The Time to Plan For Retirement is Now

Contact Us Today! In a new guidance document, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) sent a stark warning, urging member firms and representatives to form their succession plans as soon...
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Boca Raton Financial Advisor Clears Records With Expungement
Case Results & Wins

Boca Raton Financial Advisor Clears Records With Expungement

More than 30 years into his career in the industry, this Boca Raton-based advisor had two customer disputes that had plagued his records since the 1990s. Seeking to once again...
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Will Your RIA Avoid Our Biggest 2022 SEC Deficiencies?
FINRA, SEC, State & CFP Board Enforcement RIA Compliance

Will Your RIA Avoid Our Biggest 2022 SEC Deficiencies?

AdvisorLaw’s RIA services division has compiled a list of the most common SEC exam deficiencies we saw in 2022. The deficiencies below were found amid compliance documentation from RIA firms...
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Florida Advisor Restores Perfect BrokerCheck Record
Case Results & Wins

Florida Advisor Restores Perfect BrokerCheck Record

A 20-year industry veteran in Florida had a spotless public BrokerCheck record — until he was slapped with a customer dispute disclosure in 2019. The dispute alleged a breach of...
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When should I start planning to sell my advisory practice or RIA?
Lending Opportunities Mergers & Acquisitions Succession Planning Valuations

When should I start planning to sell my advisory practice or RIA?

When you’re looking to sell your advisory firm or RIA, there are many factors at play that could impact how seamless and profitable the transaction will be. This week on “Ask...
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Avoid FINRA Sanctions: A Guide to Form U4 Disclosures for Financial Advisors
FINRA Disputes & U5 Terminations FINRA Expungement & Arbitration FINRA, SEC, State & CFP Board Enforcement

Avoid FINRA Sanctions: A Guide to Form U4 Disclosures for Financial Advisors

Being an investment advisor comes with a lot of responsibility. Not only do you have to keep up with the latest market trends and changes, but you also need to...
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Illinois Advisor Erases 2001 Misdemeanor Criminal Disclosure
Case Results & Wins

Illinois Advisor Erases 2001 Misdemeanor Criminal Disclosure

An Illinois advisor spent his first 15 years in the industry with a criminal disclosure on his record that had resulted from an incident that occurred while he was in...
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Navigating An Audit From The SEC
FINRA, SEC, State & CFP Board Enforcement RIA Compliance

Navigating An Audit From The SEC

More Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firms are being audited than ever before. Earlier this year, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a report from the Inspector General's Office...
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