Regulation Best Interest

A broker-dealer (the “Dealer”) entered into a cease-and-desist order with the Securities and Exchange Commission for failing to maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the Compliance Obligation of Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”), thus willfully violating the General Obligation of Reg BI.

The Dealer had written policies in

On July 31, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it agreed to settle allegations that a California-based broker-dealer sold in excess of $13 million in “L bonds,” a speculative, unrated debt security, to retail customers with lower risk profiles.  The settlement of this case is notable because it was the SEC’s first

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Investor Advocate recently issued its fiscal year 2025 Report on Objectives. The Report is one of two annual reports required to be filed by the Investor Advocate with the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the

On January 9, 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) published its 2024 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (the “Annual Report”), as we blogged about.  With respect to private placements, FINRA cites to Regulatory Notice 23-08 (see our alert), for a discussion of member firms’ obligations when recommending private placements, including the obligation

New Topics and Content Highlight FINRA’s Increased Focus on Cybersecurity, Crypto Assets, Artificial Intelligence, Market Integrity, Off-Channel Communications and Other Key Risk Areas

On January 9, 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) published the 2024 FINRA Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (the “Report”), which builds on the structure and content of FINRA’s prior reports

On October 16, 2023, the Division of Examinations (the “Division”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced its examination priorities for 2024. While the Division typically announces its examination priorities near the start of the calendar year, this is the first time that the Division has published its examination priorities this early, to align

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The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) recently issued Regulatory Notice 23-08 which provides supplemental and updated guidance for FINRA members conducting private placements of securities. The notice reminds FINRA members of their obligations in light of changes in the legal and

On June 22, 2023, the Investor Advisory Committee (“IAC”) of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) held a panel discussion regarding current challenges and potential improvements to the use of digital engagement practices (“DEPs”) by broker-dealers and investment firms.  The discussion was mostly focused on the DEPs used by digital trading platforms

On May 9, 2023, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) issued Regulatory Notice 23-08 (the “Notice”), which provides supplemental and updated guidance for members conducting private placements pursuant to the Regulation D safe harbors under Sections 3 or 4 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The Notice does not change existing laws

On May 9, 2023, FINRA issued Regulatory Notice 23-08 (the “Notice”), which provides supplemental and updated guidance for members conducting private placements pursuant to Sections 3 or 4 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The Notice does not change any existing laws, regulations or interpretations of existing requirements. Rather, the Notice was provided