On January 7, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed amendments to how “small entities” are defined for investment advisers and investment companies under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). At first glance, […]
SEC enforcement activity fell to decade lows in fiscal year 2025. The Commission brought 313 enforcement actions, and total monetary settlements declined by approximately 45%, marking a clear departure from the prior […]
On November 21, 2025, Delaware’s Investor Protection Unit imposed a $995,180 penalty on Kovack Advisors for violations of the Delaware Securities Act. The enforcement action cited inaccurate Form U4 registrations, supervisory failures, […]
In a recent investor alert, NASAA warned that scammers are increasingly disguising fraud as “seasonal opportunities,” using themes like Halloween promotions, limited-time offers, and urgent “treats” to manipulate investors. These are not […]
On December 5, 2025, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) sent a clear message to Congress: do not strip states of their authority to regulate artificial intelligence. The letter opposed proposals […]
A Shift Toward Operational Scrutiny The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released its 2026 examination priorities. While core topics like fiduciary duty and data privacy remain, the message this year […]
Featuring insights from Smartria CEO Patrick Hunt The SEC’s amended Regulation S-P, effective December 3, 2025 for large firms, is more than a compliance update; it’s a structural directive. The rule demands […]
Why December 2025 Can’t Wait for Reg S-P Compliance Large advisers have until December 3, 2025, to implement comprehensive changes under the amended Regulation S-P, but treating this as a distant deadline […]
Why Vendor Oversight Is No Longer Optional Five years ago, “vendor due diligence” meant checking a few boxes once a year. In 2025, it’s one of the top five exam priorities across […]