Compliance in the RIA world has always been like The Matrix: everywhere, shaping how firms operate, defining what’s possible. No testimonials, no performance advertising, no client endorsements. But just like Neo learning the truth about his world, RIAs not long ago woke up to a new reality. The SEC’s 2021 Marketing Rule has rewritten the […]
Introduction: Opening Moves: Setting the Compliance Board In 2024, the SEC charged 26 financial institutions, including major broker-dealers and investment advisers, with widespread recordkeeping failures, resulting in combined penalties exceeding $390 million. It started as minor inconsistencies but quickly snowballed into a full-scale compliance failure, resulting in painful financial and reputational damages. This story […]
Records Rule the World: Why Compliance Starts (and Ends) With Documentation As pretentious as it might sound, history is written by those who keep the records. Contracts carved into Mesopotamian clay tablets laid the groundwork for commerce. The Medici bankers revolutionized accounting with double-entry bookkeeping. Today, regulatory frameworks like SEC Rule 204-2, MiFID II […]
From handshake deals to compliance marathons: How RIAs navigate today’s regulatory landscape In the early days of financial advice, relationships ruled the game. A handshake and a reputation were often enough to build a thriving practice. Compliance? Ah, a secondary concern at best. But as the industry matured, so did the regulations, transforming the role […]
Introduction: Why Manual Compliance is a Risky Game Compliance officers might be getting chills, as it’s only the beginning of the year and the SEC has already gotten the party started, handing out millions in fines to investment firms for compliance failures. Some as simple as poor record-keeping or using unauthorized messaging apps. In […]
Introduction: Why Compliance Matters Since the first stock market launch back in 1602, financial markets have always walked a fine line between ambition and oversight. History shows that whenever regulations lag behind innovation, things tend to spiral: from wild speculative bubbles to full-blown financial meltdowns. It’s no surprise that wherever there’s (big) money, mischief […]
The stakes of trade monitoring for RIAs are high. This is not a rare scenario: an SEC audit uncovers a missing piece in an RIA’s trade monitoring process, landing them with fines and some uncomfortable client conversations. It’s a reminder of why trade monitoring matters—it keeps you compliant, protects your reputation, and avoids costly mistakes. […]
Introduction: The Foundation of Trust Conflicts of interest are the silent disruptors of trust in Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firms. Beyond regulatory mandates, managing these conflicts effectively is about demonstrating a commitment to client-first principles. Whether it’s navigating compensation structures, relationships with third parties, or everyday client interactions, the stakes are high: mishandling conflicts […]
So you’ve just wrapped up a client meeting, feeling rather good about the progress made. Then, a notification pops up: an SEC audit request is on the horizon. Your mind races: Are we fully prepared? For RIAs, moments like these are common, but with the right tools, managing compliance and risk becomes seamless. Technology is […]
Compliance reviews are an annual opportunity to show the SEC (and yourself) that your firm is running a tight ship. They help you catch blind spots, update outdated processes, and stay ahead of regulatory scrutiny. This guide walks you through the nuts and bolts of a solid compliance review. From tackling key SEC rules to […]
